Usually, I’m not particularly excited about dressing up for Halloween. for me, it’s more stressful than anything else.
But I’ll admit that once I started looking for book-inspired costumes, I suddenly wanted to go to a dozen Halloween parties because I was swimming in great costume ideas.
You are reading: Halloween costumes based on books
seriously, how awesome are some of these?
Whether you’re looking for a Halloween costume for yourself, your grade-schooler, or your baby, there’s something great here for all book lovers.
miss nelson & miss viola swamp (miss nelson missing!)
If there’s one thing better than one good book costume, it’s two good book costumes. Whether you’re wearing one one day and the other the next, or teaming up with a friend or sister, there’s something delicious about sweet Miss Nelson and the terrifying replacement, Miss Viola Swamp.
corduroy (corduroy)
As one of the cutest bears in picture books, you really can’t go wrong with a corduroy costume!
bella (beauty and the beast)
In addition to being one of the most beloved fairy tale characters of all time, Belle, from Beauty and the Beast, she is also a great lover of books. Plus, it’s super easy to make her costume: all you need is a blue dress, a white apron, and a big stack of books!
max. monsters (where the wild things are)
I recently saw a list calling Where the Wild Things Are the most loved children’s book of all time, and I wasn’t surprised. It’s a bonus that the characters make fantastic costumes, whether it’s for a child or the whole family!
wimpy kid (diary of a wimpy kid)
Whether you make a full headpiece or just print a simple paper face mask, this is one crowd-pleasing costume you probably already have all the parts for. my favorite type!
chicka chicka boom boom (chicka chicka boom boom)
See Also: 15 Must-Read Music Therapy Books | Incadence Music Therapy Blog
If you want something simple yet impactful, this classic picture book is a winner for a child or adult costume (or lowercase for a child and uppercase for an adult for a fun pair).
the book without images (the book without images)
a real book costume! all you need is a white t-shirt and a pair of magic markers to trace the words in the book. super simple, yet so creative!
curious george & the man with the yellow hat (curious george)
This is one of those perfect sibling costumes and it works easily for just about any age and for girls and boys alike.
olivia (olivia)
I love how simple this costume is but also very recognizable. And how cute would a mother-daughter version be? I may be forcing my olivia-loving kindergartener to wear this with me on halloween.
the very hungry caterpillar (the very hungry caterpillar)
Your very hungry little one is sure to eat this costume! add a butterfly (or maybe that apple he ate on Monday) for a super cute sibling costume.
peter pan (peter pan)
you know peter pan would have loved halloween. It’s the perfect vacation for the kid who didn’t want to grow up.
geronimo stilton (geronimo stilton)
my daughter is crazy about geronimo stilton right now, she checks out two or three new books every time we go to the library and listens to the audio versions every afternoon during quiet time. This fun costume is perfect and easy to put together.
lulu(ladybug girl)
See Also: The Book of Magic – Alice Hoffman
Upgrade your typical ladybug costume by dressing up as Lulu! When Lulu puts on her ladybug costume, she becomes Ladybug Girl, a superheroine whose imagination leads her on all kinds of adventures.
waldo (where’s waldo?)
waldo may be the most recognizable book character and the easiest to copy. just get yourself a striped shirt, round black glasses and a red hat with pom poms!
the pigeon (don’t let the pigeon drive the bus!)
I know of no book that is so universally popular with toddlers and early grades. Besides, we all know that the pigeon would make an excellent trick or treat; He’s so good at convincing adults to give him what he wants!
oompa loompa (charlie and the chocolate factory)
fun for one kid, even better if you have several! Plus, a toddler is just the right size for a real oompa loompa.
princess elizabeth (the princess in the paper bag)
If you can talk your kid out of the floofy princess dress, this is a simple and clever Halloween costume. Besides, who doesn’t want to be a princess who slays her own dragons?
james (james and the giant peach)
all roald dahl fans love this costume. Poor James isn’t as popular as Charlie (and he can’t visit a chocolate factory either), so if you love an underdog, this is the costume for you. Plus, it’s seamless!
katniss & peeta (the hunger games)
a leather jacket and a braid are easy to get. Add a sack of flour for Peeta and a curly blonde baby and you have an easy and fashionable family costume!
Want even more ideas? Check out our storybook halloween costume pinterest board!
See Also: 13 Best Healthy Eating Books of 2022 | Healthline