World Book Day 2025: Costumes ideas and inspiration

Schoolchildren at hundreds of schools will swap their uniforms for fancy dress for the annual celebration on Thursday, March 6.

Proud parents shared pictures with The Northern Echo of their youngsters in costume for the event in previous years.

Scarlett Moffatt’s son Jude, 8 months, as Paddington. (Image: SCARLETT MOFFATT)

Among them were kids dressed as Harry Potter, Matilda, and the Gruffalo.

County Durham’s former Gogglebox star Scarlett Moffatt also shared a snap of son Jude dressed as Michael Bond’s Paddington.

The event, first celebrated in the UK in 1998, is held on the first Thursday of March each year, and every child in full-time education is given a voucher to be spent on books.

Pupils from Ingleton CofE Primary School celebrate World Book Day. (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Amelia-Rose, 5, as Horrid Henry. (Image: LAUREN CLARKE/FB)

Archie, 5, as Harry Potter. (Image: CAMILLE HAMILTON/FB)

Benjamin, 3, as Pinocchio. (Image: LISA BATEMAN/FB)

Pupils at Ingleton CofE Primary School celebrate World Book Day. (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Bertie as The Hungry Caterpillar. (Image: LYNSEY HULL/FB)

Cater, 6, and Robyn, 3, as Harry Potter and Goldilocks. (Image: GRACE DEAKIN/FB)

Charlie, 6, as Woody from Toy Story. (Image: CATHERINE ANNE TYLER/FB)

Charlie-Thomas, 8, as Wally. (Image: KERRY BRITTON/FB)

Emmy Nicholson, 10, as Primrose Everdeen from The Hunger Games. (Image: KATIE NICHOLSON/FB)

Grace Vipond, 7, as a Dalmatian from 101 Dalmatians. (Image: RACHEL CASTER/FB)

Gracie, 9 months, and Ralphie, 3, as Paddington. (Image: SHELBEY BAINBRIDGE/FB)

Harry, 5, as The Gruffalo. (Image: EMMA BREWSTER/FB)

Imogen and Layla both as Wednesday Addams. (Image: JACQUELINE GRAVES)

Isabella, 7, as Little Red Riding Hood. (Image: LOUISE ELMER)

Isla, 4, as Matilda. (Image: STACEY CRANG/FB)

Lexi-Rose, 5, as Mary Poppins. (Image: ANNMARIE WRIGHT/FB)

Lottie, 7, as Betty O’Barley from The Scarecrows’ Wedding. (Image: AMY AUSTIN/FB)

Madilyn, 5, as Alice from Alice in Wonderland. (Image: AIMEE NIXON/FB)

Mason, 6, as The Stick Man. (Image: RACHEL LEE/FB)

Nellie and Eli, both 4, as Cinderella and Prince Charming. (Image: STACEY TEMPLE/FB)

Olivia as Peter Pan. (Image: LEIGH WILLIAMS/FB)

Oscar, 9, as Zog. (Image: KIRSTY ORTON/FB)

River and Mabel McCluskey, 2 and 5, as Veruca Salt and Willy Wonka. (Image: SAMANTHA HARDY/FB)

River, 4, as Matilda. (Image: DANIKA STEPHENSON/FB)

River and Alice, both 10, as Charlotte from Charlotte’s Web. (Image: CLARE YATES/FB)

Ruby, 4, as Elsa. (Image: EMMA MOSS KIRTON/FB)

Tracy Dobson’s grandson, 5, as Harry Potter. (Image: TRACY DOBSON/FB)

Willow, 4, as Hermione Granger from Harry Potter. (Image: NATALIE LOUISE SCOTT/FB)

href=”https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/my/ccn/assignment/8ZUMVxaV/”>this form and we’ll include as many as possible online and in tomorrow’s The Northern Echo.

Baby Isobel as Alice in Wonderland (Image: Public)

Isobel Adamson, 1, from Stanley as Alice in Wonderland
 

Kelsey, 8, as Tim Peake (Image: Public)

Kelsey Mackay, 8, who goes to Hipswell Primary School in Catterick Garrison, as Tim Peake

Lydia, 6, as Ada Twist, Scientist (Image: Public)

Lydia, 6, as Ada Twist, Scientist

Leo, 5, a pirate from Pirate Cruncher (Image: Public)

Leo Barnard-Brown, 5, from Richmond, as a pirate from The Pirate Cruncher

Blue and Pip Smith-Storey, both 7, from Darlington, dressed in their Harry Potter jumpers

Freya, Fleur and Phoebe Christon as Thing 1 and Thing 2, and a Ladybird (Image: public)

Freya, Fleur and Phoebe Christon, from Thornton, as Thing 1 and Thing 2, and a Ladybird

Lily Ingham, 5, from Darlington as Hermonie Grainger from Harry Potter

Poppy, 7, and Oliver, 2, as Alice in Wonderland and Lightning McQueen, from Darlington

Edie Spencer, 6, from Darlington

Lois, 7, from Spennymoor

Grace Tanner, 6, and Sophia Tanner, 11, from Crook, as Tinkerbell and Mechanical Fox from Cogheart

Leo Taylor, 6, from South Shields, as Stickman

World Book Day has previously drawn controversy over claims some parents can get overly competitive with costumes, and kids from lower-income families can feel left out.

The organisers of World Book Day, however, state that the day is “a celebration of reading,” and the costume element is “only a small part of the day.”

They encourage schools to focus on activities that promote reading and sharing stories, rather than expensive dress-up competitions.