World Book Day 2022
It is World Book Day 2022! And it is the 25th anniversary of World Book Day! World Book Day is annual event that encourages children to dress up as their favourite book characters and celebrate reading. It is a little like Christmas for those of us that love kids’ books. This year, Little Box of Books is marking the day by joining forces with Chelsea Foundation. Together we are launching a new school programme, using representative books to teach children about equality, diversity and inclusion. The first session brings children from five London primary schools together, in their World Book Day costumes, for an event at the Chelsea’s stadium, Stamford Bridge. Long-term Little Box of Books supporter Rochelle Humes is supporting the event.
As part of Little Box of Book’s initiative with Chelsea Foundation, 15 schools will receive 100 new inclusive books each, that represent society by showing diversity in race, culture, family set up and relationships. The programme will run with five schools over five weeks. Bespoke sessions will bring diversity and inclusion into the classroom through the stories provided, helping children understand diversity and write their own stories. The sessions and resources will help embed inclusive books into schools, so they leave a lasting legacy.
During the first session at Stamford Bridge, 150 children will take part in a ‘draw along’ workshop with illustrator and character designer, Selom Sunu. They will each design their own character to create a ‘community of characters’, illustrating that each and every one of us is unique. Other workshops and stories on the day will highlight that everyone deserves to see themselves in the books they read.
‘Whoever you are, wherever you’re from, whatever you look like – you should be able to see yourself in the books you read and be the hero of the story.’ – Rochelle Humes
Last Minute World Book Day 2022 Costume Ideas…
World Book Day has seen a thousand Harry Potters and princesses. But World Book 2022 can be a little different. This year, we offer you some guidance for how kids could dress up as characters from diverse books – these were all part of our World Book Day Inspiration Box. In the UK 33.9% of school age children are of black, Asian or minority ethnic origins. However, the CLPE report, Reflecting Realities, revealed that only 8% of children’s books published in 2020 feature non-white protagonists. We’ve provided options for kids to emulate this World Book Day 2022. Not only this, but we’ve got alternatives to the usual gendered costumes. As well as providing the opportunity for kids to be crafty and creative with how they create their costumes.
For ages 3-6
Oona The Brave Little Mermaid by Kelly DiPucchio, illustrated by Raissa Figueroa
Mermaids can be a little challenging to dress up as – you don’t want to trip over! You could buy a mermaid tail or you could wear a very long orange skirt. Oona wears a flowy white vest. If you have a toy otto at home, then it’ll be the perfect stand-in for Oona’s best friend Otto.
Ruby’s Worry by Tom Percival
In this story, Ruby wears a blue dress with white dots and a white belt. She has her hair partly braided and then in bunches. See if you can find a dress that meets this description and style your hair like this!
1, 2, 3 Do the Dinosaur by Michelle Robinson, illustrated by Rosalind Beardshaw
This is the ideal opportunity to buy the dinosaur onesie or pyjamas that you’ve always wanted!
We’re Going to Find the Monster by Malorie Blackman, illustrated by Dapo Adeola
Eddie
Eddie wears red trainers, blue dungarees, a yellow top, and a red cape. One of the buckles on Eddie’s dungarees is always undone. She wears her hair in bunches. She has a wooden spoon handy. Then – of course – completes the look with a saucepan on her head!
Charlie
Charlie wears green trainers, blue shorts, and a navy top. He has a teddy-bear backpack. And, to finish it off, a pilot’s cap.
For ages 4-7
The Rapping Princess by Hannah Lee, illustrated by Alllen Fatimaharan
Shiloh
To imitate Shiloh’s look, you’ll need a yellow jumpsuit with red flowers. You’ll need flip-flops, matching red bracelets, and a yellow headband. Shiloh’s neckpiece might take a bit of creative effort. You could paint cardboard red and yellow, then add coloured feathers to complete the look!
The Pirate Mums by Jodie Lancet-Grant, pictures by Lydia Corry
Billy
To be like Billy, wear black trousers, a stripy under-top, and a red top with a smiley face.
Mama
To dress as Mama, wear jeans, black boots, stripy socks, and a stripy top. Complete the look with a bandanna and eye-patch.
Mummy
Mummy has brown lace-up boots, stripy trousers, and an impressive long blue coat. She adds to it with red pearls and a black hat.
To accessorise either of these outfits, just add more stripes! (I’m sure Billy’s Mums would approve). You can also tea-stain some paper to look like an old map – they’re pirates, after all!
Jabari Tries by Gaia Cornwall
Jabari
In this story, Jabari has red wellington boots on, blue shorts, and a bright orange top. He wears a hi-Vis and a hard hat. He also has protective glasses.
Nika
Nika has her hair in two buns. She wears a light blue top with a floral pattern, a skirt in a darker blue, and orange slip-on shoes. The fun part is the very extravagant butterfly wings! You could buy these or have a go at making them with cardboard.
Covered in Adventures by Gillian Hibbs
Sasha
This is a great chance to get a top really, really mucky. Sasha wears blue trousers and a long-sleeved orange top with a yellow star. You can take inspiration from the story for how to get your own top covered in adventures: you can do a volcano experiment; you can do some cooking to get it covered in sauce; and you can play football wearing it! Just tell your parents that the mess is allowed because it is for World Book Day.
Sunflower Sisters by Monika Singh Gangotra, illustrated by Michela Dias-Hayes
Amirta
Amirta wears a very special yellow lehenga that is decorated with sunflowers. A lehenga is an ankle-length traditional Indian dress worn for special occasions.
Kiki
Kiki wears a traditional African dress of the boldest blue with orange flowers. She finishes this with bracelets and a headpiece.
For ages 5-8
Space Detectives Extra Weird Creatures by Mark Powers, illustrated by Dapo Adeola
Ethan
Ethan wears black trainers, khaki green trousers, a white top, and a very cool orange jacket. See if you have the pieces to assemble this outfit at home!
Connor
Connor wears red trainers, khaki green trousers, and a white shirt with red stripes. This is the perfect character to go as if you already wear glasses, but if not, you might want to find some cheap ones without lenses.
If you like these characters but want a more out-there costume, check out the first book in the series, Space Detectives, and find yourself an astronaut costume!
Ballet Bunnies The New Class by Swapna Reddy, illustrated by Binny Talib
To dress as Millie, you’ll need a pink tutu and pink ballet shoes. Millie wears a glittery pink bow in her hair and wears it in a bun.
Samira wears a colourful tutu with lilac flowers in her hair.
Add bunny ears to your ballerina costume to go as any of the ballet bunnies!
For ages 8-11
StuntBoy In The Meantime by Jason Reynolds, drawings by Raul the Third
StuntBoy offers an alternative to the super-tight, super uncomfortable superhero’s costume. For this one, you’ll need blue shorts that cut before the knee, a yellow vest, and white socks. You will also need a red cape and arm bands. The belt is the hard part, you’ll have to do some sewing. Use blue fabric for the base, then red to create the stripes, and yellow to create the “S” for StuntBoy. StuntBoy has a few accidents. He has a plaster on his left knee, and another on his arm.
Amari and the Night Brothers by B. B. Alston, cover illustrations by Brittany Jackson
This one is very simple. Amari wears black trainers, blue jeans, and a collared shirt. She has her hair out naturally.
Front Desk
Mia Chang wears floral pants or jeans, a floral top, and trainers. You could bring along a prop like an old-fashioned phone if you’d like to.
We hope that you have an utterly fabulous World Book Day 2022! Enjoy dressing up to the fullest!
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