Link to newsround

World Book Day: How to make a last-minute costume

A young girl wearing a pink sweatshirt sewing felt at homeGetty Images

This year World Book Day takes place on 6 March 2025.

It is a celebration of authors, illustrators, books and the joy of reading and takes place every year.

In the UK, World Book Day is celebrated on the first Thursday in March.

It is celebrated by 100 countries all over the world. Unesco - a worldwide organisation that encourages people to enjoy art and culture - choose it as a special day to celebrate reading.

As well as talking about books and finding new books to read, many children celebrate the day by dressing up as their favourite characters.

If you want to dress up, but don't have a costume sorted here are some tips.

1. Use your school uniform or PE kit

A girl with black rimmed glasses, a grey school uniform and a black a red cloak holding a wand by a white internal door

Sarina dressed up as a Harry Potter character complete with wand

Lots of characters wear school uniform so why not adapt yours for World Book Day.

Matilda, The Worst Witch and Harry Potter are just three examples.

Or you could use your PE kit for Football Academy or Girl FC.

2. Get crafty

Boy in black and red striped long-sleeved t-shirt with goggles on his head and a cardboard spitfire-style homemade plane around his middle. He is holding a book of Grandpa's Great Escape by David Walliams.

Elliot dressed up as Jack from Grandpa's Great Escape by David Walliams last year

If you've got cardboard and paint you can get creative with all sorts of things.

Fancy being the BFG, get a couple of cardboard plates, paint them your skin colour and attach them to the side of your face (with the help of an adult) to become giant ears.

Or how about becoming Stickman with some cardboard and brown paint?

3. Upcycle

A young child with their back to the camera wearing an astronaut costume and a rocket pack made of silver spray-painted plastic bottlesGetty Images

There are lots of things that you might usually throw away which could be useful. Plastic bottles can be turned into rockets or jet packs for a space-themed book like Goodnight Spaceman.

Or you can use one to make the medicine from George's Marvellous Medicine.

4. Go through your wardrobe

A boy wearing a red and white striped long-sleeved t-shirt and red and white striped hat with round black-rimmed glasses is smiling and holding hands up in peace sign.

For World Book Day 2024 Harry dressed up as Wally from Where's Wally?

There's probably lots of clothes you already own that would work well as an outfit.

Stripy red and white t-shirt T-shirt Where's Wally or Tracy Beaker.

A ballerina outfit and you can easily become Angelina Ballerina or Rosa the ballerina.

5. Put on your pyjamas

Three pairs of children's legs wearing pyjamas and slippersGetty Images

Or just don't bother changing out of them!

Sophie from the BFG, The Midnight gang by David Walliams - there lots of books where the main characters wear pyjamas so get your best pair out.

Last year many schools let children wear pyjamas to represent bedtime stories as well so if you can't think of a particular book maybe that's an option.