N.B. Face Bobs are mentioned for some of the following book characters. Face Bobs are child friendly animal masks that give good vision, and some even come with an animal noise when you depress the nose. Check our our whole range of
animal face bobs as they can be an easy option for lots of book characters. We also stock a large range of
animals noses, which are another great way to get numerous animal outfits at a very realistic price.
• Cinderella - Wear a bridesmaid's dress, or any Princess costume. You could also send your child in a wench costume (poor cinders), or rag up an old party dress to get the look.
• Jasmine - Aladdin - Wear a Belly Dancer Style of Costume
• Indian In the Cupboard - Indian Costumes - check out our boys indian costumes
• The Fox & The Cat - Two main characters, a fox and a cat. Fox & cat costumes are available but you could easily use a face bob for either of these characters.
• Hare & The Tortoise - It will be difficult do make or find a tortoise costume for this Aesop Fable, so most would just use a rabbit costume or rabbit face bob for the 'Hare'
• Lion & The Mouse -Two main costumes, the lion and the mouse. Again, a face bob can make this an easy costume to make yourself or lion and mouse costumes are available to hire or purchase
• Goldilocks & The Three Bears -For Goldilocks you could use a party dress with a cape and a small basket. Just add a brown top and trousers to a bear face bob for one of the three bears.
• Red Riding Hood - There are many variations of a Girls Red Riding Hood costume on the market to purchase. If you do not want to buy a costume just use a red dress and make a small cape from a piece of red fabric.
• Snow White - It is probably easier to buy a Snow White costume unless you are a wiz with the needle! Other characters include The Wicked Witch (any witch costume will do) and Prince Charming for the boys.
• 3 Little Pigs - Hard to get a costume, so face bobs may be the only answer.
• Prince Charming -This character is found in many fairytale books and with the popularity of Shrek, it has become a 'must have' costume for boys. Prince Charming Costumes are available to purchase but you can easily put a costume together (see a bit further on).
• The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe - This story is set in the 1940s so an girls evacuee costume would be great for Lucy or the younger boys. Lion costumes are available for Aslan or use a face bob. To keep to the story, a Witch costume needs to be white, so maybe adapt an angel costume. The book takes the children on various adventures, so it is also okay for your child to wear a King, or a Queen's costume.
Alice in Wonderland -This book gives many costume choices. Alice just needs a blue dress with a Victorian style pinafore and an Alice band. The white rabbit can be easily put together using a face bob and white clothes. The Queen of Hearts can wear a dress covered with hearts and a crown. The King of Hearts could be dressed like the Prince Charming but covered in hearts and wearing a crown.
Harry Potter - A very popular choice with children at the moment. Harry Potter kits and costumes are available to purchase but you can purchase a cheap halloween cape and some glasses to get the effect. The Gryffindor robe is unisex, so is ideal for Ron or Hermoine as well as Harry.
The Worst Witch - Any witch costume will do for this character.
Watership Down - A rabbit costume or face bob
The Lord of The Rings - This may be a little old for Primary School children but Frodo Costume kits are available to purchase for Frodo
Dracula -Quite popular with boys, who do not want to look silly at school. Dracula is quite a cool character. Costumes are available to purchase but can be put together quite easily using black trousers, white shirt, bow tie and some make up. A cape can either be made from some black material or a cheap one can be purchased.
Meg & Mog -Two main characters are a witch and a cat.
Peter Pan Costume - Peter Pan gives lots of character options. Peter Pan himself is normally depicted wearing green top and trousers but there are some good costumes available to buy. Captain Hook, the villain of the story is very popular with boys. Many costume variations are available. A standard pirate can also be worn by girls and boys as Smee and the other pirates on Captain Hook's ship. Tinkerbelle is the girls favourite. A green fairy costume or a green dress with wings will suffice. Other characters include: Wendy, mermaids and indians
Pinocchio - A story of a puppet that comes to life. A Pinocchio costume is available to buy and is probably easier than trying to put this costume together.
Gone With The Wind - Okay we know that this book is not a kids book at all but from our experience the young girls like dressing up as Scarlet O'Hara. We sell a great value red girls Victorian costume that is ideal for this character. The goods news is that it can also be worn on the next Victorian day at school.
