World Book Day is almost upon us, which means that many schools around the country will be calling for pupils to dress up for the occasion.
The annual event has been on the go in the UK and Ireland since 1997, with its main goal to encourage a love of reading among youngsters.
Part of that mission is to help inspire enthusiasm among more reluctant readers - for example, by hosting costume days - as well as providing children with the opportunity to own their own books by distributing more than 15 million World Book Day tokens each year.
As World Book Day aims to be as inclusive as possible, the organisation offers a number of alternatives for dressing up such as wearing pyjamas, but for parents hoping to help their child figure out a last-minute costume, we can help.
13. Harry and the Bucketful of Dinosaurs
Also ideal for younger readers is a costume inspired by Harry and the Bucketful of Dinosaurs. All you need is a sand bucket, a few dinosaur toys and ideally a red top of some kind. | Puffin
14. Non-fiction costumes
If your child is more interested in non-fiction books, there is plenty to explore. From baking to space, the options are near endless. You could also take inspiration from one of the 2026 World Book Day books and pick a footballer or sportsperson. | Canva
15. George's Marvellous Medicine
Another easy World Book Day costume idea for 2026 comes from George's Marvellous Medicine by Roald Dahl. Pairing a red t-shirt with jeans works for George, and all you need to complete the look is an empty bottle. Fill this with some murky liquid - try dark paint with water or something such as stock cubes - or add your own label if you'd rather they don't carry something extra and possibly messy. | Puffin
16. Witches
A classic costume for a reason, if you have a leftover witches costume from Halloween now could be the perfect time to dig it out. There are so many books which focus on witches, from The Worst Witch and Room on the Broom to the Harry Potter books - the character options are endless, even if all you use is the hat. | Evgeniya Grande/ Adobe Stock