Get the face paints out. Book characters can easily come to life with cute painted faces. Think The Tiger Who Came to Tea or the Cheshire Cat. These fancy dress creations are so easy, they can even be thrown together in the morning before heading into school if necessary. It's just a question of figuring out what your child is interested in and working out which book character reflects that hobby or sport. Got a blonde daughter? Put her hair in bunches and send her as Lola from Charlie and Lola. Harry Potter just needs a lightning strike and a pair of round glasses. Go for a 'Blue Peter style' outfit with a bit of cardboard, paint or felt tips

If you’re anything like me, you’ll remember the World Book Day costume at about 10pm on Wednesday, March 2. Adapt a PE or sports kit, or their school uniform - think Football Academy for sports kit, Harry Potter and St Trinian's for the uniform. I loved The Shrinking of Treehorn because it taught me about the importance of making time for people and it also taught me how NOT to be a school Principal. Start with a stripey jumper. It can be the start of many an easy costume including Dennis the Menace, Minnie the Minx, Where's Wally, or Horrid Henry.

World Book Day Bookmarks

Wayne Howden, Principal, The Aquila School The Mr Men Books by Adam Hargreaves and Roger Hargreaves Got costumes left over from Halloween, Christmas or last year's World Book Day? Use them! It matters not if the trousers are a bit short, incorporate that as part of the outfit.

This is the first book that I ever bought at a book fair at my primary school. I love it because of the ridiculous nature and calamity that always happens in Roald Dahl’s books. I always find that his books are really entertaining, because it challenges people’s perceptions of different things. Coming in all shapes and sizes, and delighting kids and adults of all ages, books are not only our windows to the world, but the windows to our own souls. Just as colour is a reflection of light, so our own feelings and histories colour in the meaning of a book, refracting the author’s intention through the prism of our own reality. There’s a reason ‘What’s your favourite book?’ is such a common first date question: books can reveal us just as much as they reveal to us. Everyone knows and adores this lovable bear! And it’s quite simple to dress up like him too. All you need is a blue raincoat (or a blue dress if you can’t find a raincoat), a red hat and some bear ears! 4. A Mr Men or Little Miss Character – Ask the children to come along dressed up as their favourite book character to add to the spirit of the evening. Get the leaders involved too and create a real buzz in your Anchor Section. 5. Getting into the Bible: The Wordless Book One year Boy’s class was given the Katie Morag books, and with confidence and relish he decided to go as Granny Island. He donned one of my floral tunics as a dress, we had a grey wig in the dressing up box… and off he went. Not for one second did his 8yr old self believe spending a day in an old lady dress might leave him open to ridicule – and such was his panache that he made it all the way through to lunchtime before realising a dress isn’t up to football on the field, and switching for his PE kit for the rest of the day. I was pretty proud, actually.I suppose, at the end of the day, the Narnia books taught me about being brave and confident with the will move forward and the grit to make a positive of our shared adversity. Turn your section into a world from your favourite books with these programme ideas: 1. Mr Men & Little Miss