Ask many adults what their favourite childhood book is and the answer is often one of Roald Dahls amazing tales, be it the BFG, The Twits, Charlie and Chocolate Factory or Boy.
I’m so lucky that I’ve managed to pass on the love of Roald Dahl to my children and have therefore an endless number of ideas when it comes to dressing up as one of the book’s characters come World Book Day.
Many schools now ask the children to dress up as one of Roald Dahls characters for Roald Dahl Day.
What is Roald Dahl Day?
13th of September marks the global celebration of Roald Dahl stories. Dahl Story Day is a day to celebrate our favourite Roald Dahl characters, stories and moments with fans the world over. Many schools and playgroups ask children to dress up in Roald Dahl costume ideas.
1. Willy Wonka
Willy Wonka is an amazing chocolatier and someone that everyone dreams to be. Who wouldn’t like to be the owners of a magical-like chocolate factory? The advantage of this kind of costume is that it should not take you more than an hour to make.
This costume is great because it does not involve sewing. All you need is some cardboard, PVA glue, tape, and paint to create the hat and the cane, and some felt tip sheets to create the clothing. The difficulty is of a beginner level, so even if you do not have any special skills, you should be able to do it.
2. Oompa Loompa
Oompa Loompas are also memorable Roald Dahl costumes, and the good news here is that the look is very easy to get. In terms of clothing, you will need some white pants, white suspenders, white shoes, white socks, and a brown turtleneck. The chances are that you may already have these in your house.
However, what you’ll need extra is a green wig and some orange face paint. If you cannot find a green wig, you may simply get a blonde one and use some green hair spray on it. You will also need some brown fabric paint to make the stripes on the socks.
3. Blueberry Violet Beauregarde
Violet Beauregarde might not be so costume-worthy when she’s in the “normal” stage, but she’s certainly fun to wear in blueberry form. You will need an exercise ball, some flour, and newspaper to coat over the ball and make the blueberry shape.
After that, cut the holes for the hands, legs, and heads, and cover them with blue material. Match it with some bue leggings, blue hair, blue shirt, and blue face paint, and you’ll officially be Violet Beauregarde expanding into a giant blueberry.
4. Veruca Salt
If you want to look like Veruca Salt on World Book Day, then creating a costume based on her should be very easy.
All you need is a red dress that you may easily get from a thrift store, some white lace to sew on the neckline (you may also use fabric glue or a glue gun), some black buttons to sew in the front, and a black belt made of fabric.
5. Matilda Wormwood
Want to become Matilda for the day? Well, you’ll be happy to find out that it’s quite easy to do this. You’ll need the uniform, which includes school tie, girl’s uniform cardigan, girl’s knee socks, short sleeve blouse, and pleated skirt. The chances are that you already have these in your house.
After that, you’ll need some hairspray to make her hair look a little unkemt, and obviously, books. Since Matilda is an avid reader, she will always have a book on her.
6. Augustus Gloop
If you are in a hurry and you need to crop up a costume fast, then you can go for Augustus Gloop; everyone is going to recognize you that way. All you need is a pair of black pants, a red wig, and a red and white shirt that you add some stuffing into.
If you cannot find an exact shirt, take a white one and use fabric paint to make the stripes. And of course, you would not be Augustus Gloop if your face would not be smeared in chocolate.
7. The BFG
Do you want to be the BFG on World Book Day? Then this costume should really represent you. You will need some green trousers, a white polo shirt, and finally, a waistcoat for your clothing.
Once you are done with that, all you need to make is the ears. You will just need a wire headband, along with some skin-colored fabric. You may also go for cardboard and paint if you do not have other solutions. Putting everything together should take 15 minutes tops – 30 if you’re making the wire headband yourself.
8. Miss Trunchbull
Some costumes are so easy to make that even a 7-year old can do it. That being said, if you (or your kid) want to be Miss Trunchbull for World Book Day, you will need a navy pencil skirt, a navy blazer, a white blouse or collar short, black tie, tube socks, boots, and a big belt.
