Anyone can buy a prepackaged costume for Halloween at a store. It takes a true fan to put together a costume yourself, as often happens for book lovers.
If you want to dress up as anything related to a book, other than Harry Potter characters, you have to put it together yourself. It takes planning and effort, but it is so worth having a unique costume that shows your love of books. You can do many book character costumes with a group or your family and you can feel like a kid celebrating kids books and your favorite classics.
So start putting together your costume now!
Check out these amazing costume ideas based on book characters.
1. Charlotte’s Web
This children’s classic costume seems like it would be simple to add more characters if you wanted an ensemble costume.
2. Edgar Allan Poe And The Raven
Say it with me: “Quoth the Raven ‘Nevermore.'”
https://www.instagram.com/p/gJvJsVBPcl/
3. Fox in Socks
This one would be super easy to put together, especially if you already have blue socks at home!
4. If You Give A . . .
Yay for headbands! And cute group costumes!
5. Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Instead of making an entire mask/helmet thing that other versions of this costume use, put the face on a stick. That way, you or your kid can actually, you know, see.
https://www.instagram.com/p/60w3YpsYKy/
6. Paddington Bear
An easy costume with a raincoat, rain boots, cute hat, a little case, and a tag.
7. Book Fairy
Grant my wish, Book Fairy.
8. The Giving Tree
If I think too much about this one, I might cry.
9. Olivia
Got to love the stockings.
10. The Old Man and the Sea
You can also just ignore characters completely and play with book titles. That’s fun too!
11. Princess Elizabeth From The Paper Bag Princess
You can’t get a costume much easier than a paper bag.
12. Miss Havisham From Great Expectations
This is what those old, yellowed wedding dresses at Goodwill are for.
https://www.instagram.com/p/fujAidRdDN/
13. Hester Prynne From The Scarlet Letter
For those who just so happen to have a Puritan costume lying around.
https://www.instagram.com/p/u1lNHmj2pF/
14. Austen Characters
If making one of these sounds daunting, you can order one here.
15. Coraline
The blue wig shouldn’t be hard to find in stores this time of year. The rest is fairly easy!
https://www.instagram.com/p/u053EjwsxY/
16. A Bad Case of Stripes
A costume and an excuse to call in sick the next day.
https://www.instagram.com/p/uz-7ZWsJyq/
17. Effie Trinket From The Hunger Games Series
Eccentric, vibrant and sure to gain some attention!
18. Luna Lovegood From Harry Potter
Yes, this costume is from Harry Potter, but you won’t find this one in stores.
19. Moaning Myrtle From Harry Potter
Although this is a DIY costume, buy a new toilet seat. Please.
20. Miss Viola Swamp From Miss Nelson Is Missing!
Yours will be the scariest house on the block with this costume.
21. Ms. Frizzle From The Magic School Bus
Who didn’t want her as a teacher? Besides Arnold. If you are having a hard time finding dresses with crazy patterns, try making her dress on your own by gluing items onto a neutral-colored dress.
22. Pop Art Characters
For those into pop art comic books, you can dress up as your favorites!
23. A Semicolon
If you wear this and someone asks you what you are, just walk away. You could get a group together and have all the punctuation marks!
What literary costumes have you seen or done?
YouTube Channel: Epic Reads
Featured image via A Beautiful Mess