World book day last minute ideas! We’ve all been there haven’t we? An event at school or nursery either sneaks up on us when we think we’ve got loads of time to sort it all out. Or we totally forget about it until the night before. My children have already had one dress different day this week as yesterday was dress in yellow for St David’s day, and dont even get me started on numbers day…. say what?!!

Sound familiar?

I am terrible for reading school letters then putting them down somewhere and completely forgetting all about it. Especially when I have weeks to prepare, because it’s not a priority at that time – as I have a million other things to prioritise.

Last Minute World Book Day 2020

World Book Day is the biggest of them all. It’s all about choosing a character from your child’s favourite book and dressing up that day for school or nursery. Heck even my child in Year 8 is doing it and there is me thinking id be done when they went to senior school.

The high streets and supermarkets seem to be jumping on the World Book Day bandwagon, selling fancy dress costumes. That makes life so much easier too but they can be expensive and sold out by now.

Choosing a character can also be problematic, mine have changed their minds last minute so many times. We also like to dress the four cousins in matching as they all did go to the same school. In previous years we have done PeterPan and Tinkerbell, oompa lumpa’s and Charlie, Mary poppins and Bert, and this year we are going for the classic Wizard of Oz.

Follow us on Instagram here to see our four, Josh (13), Liam (9), Chloe (9) and Keira (8) and some more ideas.

Here are some ideas I have come up with perfect for last minute:

The Boy in a Dress/Matilda/

You could keep things simple by going for a general character. If your son is brave enough to go in a dress, then The Boy in a Dress is an easy one!

Matilda is easy grab a blue or maybe denim dress and a red bow for her hair, white tights and school shoes and away you go. A few thick books for a prop too if you like.

A witch or wizard

If you have a witches hat and a cloak then that’s great. Otherwise, use a piece of black card or sugar paper (or stick two pieces together if you need more) and curl it round to make a cone shape. Measure around your child’s head and then tape it together. You could decorate with stars by using stickers, or by cutting out shapes and sticking them on.

Keira loved to decorate her hat for the year she went as winnie the witch.

Harry Potter/Hermione/Moaning Mertle

A great choice and super easy as it mainly their school uniform which they already have of course we go for black trousers and shirt for the boys, skirt and blouse for the girls.  Supermarkets usually have a clock or you can pick up novelty glasses pretty easy.  If your child is wants something less common they can always go as moaning Mertle and wear the skirt/blouse but with a toilet seat over there head!!!

Paddington Bear

A blue duffel coat, welly boots, a red hat and old suitcase. For the finishing touch by add a luggage tag and write ‘Look after this bear’ on it.

Dennis the Menace

Red and black stripy long sleeve tshirt with black shorts and red socks.

Alice in Wonderland

Blue dress + stripey tights + a key, maybe a empty milk bottle with a drink me label and you’re Alice in Wonderland!

The little Princess

A perfect one for younger children.