Oliver Twist - a great costume choice for both girls and boys. The boys can go as Oliver himself. Victorian boy costumes are available, or you could put your own costume together with some shorts, white tatty shirt and a cap. The girls would go as Nancy and wear the same dress that we described in Gone with The Wind. again, both costumes could be used for the next Victorian dress up day.
Zorro - Created by Johnston Mcculley in 1919. Wear black trousers and a long sleeved top. Add a cape and a mask. A rapier sword will complete the look but make sure that your school is okay with it. Bandit | Zorro Costumes are available to purchase
Star Wars - although this started out as a film, various books have spawned from it. Choose from Princess Leia, Queen Amidala, Luke Skywalker, Obi Wan Kenobi, Darth Vader, Darth Maul, Yoda, Chewbacca and many more iconic characters. We do stock a range of Star Wars costumes
Robin Hood - A Robin Hood costume can be made up with some old brown trousers and long sleeved tunic. A belt can be looped over the shoulder. Bow and arrows are very cheap to purchase - please check with the school that this item can be taken in.
Wonder Woman - From a comic book, but if you are desperate!
Supergirl - as above
Batman - as above - Take a look at our range of childrens superhero fancy dress costumes
Robin - as above
The Joker - as above
The Hulk - as above
Jack & the Beanstalk - Various characters to choose from including Jack - wear a poor Tudor Boy costume or rag some old trousers and shirt. Wear an old waistcoat and you have the idea. Girls could go as Jack's mother in a wench style costume, or girls and boys could go as the cow!
Pied Piper of Hamelin - Pied means colourful, so the costume should be brightly coloured. A Tudor Boy or medieval costume should be sufficient. Will need a pipe (or recorder!)
Winnie The Pooh - Go as a yellow bear, tiger, donkey, piglet or kangaroo - easiest way would be to wear a face bob.
Princess & the Pea - Wear a Princess costume or a bridesmaid or party dress.
Prince Caspian - Linked to The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe. Wear a King or Prince Charming costume. Check out our 'how to make a Prince charming costume' a bit further down this page
The Frog Prince - Wear a King or Prince costume with a frog mask
Gulliver's Travels - Based in the late 17th century - mid 18th century. Any Georgian costume will suit (you could use any Pirate captain costume as it does give the required look)
The Wind In the Willows - Main characters include:
- Mole
- Ratty
- Mr. Toad - Frog mask available
- Mr. Badger - Badger mask avalable
- Otter & Portly
- Gaolers Daughter - only human character
- Chief Weasel
- Rabbits & Squirrels - Rabbit face bobs available
Jemima Puddleduck - Duck face bob available
Heidi - In the 1st book, Heidi is described as having short, dark, curly hair. In later books she has long straight, blonde hair - the choice is yours! Most people would wear a German style of costume.
Winne the Witch - any witch costume should be okay
Wizard Of Oz - This originated as a childrens book (1900) with the same name. Main characters include:
- Dorothy - Blue gingham dress. Brown plaited hair
- Scarecrow - Rip old clothing, use string for a belt. If you can get hold of hay, or straw, stuff it in pockets. Carott nose.
- Lion - face masks and face bobs available. Wear a mustard coloured top and trousers.
- Tin Man - silver metallic face paint available. Difficult to get the right effect for the costume. Packaged costume available to purchase.
- Wicked Witch of The West. Standard black witch costume. Green face.
- Glinda (good witch). Pink fairy costume.
James & the Giant Peach - Bug costumes. We stock ladybird, dragonfly, bumble and butterfly wings. We also stock bee and ladybird headboppers and costumes. Wizard (the Old Man) - appears just once in the book, but is behind all the magic that happens.
The Railway Children - 1st published in 1905, although strictly the Edwardian era, most people would use a Victorian costume. The good thing about purchasing a kids Victorian costume is hopefully you will also be able to use it during a Victorian day at school.
The Famous Five - Enid Blyton actually wrote 21 books in The Famous Five Series. 2 girls and 2 boys, with their dog, Timmy, made up the 5 characters. Set inthe 1940's standard childrens 40's costumes are suitable.
Aladdin - A great favourite with children, it was a film first although the story has been re-told in childrens books. We stock some great Chinese accessories that will help you to complete this type of costume. Main characters:
- Aladdin - coolie hat, waistocat and baggy trousers / pantaloons
- Jasmine - wear a belly dancer style costume
- Genie - Waistcoat and baggy trousers / pantaloons and turban.
