Book Week is always a colourful celebration at Arden Early Learning, and one of the highlights is dressing up as beloved storybook characters. But creating fun and memorable costumes doesn’t have to break the bank. With a little creativity, families can pull together affordable outfits using everyday items found at home.

Here are 10 budget-friendly costume ideas:

  1. The Very Hungry Caterpillar – Green clothing and a red beanie with paper antennae.
  2. Where’s Wally – Red and white striped shirt, blue pants, glasses, and a beanie.
  3. The Gruffalo – Brown clothes, paper horns and claws, and a printed face mask.
  4. Harry Potter – A black robe (or oversized shirt), paper wand, and round glasses.
  5. Thelma the Unicorn – Pink outfit with a handmade cardboard horn.
  6. Matilda – Blue dress, red ribbon in the hair, and a favourite book in hand.
  7. Mr. Strong (Mr. Men series) – Red shirt with Mr. Strong’s face drawn on.
  8. Room on the Broom Witch – Black clothes, a cardboard broomstick, and a pointy hat.
  9. Possum Magic’s Grandma Poss – Shawl, grey clothes, and a handmade tail.
  10. Pig the Pug – Beige or white outfit with dog ears on a headband.

Encouraging children to create their costumes (with help) builds ownership and creativity. Plus, it teaches resourcefulness and sustainability—values we support at Arden Early Learning.

Costume parades are not about perfection. They’re about bringing stories to life and having fun with literature. And with a little imagination, anything is possible.

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