DIY Roald Dahl Costumes for Kids

Both my kids and I are big fans of Roald Dahl and his characters are always a really popular choice for dress up whether it’s for World Book Day or for Roald Dahl Day itself. Like a lot of parents I’m not always keen to buy yet another costume for school so these DIY Roald Dahl costumes are a great idea.

What’s more, all the images of homemade costumes I’m sharing are from actual parents that have made it themselves, not something suggested in a magazine that seems impossible when you have to make it yourself!

RELATED: Last minute costume ideas for World Book Day 

Easy George’s Marvelous Medicine costume

This costume is one that we made when my son was in Reception. Find a red top and blue jeans to wear, put a bit of brown paint inside a plastic bottle and a tiny bit of water, put the lid on tight and then swish it around until the inside of the bottle is covered. Write Marvelous Medicine on the outside of the bottle and you are done.

BFG Costume

The Gingerbread House shares how to make some BFG ears. Bonus points are you can get your kids to make these so you don’t have to!

Add a white tshirt, green or grey trousers and a brown waistcoat to complete the costume. If you have more time you could also also make a dreamcatcher or for a quicker version pop some paint or biodegradable glitter into a glass jar and write ‘Dreams’ on the outside

What does Sophie from The BFG wear?

Sophie is taken from the orphanage at night and so she’s wearing her nightdress. The BFG book shows it as being lilac on the front cover and for a DIY costume you could add a jar of dreams as with the BFG’s costume.

Charlie and The Chocolate Factory costume ideas

This awesome golden ticket outfit from Domestic Goddesque looks like it’s taken ages but the instructions actually sound pretty easy!

For something a bit easier go for Charlie Bucket – the book covers show him wearing a white tshirt and blue jacket so just make a small golden ticket that your child can carry (and maybe a bar of Wonka chocolate?!)

How do I dress like Matilda?

There are two ways to make a Matilda costume depending on if you want her to be at school or at home. Everyday Best shares how to make a quick Matilda outfit which I love or for an equally quick version copy the book’s cover and go for a blue dress and carry a copy of the book.

Fantastic Mr Fox Costume

Red Ted Art has a great Fantastic Mr Fox mask made out of a cereal box but there’s a template for it that you can grab too. Phew.

Add some red or brown clothes for your fox’s body and a long tailed blue or red jacket like you can see on the book’s cover.

How do you dress like Mrs Twit?

Both Mr and Mrs Twit are known for looking grim so it’s an excuse to look messy! Mrs Twit wears a green dress on the cover of the book and Mr Twit is in a blue (messy) suit. Backcomb that hair, mess your face up with some dirty looking facepaint and add a walking stick for Mrs Twit or a fake beard for Mr Twit (wool and bit’s of stuff on a cardboard beard would be great!)

Book Activities for Kids

We’ve got loads of activities for kids books with themes such as Superworm, The Snail and the Whale, Supertato and Dear Zoo.

Plus you can also grab our free printable reading scavenger hunt where kids can colour in each thing as they find it in a book.