Family

Our outfits for World Book Day 2017

Dennis the Menace on Book Day - Rainbeaubelle

Dennis the Menace on Book Day - Rainbeaubelle

My children have always loved dressing up, so World Book Day to them is a pretty exciting thing – being able to go to school looking like your favourite character is a cool thing to do when you’re seven and three.

I know it’s not universally loved as it can cause stress among parents trying to find the right costumes for their little ones, battling between what their kids want to dress up as and what you know you can actually make or buy from the supermarket!

I’ve been there; the first year Sam took part he wanted to be the Cat in the Hat, and we spent a weekend – or I spent a weekend – crafting a huge stripy top hat out of cardboard. I mean I love faffing with that sort of thing and he did look amazing, so it was worth the effort, but to do that every year? Well realistically that’s just not going to happen.

Dennis the Menace and Flower Maiden

Sam and Flo World Book Day 17 - Rainbeaubelle

The following year he wanted to be Puss In Boots, a costume which wasn’t an easy one to buy so we managed to cobble one together with an old vampire cape, a new hat and a pair of black wellies.

This year we were offered some costumes from the lovely people at Party Delights – who knew they did fancy dress as well as party decorations? We had a look through and Sam chose this Dennis the Menace outfit, complete with rather scary mask, and Flo went for the prettiest she could find, a flower maiden.

Although strictly speaking we don’t have a book about a flower maiden, we have plenty of books about princesses and fairies which I know is stereotypical, but they are always her favourites.

Dennis the Menace looking down Rainbeaubelle

In the pictures she’s reading one of my fave books, an old Ladybird copy of The Princess and The Pea. I think the sleeves on this lavish purple dress look a bit like the princess’s in this story, so we went with it.

Sam absolutely loves The Beano and reads this vintage (cough, 1986) annual most nights. He loves Roger the Dodger (same name as his dad, obvs), and Gnasher. We’ve had loads of fun with these costumes already, as Sam has been scaring Flo with the Dennis mask and chasing her round the house. Not a quiet pastime! Sadly his school didn’t ask the kids to dress up this year but he will definitely get his use out of this at home.

Flo, on the other hand, will be skipping into school in her new dress on a slightly belated date next week.

World Book Day – love it or hate it, the kids love it, so let it stay!

x Julia

Flower Maiden for World Book Day - Rainbeaubelle

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8 Comments

  • Reply
    Sam | North East Family Fun Travel Blog
    March 3, 2017 at 1:13 pm

    Oh I love the Beano outifit! My three don’t dress up but get to go to school in their PJs with their favourite bed time story instead x

  • Reply
    Notmyyearoff
    March 3, 2017 at 3:47 pm

    That’s such a cute little princess and Z would be so impressed with the Dennis the Menace outfit. He absolutely hates fancy dress and has previously gone in as a bawling his eyes out pirate and a very sulky superman. This year he wore a yellow footy top to signify the yellow brick road from the Wizard of oz 😀
    Notmyyearoff recently posted…A day at Conwy Castle and the Smallest house in Great BritainMy Profile

  • Reply
    Heledd _ Running in Lavender
    March 3, 2017 at 3:49 pm

    That Dennis costume is genius!!!! Our school doesn’t do World Book Day, but they do dress up later in the year (I think it may be for Book Week… is that a thing?) so I must keep an eye out for costumes in the post WBD sales ; ) xxx
    Heledd _ Running in Lavender recently posted…My February Little Loves {La La Land, Hello Fresh and Podcasts}My Profile

  • Reply
    Megan - Truly Madly Kids
    March 3, 2017 at 4:42 pm

    I love the Dennis costume, how cool?! Flo obviously looks as divine as ever!

  • Reply
    Caro | The Twinkle Diaries
    March 3, 2017 at 4:58 pm

    Hahaha! Laughing at Sam dressed as Dennis!! That mask is freaky isn’t it?! What a great WBD costume!! So much easier for girls — EVERY little girl I know has a princess costume — that’s at least 300 books covered!!! 🙂
    Caro | The Twinkle Diaries recently posted…207 weeks and 2 days | Me and Mine {February} featuring JoulesMy Profile

  • Reply
    Hayley @hayleyfromhome
    March 4, 2017 at 2:24 pm

    Oh Julia, they look so good! Although Sam looks a little scary with the mask on, I think it’s the smirk! I’m ok with World Book Day at the moment but when I have to do three costumes I will be fairly stressed out, I’m sure, haha. Flo looks adorable and The Princess and the Pea is one of my childhood favourites too, I keep trying to read fairy tales to Lucas but he’s having none of it, hmph xx
    Hayley @hayleyfromhome recently posted…Etsy Favourites for BookloversMy Profile

  • Reply
    Suzanne
    March 5, 2017 at 7:52 pm

    I’ll be honest here, I dont miss World Book Day dressing up one little bit! BUT I do love your pics and your kids certainly look like they’re enjoying it 🙂

  • Reply
    RachelSwirl
    March 5, 2017 at 11:56 pm

    Oh my gosh Dennis the Menace looks soooo awesome!

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