Calling All Readers: You Will Love These Clever Book Character Costumes (2024)

Calling All Readers: You Will Love These Clever Book Character Costumes (1)

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Think of your favorite childhood book. Now, think of the characters that make up the story. If you could be them for one day, would you? We know Ree Drummond would! For her, it was a whole series of books that had her completely captivated as a child. "I grew up reading the Little House on the Prairie series," Ree says of Laura Ingalls Wilder's most popular works. "I absolutely adored them." When you're that passionate about a book as a child, the love never really goes away—and that's exactly what inspired us to put together this list of the best book character costumes to wear for Halloween.

Maybe you're a teacher looking for a fun way to teach a literature lesson on October 31, maybe you're looking for ideas for your kids, or perhaps you're a parent wanting to step back into those magical, memorable pages yourself. Either way, you'll love taking a trip down memory lane as you scroll through these easy Halloween costume ideas, which include sibling costumes, best friend costumes, group costumes, and more. There's a DIY "Where's Waldo?" costume here that'll have your fellow Halloween party guests in stitches, a Lorax tutorial for those interested in saving the Truffula trees, and—of course!—a Little House-inspired look, too. There's also plenty of pop culture costumes like Harry Potter and princesses! And we dare you to take a look at the If You Give a Mouse a Cookie costume included here and not crack a smile.

Because all of these ensembles are easy to DIY, they double as excellent last-minute Halloween costumes as well. Bookworms, prepare to be wowed! And if you're here, you'll probably want to check out these spooktacular Halloween books, too.

1

Fantastic Mr. Fox

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How great is this? Think outside the fox (get it?) with this take on the children's novel Fantastic Mr. Fox written by Roald Dahl. After you put together your vintage outfits, you can make a fox mask out of poster board and watercolor paint.

Get the tutorial at A Beautiful Mess.

SHOP WATERCOLOR PAINT

2

Peter Pan Costume

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Though we all know and love the movies, Peter Pan was first a play and then a novel titled Peter and Wendy. The whole family can take a trip to Neverland with this magical group getup featuring the Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up and The Lost Boys.

Get the tutorial at A Beautiful Mess.

3

Cinderella Costume

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As the beloved princess once said, "Did you ever see such a beautiful dress? And look! Glass slippers. Why, it’s like a dream. A wonderful dream come true." You can copy her iconic ensemble with a vintage blue dress, matching satin gloves, a black choker necklace and, if you really want to go all out, a blonde wig.

Get the tutorial at Keiko Lynn.

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4

The Handmaid’s Tale Costume

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A deep red cloak and dress paired with a white bonnet will have you instantly recognizable as a Gilead handmaid from Margaret Atwood's chilling novel. You can also grab a group to make this one even more impactful.

Get the tutorial at Living After Midnite.

5

Goldilocks and the Three Bears Costume

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This classic fairytale costume is just right! Since you can use clothes right from your own closet, the only things you'll need to make are papier-mâché bear masks and a little golden wig! Bowls of porridge are optional...

Get the tutorial at A Beautiful Mess.

SHOP LIQUID STARCH

6

Mary Poppins Costume

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Now this is one supercalifragilisticexpialidocious costume! You can probably throw it together using items you already have in your closet including a bag and umbrella. Just add a few charming accents like a hat and red ribbon.

Get the tutorial at Merrick's Art.

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7

Ms. Frizzle Costume

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Teachers and The Magic School Bus fans alike will get a kick out of this spunky costume. Luckily, it only takes a few steps to embody every child's favorite bus driver. Just don't forget her pal Liz the lizard!

Get the tutorial at Maniacs in the Middle.

8

Willy Wonka Costume

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Halloween already comes with all things candy, so why not dress up as the master of chocolate himself? Grab your golden ticket and get to crafting! This one calls for a lot of purple.

Get the tutorial at Hello Rigby.

