30 easy Roald Dahl costumes for Roald Dahl day 2024
Juliet Blank
Associate EditorThis page contains affiliate links, which means we may earn a small amount of money if a reader clicks through and makes a purchase. All our articles and reviews are written independently by the Netmums editorial team.
From Matilda to the BFG, these easy costume ideas for boys and girls are great for when schools are celebrating Roald Dahl Day!
Best Roald Dahl costumes for adults and children
Roald Dahl still holds the crown for creating some of the most timeless characters for kids to dress up as.
With so many creepy creatures and brave boys and girls to choose from, is it any wonder that schools are overrun with Matildas, witches and BFGs every year?
We've put together some of our favourites below to help you dress your little Roald Dahl fan.
1. Fantastic Mr Fox or Mrs Fox
Dress your little one in a shirt and tie – or a yellow dress if they want to go as Mrs Fox – and pair it with a mask.
Hey presto, you have yourself your very own Fox!
See our step-by-step instructions for an easy Fantastic Mr Fox costume.
Or, if you'd rather buy your costume you can buy a mask and tail set from Amazon for under £5 here.
2. Mrs Twit from The Twits
Messy hair, a drawn on monobrow and a stripy top – and your kids are good to go.
Add in some wooden walking sticks for extra effect.
3. Mr Twit from The Twits
All you need is a shaggy wig and an even shaggier beard – if it's got some old bits of food in it, even better!
4. Veruca Salt from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
All you need is a golden ticket, a lollipop, a homemade visitor pass and a pretty dress.
If you want to go all out, we recommend this amazing, officially-licensed and ready-made Veruca Salt costume, available on Amazon.
5. 'Daddy, I want a squirrel!' From Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Spoilt brat Veruca Salt famously demanded: 'Daddy, I want a squirrel!'
Dust off your old beanie baby collection to make this costume work.
6. Golden Ticket from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Decorate a no sew tabard made out of gold fabric for this unusual idea.
And if you don't have time to get crafty, you could go for this official Golden Ticket costume that's available on Amazon.
7. Willy Wonka from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
All you need is a black wig, a top hat, colourful glasses and gloves for this eccentric Roald Dahl character.
Check out our step-by-step guide to an easy Willy Wonka costume.
8. Willy Wonka's hat from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Creating Willy Wonka's hat is a great World Book Day activity.
Try looking out for a cheap top hat in a charity shop or a jumble sale. Decorate the hat with ribbons and feathers ... the crazier, the better!
9. Grandpa Joe from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Dress your child in some striped pyjamas and add a flat cap if you've got one.
Then use talcum powder to make your child's hair look grey.
Voila, Grandpa Joe is ready.
10. Violet Beauregarde from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
This Morning has a great tutorial for creating this huge blueberry costume.
Just make sure your LO will still be able to fit through the school gates!
11. Charlie Bucket from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Print off a golden ticket and pair it with whatever old clothes you've got lying around, and you've got yourself a Charlie Bucket clone.
12. Oompa Loompa
Dress your child in a brown top and white leggings or tracksuit bottoms. Then use white ribbon or fabric to create a 'dungaree' effect.
Finally, paint your child's face orange and use a green hairspray on their hair. (Most hair sprays are usually only suitable for use on children aged five and over – always check the label.)
If you're looking for a ready-made costume, this Rubie's official Oompa Loompa costume will look adorable on your little one! It's available to buy at Amazon, here.
13. Augustus Gloop from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Dress your child in a red stripy top and pop a cushion underneath to make a big tummy. Secure it in place with a belt.
Then add black rolled-up trousers or jeans, trainers and a huge Wonka bar made from a piece of card.
For extra points, add chocolate smears around your child's mouth using face paints.
14. The Enormous Crocodile
To make the crocodile head, take a large cardboard box wide enough to fit over your child's head.
Cut along lengthways to make the bottom look like sharp teeth. Then paint the box green – don't forget to cut out eye holes for your child to look through.
