World Book Day is designed to help kids get into reading, and show off their love of their favourite characters.
In many ways, though, it’s also a contest for parents to show off their amazing costume skills.
Turning up at the school gates on WBD with anything less than a child who could pass for Shrek in a live-action remake is just not good enough.
That said, these costumes don’t have to be expensive. If anything, going to town with face paint and a velvet cape you ill-advisedly bought for a Christmas party in 2008 can produce some amazing results.
These parents have done exactly that, and got creative and inventive with all sorts of items to make their kids look exactly like some of the most iconic book characters out there.
Take a look at our favourites so far from World Book Day 2020.
Layna Taylor’s daughter Morgan has absolutely changed the game with this amazing Maleficent look.
Not only is it perfect down to the black nail polish and poison apple, but that makeup is professional standard. Bow down to the (evil) queen.
Steven Lawrence shared a picture of his daughter and granddaughter ready for school today on Twitter.
He said: ‘My daughter Alexis has gone as a combat soldier and my granddaughter has gone as wonder woman both look so cool’.
Agreed!
Emma’s little boy has gone as Ben Stokes to school today, with Emma tweeting: ‘What’s the point in having a ginger child if you can’t dress him up as Ben Stokes for #WorldBookDay.’
When someone asked what book character he was going as, someone replied, ‘How to break the hearts of everyone down under’. Well played.
Joran Meek’s son has us in stitches this morning, with his take on Jeremy Clarkson. It’s brilliant.
Joran tweeted showing his son holding up The World According to Clarkson. Shouldn’t the jeans be a little more bootcut for a true Clarkson, though?
In a world where you can be anything, why not be a princess?
That was the idea Lancashire cricketer Graham Onions’ daughter had this morning, when she went to school as Cinderella. She looks great.
Now to remember where she put that glass slipper.
Have a guess what Helen’s son has come as?
David Walliams might have gone as the ratburger maker, but here is the ratburger itself, and it looks great!
Striking fear into the hearts of everyone who hates the dentist is Kayleigh Davison’s daughter with this Miss Root costume.
Miss Root is one of David Walliams’ characters from his book The Demon Dentist.
Not only is the spooky makeup on point, but that ‘Mr Whippy’ style hair is straight from Walliams’ pages.
It’s quite hard for a child to grow a beard worthy of a Tolkien novel, so Deejay’s kids have gone for a faux one – smart move.
We love their Gandalf the Grey and Lady Galadriel costumes. We just hope that’s not a real pipe.
Comedy producer Rose Hanson posted this adorable picture of her daughter all done up as Paddington today.
She captioned it, ‘Please look after this bear’. We will. We will do everything in our power to protect this perfect little bear.
Natalie Thomas’s son Harry has dressed up as Peter Rabbit for WBD2020.
Not only is that a very accurate representation of the Beatrix Potter favourite, it also looks super cosy.
This morning we received an outstanding submission from Christine Finegan.
She said: ‘This is Natty, aged 10 from Bury, Greater Manchester.
‘We don’t do princesses. We do Punk royalty. Presenting Natty as Vivienne Westwood from her favourite series of books Little People, Big Dreams.’
We have no choice but to stan forever.
What better way to dress twins on World Book Day than as Thing 1 and Thing 2.
Twins Charlotte and Patrick, 6, have gone as the iconic Dr Seuss characters from the Cat in the Hat. Will they cause the same level of chaos? Only time will tell.
It’s a big old day for Walliams characters, and Sam Morse, 9, has gone as the Beast from Buckingham Palace from the eponymous book by the comedian.
The beast features in the sci-fi book that’s set in the palace and also 100 years in the future.
Jay Lodhia sent us in this fab picture of his daughter Leah, who’s today gone to school as Mrs Mad Hatter, as a little twist on the Alice in Wonderland character.
Jay said she was ‘super excited to go to school dressed up as Miss Mad Hatter, greeting everyone saying ‘A Very Merry Unbirthday to you’’.
And a Very Merry Unbirthday to you, too, Leah.
7-year-old Lilly Cant is almost unrecognisable as Miss Trunchball from Roald Dahl’s Matilda.
Little Lilly, from Torquay, Devon, had her mum Laura, 29, in fits of giggles as she headed off to St Marychurch Primary School.
Her costume included the Roald Dahl character’s 1972 Olympics hoodie, monobrow, weight belt and bag of shot puts. And her trademark brow and wart.
Is your child wearing an amazing costume this World Book Day?
Send us a picture and description at MetroLifestyleTeam@metro.co.uk today, as we’d love to feature them.
Is your child wearing an amazing costume this World Book Day?
Send us a picture and description at MetroLifestyleTeam@metro.co.uk today, as we’d love to feature them.
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