9

Amelia Bedelia Costume

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Literature's most beloved and literal-minded housekeeper just got a costume tutorial! Once you layer the collared shirt under the long sleeve dress, everything will start coming together! How charming!

Get the tutorial at The Chirping Moms.

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10

Hermione Costume

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The tiny witch's hat on this Hermione Granger costume couldn't be cuter! Toddlers are certainly as headstrong as this character—though they may need a little more help mastering her go-to spells and charms. Bonus: If you're looking for great group costumes, just add Harry Potter and Ron Weasley to complete this trio.

Get the tutorial at Sisters, What!

SHOP HARRY POTTER ACCESSORIES

11

Eloise Costume

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If you ask us, Eloise and Weenie make the perfect duo for this Halloween! The super cute homage to the classic series by Kay Thompson will delight both kids and adults.

Get the tutorial at People Webs.

12

Tin Man Costume

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Get ready to take a stroll down the yellow brick road. Yep, you probably know The Wizard of Oz as a famous movie, but did you know that it was a book first? Channel the beloved character the Tin Man from this classic work.

Get the tutorial at A Pumpkin & a Princess.

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13

'The Hunger Games' Costume

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Who doesn't love Katniss Everdeen and her strong, courageous personality? Help your teen or pre-teen have her main character moment with this easy-to-assemble ensemble. It's bound to make them feel as cool as they look.

Get the tutorial at Simple As That.

14

'The Three Musketeers' Costume

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With this swashbuckling costume, you'll just need to gather two more pals to really give it an adorably authentic feel. Oh, and that hat feather is a must-add detail!

Get the tutorial at Adventure in a Box.

15

'Anne of Green Gables' Costume

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Any kindred spirits out there will love bringing the classic character of Anne Shirley to life with nothing more than a few wardrobe basics, some hair ribbon, and a straw hat.

Get the tutorial at Kastles.

SHOP STRAW HATS

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16

'Nancy Drew' Costume

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Turn heads and solve mysteries all at once with this chic Nancy Drew costume. As long as you've got a magnifying glass in hand, you can make it work with pretty much whatever you find in your closet!

Get the tutorial at Ashley Brooke Designs.

17

'Where the Wild Things Are' Costume

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Not only is this DIY costume the easiest way to let the wild rumpus start, but it's also a fabulous idea for keeping your baby warm all evening. Bring it on, chilly October weather!

Get the tutorial at A Night Owl.

18

'Captain Underpants' Costume

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Get their friends giggling with this faux "underwear-only" look. It's fully DIY, easy to mimic at home, and undeniably hilarious.

Get the tutorial at The Mom Creative.

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19

'The Cat in the Hat' Costume

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How adorable is this DIY The Cat in the Hat costume? That miniature "goldfish" sidekick is all but guaranteed to make your fellow party guests laugh.

Get the tutorial at Brit + Co.

20

'Little House on the Prairie' Costume

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If there's one person who'd appreciate this Laura Ingalls Wilder costume, it'd be Ree. Not only did she love the Little House series as a child, but she also grew up to marry a rancher. "Hilarious that I wound up living in the country!" she says.

Get the tutorial at Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Mom.

SHOP BONNETS

Calling All Readers: You Will Love These Clever Book Character Costumes (23)

Macie Reynolds

Assistant Editor

Macie Reynolds is the assistant editor of E-Commerce and SEO for The Pioneer Woman.

Calling All Readers: You Will Love These Clever Book Character Costumes (2024)

FAQs

How to dress up like Amelia Bedelia? ›

Amelia's style is simple and modest. Amelia Bedelia wears a bonnet, white apron and black Mary Janes. Put a sexy spin on an Amelia Bedelia costume by substituting a French maid costume. Of course, all of these costumes need a unique and personal touch to provide the one-of-a-kind Amelia Bedelia look.

How to dress up like Nancy Drew? ›

For her clothes think plaid skirt and sweater set or a 60's style shift dress, or Blue suit jack and skirt. I think of Nancy in some sort of dress or skirt, and you can add a trench coat if the weather is cool.

