Brilliant costumes to buy for World Book Day

Dragon

£13.95 - £22.20, Amazon

Instantly transform into a fearsome dragon, ready to battle with Saint George or be trained by Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, with this one-piece dragon jumpsuit. Fits ages 3-8.

Horrid Henry

£26.99, FancyDress.com

He'll be all set for a day of mischief and tricks with this Henry costume. Inclues printed top, trousers and foam mask. Sizes from 3 to 8 years.

Sherlock Holmes

£18.99, Amazon

Give Benedict Cumberbatch a run for his money with this Victorian-era costume (includes coat, cap and belt; supply your own pipe and magnifying glass). Sir Conan Doyle would approve. Age 7 to 15 sizes.

Peter Pan / Robin Hood

£9.28, Amazon

Two years for the price of one, this costume can be adapted to be Peter Pan or Robin Hood! For Peter, buy or make a sword. For Robin, fashion a bow and arrow set by tying a piece of string to a bendy stick, and painting poster tube brown. Sizes 3-10.

Alice

£12.99, Wicked Costumes

Prepare to fall down a rabbit hole and meet some very peculiar tea-time companions! The perfect outfit for Wonderland is required: blue dress, white apron (decorated with black and red card symbols) and a shimmering blue headband. Ready for an audience with the Queen? Sizes 4 to 12 years.

Harry Potter

£17.99, Jokers’ Masquerade

Add as much or as little as you like to this hooded Hogwarts robe to dress up as the ‘boy who lived’, with a wand, glasses or a Gryffindor tie. The robe will actually do for any Gryffindor, so – with the right props – your child can return to Hogwarts next year as a completely different character. Sizes fit ages 5-10.

Bilbo Baggins

£19.74, Amazon

Transform your Hobbit-lover into an actual hobbit with this costume (make sure you fashion the sought-after Ring in tinfoil to include with the outfit) and prepare them for Middle Earth.

Princess

£15.99, Amazon

Use a standard princess dress and transform it into their favourite princess from fairytales with little characters' details. How about a ‘glass slipper’ for Cinderella (any clear or sparkly shoe will do) or a pillow and a cardboard pea for the princess and the pea? Sizes 2 to 10 years.

Witch

£15.34, Amazon

A multi-tasking costume that will also come in handy at Halloween! Accessorise with a broom to become Meg the witch (of Meg and Mog picture book fame) or Winnie the witch (a black toy cat could stand in for Wilbur) or Mildred Hubble, the Worst Witch.

Dorothy

£19.99, Fun Shack

Prepare for stormy weather and dress for Oz! This Dorothy costume includes the hair bow, dress and red shoe covers; add a basket and a toy Toto and your little girl will be ready to follow the yellow brick road and see the Wizard. Sizes from 4 to 9 years.

Little Red Riding Hood

£10.79, Amazon

Basket? Check. Peasant dress? Check. All-important red cape? Check. It's time to pack some treats and head for Grandma's house... but beware of wolves on the way! Sizes 4 to 12 years.

Dalmation

£15.31, Amazon

Pongo, Perdita or one of the puppies? Club together with some friends to buy multiple costumes and create a full 101 Dalmations effect in the classroom! Sizes 4 to 12 years.

Jane Austen heroine

£12.99, Amazon

Although this is technically a Victorian-era dress, it works well for Lizzie Bennet, Emma Woodhouse, Fanny Price...any Jane Austen heroine. Your child will look the part, whichever of Austen's heroines she favours. Sizes 8 to 10 years.

The Gruffalo

£12.80, Argos TU clothing

This costume features characters from the story on the front and back, with the hood as the Gruffalo's head and feet with claws on them. 

Where's Wally

£24.99, FancyDress.com

Easy to spot in the Book Day crowd, Wally is a classic costume. Striped top, classic blue trousers and the obligatory striped hat... unmistakeable! Sizes 4 to 12 years.

The Little Mermaid

£19.99, Amazon

Use World Book Day dressing up as an excuse to re-read Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid, then float to school in a dress trimmed with ribbons and shells. The skirt is cut into a tail shape at the hem to complete the effect. Sizes 3 to 6 years.

Mary Poppins

£18.99, Fun Shack

Practically perfect in every way, the world's most famous nanny needs no introduction. Accessorize with a large umbrella (a useful flying aid when you're looking for new charges) and your magical disciplinarian will be all set to bring order to the nursery. Sizes 4 to 12 years.

Babar the Elephant

£26.99, FancyDress.com

Reign over the elephant kingdom as the wise and wonderful Babar, the much-loved character from the Jean de Brunhoff stories. Add a golden crown (a paper cut-out one will match the book's illustrations) to this jumpsuit costume and practise your regal wave. Sizes 4 to 8 years.

Musketeer

£25.99, Amazon

All for one, one for all! Will your musketeer choose to be Athos, Porthos or Aramis (or the dashing D'Artagnan) in their royal blue coloured tunic decorated with intricate white lace and gold trim detailing to the sleeves and collar? The finishing touch is a musketeer's hat with attached white feather. Sizes 7 to 12 years.