Finally paint the 'teeth' white before dressing your child in green clothes and adding a green no-sew cape.
15. The BFG costume
You'll need to buy a flesh-coloured swimming hat and stick on cotton wool at the sides to make grey hair.
Cut some big ears out of cardboard and stick onto a headband. Then dress your child in trousers (sew on patches if you have time), along with a white shirt and waistcoat.
For added BFG effect, why not cut a trumpet out of cardboard for your child to carry as well?
Get more tips in our step-by-step guide to making a BFG costume.
16. Sophie from The BFG
All you need is a pink dress (or nightie) and some glasses.
17. Genius DIY Roald Dahl BFG ears
We had to include this DIY hack we found on mumsgrapevine.com to make these Roald Dahl's BFG ears – it's absolutely genius!
All you need are two paper plates (or one plate cut into two halves), paint them the colour of your child's skin, and find a way to attach them to the sides of their head ...
... SO funny!
18. James from James and the Giant Peach
The costume is really simple – dress your child in a shirt, tie, school trousers and blazer.
To make the giant peach, simply blow up a large, orange balloon. Or, if you have time, you could make a papier-mâché peach.
19. Mrs Ladybug from James and the Giant Peach
Kind-hearted Mrs Ladybug from James and the giant peach is a simple but super cute choice.
Find out how to make a simple, no-sew cape, or check out our complete no-sew ladybird costume instructions.
20. Centipede from James and the Giant Peach
A giant talking centipede, what's not to love?
Have a go at making this centipede costume from Book Aid International.
21. Grasshopper from James and the Giant Peach
With a green outfit, green face paint and green antennas, the outfit is pretty much done!
Just remember to add a monocle.
22. Miss Spider from James and the Giant Peach
All you need is a stripy top or dress. Then make your spider's legs using our step-by-step instructions for animal tails, and stitch onto the outfit.
And if you can't face all that sewing, you can always hire a costume!
23. Matilda
Dress your child in a pinafore dress with a white cardigan over the top. Then pop a red bow in her hair and give her a pile of books to carry.
24. Miss Trunchball and Bruce Bogtrotter from Matilda
This is the best World Book Day idea for teachers/ adults we've seen – the kids will love it!
25. Miss Trunchbull from Matilda
This scary Miss Trunchbull can be easily recreated with long socks, a belted mac and scraped back hair (sprayed grey if you can).
26. Miss Honey – Matilda's teacher
Miss Honey from Roald Dahl's 'Matilda' is such a great character to dress up as on World Book Day – a true female heroine who represents strength and courage!
It's a great one for teachers, but kids will love to dress up as brave Miss Honey too!
A pretty dress, prim cardigan, and a bunch of yellow flowers will do the trick. Some glasses will finish off the nerdy 'teacher' look if you have them!
27. Grand High Witch from The Witches
All you need is a blue dress, white gloves, a black handbag and a face drawn onto a piece of cardboard.
Just remember to cut out eye holes in the cardboard before you give it your child so they can see where they're going!
28. More Roald Dahl 'Witches' costumes
Who loves these funny Roald Dahl 'Witches' costumes?
If you've got a skin-coloured swimming hat or a nude pair of tights, you can easily create this 'bald witch' look!
29. George from George's Marvellous Medicine
Blue paint and a wad of cotton wool can make the 'steam' from his medicine creations.
A stripy top completes the look.
30. DIY Roly Poly Bird costume
We love this DIY Roald Dahl costume idea we discovered from familiesonline.co.uk!
You can easy make one for your kid to wear on World Book Day ...
... just tie ribbons and strips of colourful fabric to the back of an elastic band that fits around your child's waist and they'll have a rainbow-coloured Roly Poly Bird tail!
DIY Roald Dahl dress up and costume ideas
Dress your little one in a shirt and tie – or a yellow dress if they want to go as Mrs Fox – and pair it with a mask.