What is Book Character Day at school? ›

Book Character Day is celebrated every year on October 31st. Students, teachers, librarians, and book fans can bring their favorite characters to life. Schools across the country celebrate by inviting staff and students to dress up as their favorite characters.

Who is the best written fictional character? ›

1) Sherlock Holmes. Created by Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes is one of the best fictional characters of all time. A detective in Baker Street, Holmes has a vast knowledge of science along with amazing reasoning and observation skills.

Who is the most famous book character in the world? ›

One of the most famous literary characters is Sherlock Holmes. He is an intelligent detective who uses his keen observation skills to solve crimes. Sherlock Holmes is a well-loved character because of his wit, intellect, and charm.

What disability does Amelia Bedelia have? ›

Amelia Bedelia has always coded as autistic, but throughout the earlier series she's shamed and insulted for it (which is so close to reality even the most vile books in the series have some merit as examples on normalizing ableism.)

Is Amelia Bedelia a maid? ›

The stories follow Amelia Bedelia, a maid who repeatedly misunderstands various commands of her employer by taking figures of speech and various terminology literally, causing her to perform incorrect actions with a comical effect.

How to dress like Inigo Montoya? ›

Now you get to see Katelynn's Inigo Montoya costume! This costume was super easy, too. What you need: Brown pants or leggings Brown or beige collared shirt (this is a women's size 2 shirt!) Brown vest (also from the women's dept) Brown belt Brown boots A sword, to kill the Six-Fingered man with.

Does Nancy Drew have LGBT characters? ›

But Nancy Drew treated all their queer characters with such respect and creativity that it wasn't a stretch for them to be able to wrap things up beautifully and realistically in just a few episodes. Not to mention, Bess plays a pivotal role in the series finale. She's as important as Nick or George or Ace.

How do you dress like Joyce Byers? ›

Joyce Byers Costume for Cosplay & Halloween 2023

Joyce Byers costume is a red shirt, denim pants, and an olive green jacket. But what makes this outfit unique is her 'alphabet wall.

What was Nancy Drew's famous line? ›

When threatened with a hairbrush by a vicious woman, remain calm and speak in cold level tones.” “I don't promise to forget the mystery, but I know I'll have a marvelous time.” “I have solved some mysteries, I'll admit, and I enjoy it, but I'm sure there are many other girls who could do the same.”

How to dress like fancy nancy? ›

Fancy Nancy costume is a sleeved yellow shirt, a pink tutu, a light blue bow belt, hot pink Mary Janes, and a purple beaded necklace. She also likes wearing a pretty tiara atop her beautiful, curly, red hair.

Do children dress up for World Book Day? ›

World Book Day can be celebrated in or out of costume, the important thing is that the day is fun and that children are feel included and are encouraged to read for pleasure.

What is book Day for kids? ›

World Book Day itself is organized by a registered charity, whose mission statement is to give every child and young person a book of their own. It was first celebrated in 1995, World Book Day is a time when the joy of reading can be appreciated and celebrated, in over 100 countries around the world.

What makes a good main character in a book? ›

Complexity and Depth: A well-developed lead character should have depth and complexity. They should have strengths, weaknesses, fears, desires, and internal conflicts that make them relatable and human. Readers should be able to empathize with their struggles and journey.

What book character wears normal clothes? ›

Book Characters that Wear Normal Clothes

Charlie Bucket” from 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' by Roald Dahl Perhaps one of the most famous Roald Dahl books thanks to the film(s), Charlie Bucket wears normal clothes typical for a young boy such as shirt/jumper and jeans.

Is Wednesday Addams a book character? ›

Wednesday Addams is a fictional character from the Addams Family multimedia franchise created by American cartoonist Charles Addams. She is typically portrayed as a morbid and emotionally reserved child that is fascinated by the macabre, often identified by her pale skin and black pigtails.

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