Biggles

£26.95, Charlie Crow

James Bigglesworth, nicknamed "Biggles", is the fictional pilot and adventurer of the Biggles adventure books. Don WW2-style trousers, jacket and helmet to relive his daredevil adventures in the skies! Sizes 8 to 12 years.

Oompa Loompa

£24.99, Jokers' Masquerade

Who wouldn't want to be an Oompa Loompa and live in a chocolate factory? Prepare your child to toil happily by the chocolate river, munching on marshmallowy grass, with this regulation overalls set (wig and copious amounts of orange face paint available separately). Sizes 4 to 12 years.

Mog the Cat

£31.99, Smiffys 

Channel your inner feline with this brilliant Mog costume (and take the opportunity to reread all Judith Kerr's brilliant Mog stories while wearing it!). A grey and black jumpsuit with an attached, 3D padded character hood, hand covers, deattachable tail and attached shoe covers. Size 3 to 5 years.

The Cat in the Hat

£14.89, Amazon

“I know it is wet and the sun is not sunny, but we can have lots of good fun that is funny.” Whatever the weather, a good day is certain with this Dr Seuss Cat in the Hat costume (and it'll be warm and snuggly, too!). The fleece-feel jumpsuit comes with red bow tie, tail and hat. Size 4 to 12 years.

The Gingerbread Man

£11.86, Amazon

Run, run, as fast as you can and dress up as the speedy, tasty treat from the traditional tale in this cosy costume, a brown top with matching trousers and headpiece. Sizes from 3 to 9 years.

The very hungry caterpillar

£18.95, Amazon

Can your child recite all the foods their super-hungry caterpillar self has eaten before turning into a butterfly? All together now: one apple, two pears, three plums... Size 3-7 years.

Tin Man

£22.99, FancyDress.com

Dorothy's companion in Oz can enjoy practising his 'robot moves' all day with this shiny costume, complete with oil-can-shaped hat. Add a scarecrow, a cowardly lion and a Dorothy (or a wicket Witch of the West) and the whole family can choose an Oz theme this Book Day. Sizes 3 to 10 years.

Fantastic Mr Fox 

£19.99, Amazon

We all love Roald Dahl's clever Mr Fox. Complete with detachable tail, red neck tie and head piece, your child will outfox everyone with this classic costume! Available in size 4 -12 years.

Owl

£21.95, Amazon

The Owl and the Pussy-cat went to sea / In a beautiful pea-green boat... Pack some honey and plenty of money and set sail for the land where the Bong-Tree grows in this costume and pay tribute to Edward Lear's amazing nonsense poem. Sizes 3 to 8 years.

Matilda

£18.99, Amazon

Book-loving, brilliant Matilda makes the perfect choice for World Book Day. This costume comes with an imitation book and a small newt, but feel free to add in your child's favourite read to keep them occupied in any idle moments in the playground! Sizes 4 to 14 years.

Mad Hatter

£27.49, Amazon

Prepare to take tea with a dormouse, a March Hare and Alice herself with this suitably eccentric Mad Hatter's costume. Vibrant colours, an oversized hat and a pocket watch ensure your child will be dressed for a wacky and wonderful day. Sizes 3 to 10 years.

The Tiger who came to tea

£19.99, Party Delights

This tiger won't take just one sandwich when you invite him round... he'll take all the sandwiches, and all the food in the cupboards, and even all the water in the tap! Relive Sophie's amazing encounter with the hungry tiger with this costume, perfect for fans of Judith Kerr's modern classic. One size (3 to 5 years).

Thing One or Thing Two

£8.95, Amazon

Take one child, add a red T-shirt and mad blue wig and voila', it's Dr Seuss' Thing One (or, Thing Two – the perfect costume for siblings). Sizes 3 to 8 years.

Gangsta Granny

£22.99, Amazon

Burglar Granny's clutching her swag in this all-in-one, long-sleeved pink and brown dress with white collar; the black mask is included in the costume but you'll need the grey wig to complete the law-breaking pensioner look. Sizes 6 to 12 years.

An alien (who might love underpants)

£17.99, Smiffys

Add a few accessories of the frilly / spotty / stripey knickers variety and this alien all-in-one becomes an underpant-loving extra-terrestrial from the book by Claire Freedman and Ben Cort. Out of this world simple!

Crocodile

£23.99, FancyDress.com

In Peter Pan the crocodile is Hook's nemesis, hungry for another taste of him after eating his arm. The crocodile pursues Hook everywhere, but has swallowed a ticking clock so Hook can hear it coming. Make a cardboard clock for your child to carry and this crocodile costume is complete and ready for Neverland! Sizes 4 to 9 years.

Playing card (from Alice in Wonderland)

£13.99, Amazon

Watch out for the Queen of Hearts if you want to keep your head... One size (3 to 7 years).