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Print out and make this easy dinosaur crafting activity for a sensational prehistoric addition to your garden
10 Inspired (but easy)
Ideas for World Book Day
Ideas for World Book Day
We’ve taken the hard work out of World Book Day with ten failsafe characters from dragons to owls via mermaids that go with an array of excellent children’s books. Happy World Book Day!
World Book Day has become ever more popular in recent years with kids and parents keen to celebrate their love of books.
These days there are many World Book Day favourites out there from Cat in the Hat to Pippi Longstocking via The Giant Caterpillar, but here are some quick and easy wins using Meri Meri fancy dress.
We’ve also included a round-up of some of the best books our staff are currently reading to their children. We hope you find it inspiring!
1. Mermaid
With the highly anticipated The Little Mermaid movie featuring Halle Bailey due for release this summer, the classic story is back on kids’ reading lists. The Hans Christian Andersen tale, originally published in 1837, tells of a girl who gives up her watery life to gain a human soul. There are numerous other mermaid-themed stories including Julia Donaldson’s popular The Singing Mermaid and Robert Weinstock’s more recent Mabel: A Mermaid Fable, for kids of all ages. The mermaid is always a classic World Book Day choice that will make everyone smile.
Be A Mermaid
2. Pirate
Ahoy there! Pirates have been inspiring writers for as long as stories have been published. Younger kids still fall for their dark allure. These days, there are numerous books featuring pirates from Julia Donaldson’s The Highway Rat to Molly Roger’s Pirate Girl via Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic novel Treasure Island. We love this round-up of pirate-themed books. Luckily, a pirate outfit is fairly easy to fashion from stuff you may have around the house but our opulent take on the pirate outfit will last way beyond World Book Day. A dressing-up box favourite.
arghh me hearties
3. Flamingo
This exotic pink plumed bird will ensure your child stands out at the school gates. Flora the Flamingo by Molly Idle and Fabulous Frankie by Simon James Green are fun books based on these quirky pink birds. Our elegant flamingo outfit features a striking headpiece crafted from velvet, cotton, and glitter and wings made from pink tulle and ruffles, plus glittery wristbands. Sure to become an heirloom piece.
SHRIEK LIKE A FLAMINGO
'I'm currently enjoying reading The Last Bear by Hannah Gold with William, nearly seven. It’s an evocative story about a girl, a polar bear, friendship and belonging, set on a desolate Arctic island. He loves it and so do I!'
Maggie Westhead, Senior Content Editor
The Last Bear
4. Wizard
It’s not just the Albus Dumbledore of the Harry Potter series that have secured wizards as one of the favoured World Book Day outfit choices – there’s a plethora of wizard-themed books for children or all ages. Some of our favourites? The Wizard of Once by Cressida Cowell and the Dungeons and Dragons series by Ulises Farinas. Our plush velvet wizard cape and hat combo will conjure magic for years to come.
Expelliarmus!
5. Octopus
The wondrous eight-tentacled sea creature has inspired numerous stories including Inky’s Amazing Escape by Sy Montgomery and Tickly Octopus by Ruth Galloway. We love this round-up of kids’ octopus books. Adults are intrigued by these mysterious creatures thanks in part to the Oscar-winning 2020 film My Octopus Teacher. Our beautiful octopus outfit made from a shiny lame in lustrous turquoise is worn like a cape and features fun 3D googly eyes. Hours of underwater-themed fun to be had!
Tenta-cool
‘I’m currently enjoying Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with my two-year old son Theo. I have a fond memory of being read Roald Dahl as a child, so we have been working through the books. I think so far Theo is enjoying it the most because it’s mentioning chocolate a lot!’
George Woodley, Web Manager
Charlie & The Chocolate Factory
6. Dinosaurs
Most children go through a phase of being fascinated by these weird reptiles, extinct for the past 65.5 million years. Whether they are a Tyrannosaurus, Triceratops or Diplodocus fan, there’s an array of fun books and films about dinosaurs to keep them entertained. For younger children, we currently dig Gigantosaurus by Jonny Duddle and Ten Minutes to Bed Little Dinosaur by Rhiannon Fielding (good for the night time routine). Our shiny red dinosaur outfit with spikes on the back is perfect for little palaeontologists this World Book Day!
Roarsome fun!
7. Dragons
Most children love the myth and legend surrounding dragons. No wonder they’ve inspired hundreds of stories dating back centuries. Some of our current favourites include The Boy Who Grew Dragons by Andy Shepherd and The Night Dragon by Naomi Howarth and lest we forget friendly Zog, the modern classic by Julia Donaldson. Our striking emerald green dragon outfit is sure to turn heads at the school gates.
Fire starter
8. Owls
Owls have long captured our imaginations. Their quirky looks including their saucer-like eyes and round heads make them a favourite for drawing, painting and crafting too. There are numerous owl-related books for kids from The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark by Jill Tomlinson to Owl Babies by Martin Waddell. An owl costume is a good bet, especially for younger children, who will look adorable in it. Our costume features a sweet headdress and tiers of tassels which appear like feathers.
Twit-twoo!
9. Lions
From Disney’s The Lion King to Ed Vere’s How to be a Lion and C.S. Lewis’ classic The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, the lion is literary classic. And it’s a cuddly choice for World Book Day, sure to raise smiles especially on younger kids. Our charming cape costume features a swishy tails and sewn-in paws, plus a striking headdress for roaring good fun!
King of the Jungle!
10. Superheroes
Pow! Zap! Boom! Nothing like a superhero outfit to get your kids in the mood for fun. Whether they are a Superwoman, Batman or Captain Underpants, kind of kid, our suits-all metallic blue and red cape with mask and cuffs will thrill them. Happily there are plenty of superhero books and graphic novels that make it a legitimate choice for World Book Day. We love this round-up of modern superhero books for younger children.
Kapow!
‘We are working our way through a bundle of Elmer the Elephant books by David McKee. One of Mollie's favourites is Elmer and the Rainbow, which is where a Rainbow has lost its colours and Elmer decides to give it his colours and with the help of all his animal friends.
I love that Elmer and his friends show kindness. The moral of the story is that sometimes you can give to others without losing anything yourself – what a wonderful message!’
Victoria Newman, Executive Assistant
Elmer and the Rainbow