- Jafar - the baddie
The Witches - standard girls witch costumes - all you need is a black dress and then look at some of our witch accessories to help you complete this outfit.
Charlie & the Chocolate Factory - Charlie could wear a standard schoolboy costume (ideal if your son does not want to dress up - a Victorian costume or evacuee costume woul dbe ideal). Just give him a golden ticket. Wilka Wonka could wear a Victorian style costume
Doctor Dolittle - A standard Victorian costume. Animals featured include:
- Parrot - face bobs are available for most of these animals
- Monkey
- Owl
- Mouse - this character is white, we only stock grey mouse face bobs.
- Pig
- Dog
- Duck
Just Willaim - Schoolboy Outfit - our new evacuee boy costume woul dbe ideal for this character.
Lizzie Dripping - Witch Costume
Bible - Use one of our nativity costumes that include costumes suitable for Mary, Joseph, Shepherds and Kings as well as our range of animal face bobs
The Snowman - Childs Snowman costume
A Christmas Carol - Again you can use childrens Victorian costumes for this book and also a ghost costume.
Hamlet - Witch costumes and a King would be suitable for this book
Julius Caesar - Childrens Roman costumes for both boys and girls for this Shakespearian book
A Midsummer's Night Dream - Witch & Fairy Costumes
King Lear - King & Medieval Costumes
Jungle Book - Assorted animal costumes, including tiger. Take a look at our large range of animal face bobs.
Frankenstein - Green face paint, bolts (available to purchase) and a black wig will give the idea of this monster. Wear an oversized jacket and pad out the shoulders to complete the look.
The Tiger Who Came To Tea - Tiger costume. We stock tiger face masks and tiger face bobs to create the idea of this book character
The Night Pirates - Pirate Costumes. an easy costume to put together if you do not want to purchase a complete outfit. We stock a huge range of pirate accessories so you can put your own costume together at home.
The Fantastic Mr Fox - Fox Costume - a fox mask is available to purchase and wear normal jacket. We also stock a brown tail, ideal to use as a fox tail
The Cat In The Hat - Scarves and hats are available to purchase, as are a huge range of cat accessories to create the look. Just wear black long sleeved tee shirt and black leggings or trousers.
When you are putting a costume together at home please make sure:
• It is not too long and becomes a trip hazard
• Visability is not lost
• That you do not use flammable materials such as cotton wool - it was a terrible incident involving a child dressed as a sheep using cotton wool, that caused all childrens fancy dress costumes to become regulated.
• It is comfortable to wear all day long
• It is not too hot (in summer) or too cold (in winter)
How To Put Together a Prince Charming Costume - this costume can be used for many book characters
You will need:
• Some old net or lace
• White school shirt
• Long trousers
• Carboard
• Tin Foil
• Elastic or ribbon
Tuck long trousers into white football socks, or, cut them off below the knee and sew some elastic into the hem to form a pantaloon look.
Use an old piece of net curtain (or lace), cut into three pieces (one larger than the other two). Make sure the smaller pieces are large enough to go around your child's wrist, with a bit to spare if possible.
The largest piece of net needs to be sewn at one end loosely and then pulled, so that it gathers together. Attach it to a piece of elastic. Make sure the elastic is long enough to go around your child's neck comfortably.
Take a white school shirt and put the elastic underneath the collar, this will give the effect of a jabot (frilled shirt). The other two pieces of net will be used as cuffs. You have two choices, either sew the net to the underside of the shirt cuff or sow onto elastic which will go round the wrist. If you have enough material, it gives a nice effect to try and gather the netting as you attach it, if you are low on material, it really doesn't matter, as long as you have enough to go around the child's wrist.
Cut two squares of cardboard (about 3" square). Make a note of the middle of each square. Cut a small rectangle out from each side leaving at least half an inch down the centre. Cover one side in tin foil. Use ribbon or elastic tie the 'shoe buckle' around a pair of school shoes. This will give the effect of a period shoe
After measuring your child's head, cut a length of cardboard. This can be then be designed as you want, and decorated as a crown. Fix the two ends together.
For a finished effect you could use some gold or glitzy fabric to tie as a sash around the waist.