Hey presto, you have yourself your very own Fox!
Where to buy Roald Dahl characters costumes and outfits
Or, if you'd rather buy your costume you can buy a mask and tail set from Amazon for under £5 here.
Dress your child in a brown top and white leggings or tracksuit bottoms. Then use white ribbon or fabric to create a 'dungaree' effect.
Finally, paint your child's face orange and use a green hairspray on their hair. (Most hair sprays are usually only suitable for use on children aged five and over – always check the label.)
If you're looking for a ready-made costume, this Rubie's official Oompa Loompa costume will look adorable on your little one! It's available to buy at Amazon, here.
You'll need to buy a flesh-coloured swimming hat and stick on cotton wool at the sides to make grey hair.
Cut some big ears out of cardboard and stick onto a headband. Then dress your child in trousers (sew on patches if you have time), along with a white shirt and waistcoat.
For added BFG effect, why not cut a trumpet out of cardboard for your child to carry as well?
Miss Honey from Roald Dahl's 'Matilda' is such a great character to dress up as on World Book Day – a true female heroine who represents strength and courage!
It's a great one for teachers, but kids will love to dress up as brave Miss Honey too!
A pretty dress, prim cardigan, and a bunch of yellow flowers will do the trick. Some glasses will finish off the nerdy 'teacher' look if you have them!
How to make a Roald Dahl costume?
Creating a Roald Dahl costume is a wonderfully whimsical way to celebrate the beloved author's magical characters. Start by choosing your favorite character – perhaps a cunning Mr. Fox or a whimsical Willy Wonka. For Mr. Fox, dress your little one in a smart shirt and tie or a yellow dress for Mrs. Fox, and don't forget the essential fox mask! If crafting isn't your thing, fear not, as there are mask and tail sets available for a quick fix on Amazon. No matter which character you choose, with a pinch of creativity and some basic wardrobe staples, you'll have a fantastic Roald Dahl costume in no time!
How do you dress up as Miss Honey in Matilda?
Embracing the sweet and nurturing Miss Honey's style from Roald Dahl's 'Matilda' is simple and adorable. Miss Honey is the epitome of a kind-hearted teacher, and her look reflects this. Find a pretty dress, perhaps in soft pastels, pair it with a prim cardigan, and accessorize with a bunch of yellow flowers for a touch of warmth. Finally, add a pair of round-rimmed glasses to achieve that quintessential, studious vibe. This getup isn't only perfect for kids but also makes for a charming and easy World Book Day outfit for teachers!
How to dress like Matilda for World Book Day?
Channeling the brilliant and brave Matilda is a favorite for World Book Day. To dress like this iconic Roald Dahl character, look for a blue dress – Matilda's signature outfit in many interpretations. Add a red ribbon in the hair for that classic bookish look, and perhaps carry a stack of books to show off Matilda's love for reading. For a prop, you might even create your very own "newt-in-a-jar" to replicate one of the most memorable moments from the story. Step into Matilda's shoes and let the magic and mischief ensue!
What should I wear to Roald Dahl Day?
Roald Dahl Day invites a parade of fantastic characters, so the possibilities are endless! Choose your favorite character and get creative. If you're leaning towards the chocolate factory vibe, an oversized purple coat and top hat will transform you into Willy Wonka, while a red wig and a sprinkle of green on your cheeks will turn you into a mischievous little Oompa Loompa. For the fans of 'The BFG,' a pair of big ears and a homemade trumpet will bring your giant costume to life. Whichever character you decide upon, wear it with a big smile and a playful attitude to capture the spirit of Roald Dahl!
No time to make a costume?
Panic not, you can buy affordable ones here at Amazon.
Looking for more book character ideas to wow your kid's classmates on World Book Day? Browse our galleries below, or swap ideas with other parents in the forum:
Related articles
How to make your own WBD costumes