This can cost around £30 if purchased second-hand, but once you buy them, all you’ll have to do is put them on. To make your shoulders seem bulkier, you might want to pin some plastic grocery bags on the insides of the blazer.
9. Fantastic Mr Fox
Mr Fox is one more character that you might want to try out for World Book Day. The mask is likely part of the costume which will take the longest time to make. Otherwise, things should be very straightforward. You just need to cut the mask from a template and paint it with some acrylic.
Other than that, you will need white socks, white pants, a white shirt, and a cape you can make from a white piece of cloth. Make sure that you also put together the logo for the front of the shirt. The entire thing should take about an hour or two, give or take.
10. Mike Teavee
Creating a Mike Teavee costume may seem a bit intimidating, but it can still be done. You will need a yellow shirt to which you can attach some frills, a blue scarf, and brown pants, and cowboy boots.
To top things off, you might want to make a gin holder out of cardboard or leather, attach it to the gun, and then put a water gun in there. The entire ensemble can cost around £30 if items are purchased second-hand.
11. Grandpa Joe
Grandpa Joe is a character that we all learned to love in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which is why a costume of him should be tried out. You may go for the trench coat over the nightgown, or you may replace the nightgown with plain brown pants and a white shirt.
Make sure to add a hat and a pleated scarf in the mix. If you already have the hair and the moustache, throw in some silver hair spray to give you the aged look.
12. Sophie From BFG
If you are out of ideas and supplies, but still want to act out your favourite Roald Dhal characters, then you may decide to be Sophie from BDG. All you need is a long, light pink nightgown, a short brown wig, and big glasses (or at least the frames).
The rest of the costume will be completed by your bravery and resilience – and the good news is that once you get these from the thrift store, there will be little for you to do after that. You may add a dream jar in the mix to finish the look.
13. Johnny Depp’s Version Of Willy Wonka
Roald Dhal has two Willy Wonkas that you may try out. The first is played by Gene Wilder, and the second is played by Johnny Depp. We already talked about how to make the first version, so we just have to add a bit more jazz to the second one.
The long red coat may be made from anything, but satin and velvet are great choices. The cane can be made with something as simple as a fluorescent bulb cover. You will need a short brown wig, a hat that you can make from cardboard and fabric, and painted goggles. It might take a few hours (or even days, if you are making everything from scratch), but the result should be worth it.
14. Mr Twit
If your “default setting” is set to scruffy, then Mr Twit is a good idea to go for on World Book Day. Some plain-looking clothes along with a trench coat should start the look, and the only thing you may want to create is a long beard.
Make sure to stick as many things in it as you can to give off the impression of dirt, and style the hair in a messy way.
We hope these Roald Dahl costume ideas have fuelled your imagination. We are huge supporters of encouraging the generation on readers and these posts may help you develop a love of reading in your children.
- Fun Games To Help Build Your Child’s Reading Skills
- How to Choose the Right Books for Your Child’s Reading Level
- 55 Good Role Models for Kids To Learn About
7 Responses
Super cute and £3 is a real bargain! I have started making costumes as times 3 they cost me a fortune to buy!
Eek a dressing up day so soon in the new term – thanks for the heads up. Now do you think my boys will mind going as Sophie? lol.
Thank you for the inspiration – such a great costume.
I love this! Erin makes a great Sophie! BFG had been Freyja’s favourite so I thought Sophie would be the obvious choice for her, but since then she has read Matilda.
I’m so bad at craft stuff, kinda glad the boys have grown up now lol! I remember many a painful midnight hour trying to make them outfits for school – not sure they’d have liked a floral nightie, but Erin sure does look cute!
That is a fantastic costume, I love the nightie! Thank you for sharing my post. You are right, there are so many costumes from Roald Dahl that can be made quickly and easily, another year my son went as George from George’s Marvellous Medicine, all he needed was a plastic bottle filled with coloured water and a spoon!