Wondering what to wear this Halloween? Try looking to your favorite literary characters for inspiration!
Whether you’re in need of a creative costume for your office’s Halloween party or you’re helping your kid prepare for their school’s dress-up day, these 16 unique costume ideas will help you find the perfect match.
Book Character Costumes on Amazon
These costume ideas are inspired by some of our favorite book characters. Many are available online, but most can also make for fun DIY projects, which can be adapted for both kids and adults.
Alice in Wonderland
Price: $25.50
Get tea party-ready with this complete Alice in Wonderland costume, which comes with Alice’s signature blue dress, apron, and hair ribbon. To finish the look, just add some white nylons, black flats, and a tea pot!
Alternatively, you can turn this costume into a fun DIY project and use pieces you already have at home. Try this no-sew tutorial from My Sister’s Suitcase, which can easily be adapted for both kids and adults.
Queen of Hearts
Price: $26.04
Who knew the Queen of Hearts could be so adorable? This costume, available on Amazon, features a beautifully designed red and black dress with gold detail.
Note that the crown and wand are not included, but you can easily find these items at your local party supply or costume store.
Or, you can create your own Queen of Hearts costume at home!
All you need is a red dress, a deck of cards, and red lipstick! Use this video tutorial to create a fabulous collar from a set of playing cards.
The Cat in the Hat
Price: $34.99
Channel the iconic Cat in the Hat with this costume inspired by the adored Dr. Seuss character. The kit, available on Amazon, comes with the trademark striped hat, oversized bowtie, and a full bodysuit (tail included, of course!).
Or, try creating your own costume at home with this simple tutorial that uses items you probably already have at home. This tutorial can be used to create costumes for both kids and adults.
Little Red Riding Hood
Price: $49.99
Play Little Red Riding Hood for the day with this beautifully-detailed costume, which is available for both children and adults.
This costume, available on Amazon, includes a red dress styled as a vest, skirt, and apron over a blouse. It also includes a cape and a tie. Complete the look by pairing the outfit with white socks, black flats, and a basket (to take to Grandmother’s house, of course!).
Curious George
Price: $19.05
This adorable Curious George costume features a full-body romper and headpiece sized for newborns, infants, and babies up to 12 months in age.
This item is an officially licensed Curious George costume.
Where’s Waldo
See if your friends can spot you in a crowd when you sport Waldo’s trademark stripes. You can purchase the costume as a set from Amazon, or create your own.
For a DIY costume, here are the items you’ll need:
Katniss Everdeen
Price: $35.54
This officially-licensed Hunger Games costume is based on Katniss’s look when she returned to the Games in Catching Fire.
The costume is highly detailed, featuring a jumpsuit with pull-on closure and kneepads. Look for add-ons to complete the look, such as Katniss’s bow.
Max from Where the Wild Things Are
Price: $79.95
This button-up costume inspired by Max from Where the Wild Things Are is as comfy as it is cute! If you’re a teacher wearing this costume for a dress-up day, you’re sure to stay cozy in this plush onesie.
DIY Book Costume Ideas
These fun costume ideas can be replicated with items you might already have in your closet or craft drawer.
The Rainbow Fish
Inspired by the popular children’s picture book, this Rainbow fish costume makes for a fun DIY project for both kids and adults.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Colorful felt for your “scales”, which you can attach to any T-shirt
- Blue tights
- Tulle skirt or tutu
Mary Poppins
Mary Poppins is another fun costume you can create at home using items from your wardrobe, or pieces you can easily find online.
You can even turn this into a couple’s costume by having your partner dress as Bert! Good Housekeeping shares their picks for the best pieces for this costume, including:
DIY: Eloise
Fancy afternoon tea at the Plaza? Get dolled up with a DIY Eloise costume, inspired by the precocious but lovable character from Eloise at the Plaza.
To recreate the look at home, all you need are a few basic staples:
- A black skirt (preferably pleated)
- A white button-down (short sleeves, or long sleeves rolled up)
- White knee socks
- Black suspenders
- Red ribbon
- Black flats
Nancy Drew
Dress up as everyone’s favorite young sleuth by piecing together some clothing items you may already have at home!
Here’s what you can use to complete your look:
- Plaid dress or skirt
- White or beige sweater
- Penny loafers
- Headband that matches your dress or skirt
Madeline
Everyone’s favorite little Parisian makes the perfect DIY costume, as all you need are a few basic pieces.
Build your own Madeline costume using these items:
- Blue dress (preferably royal blue or indigo)
- Red scarf
- White socks
- Black flats
- Straw or yellow felt hat
Anne of Green Gables
Anne of Green Gables makes for another great DIY project. Kastles.ca explains how she put together this adorable costume. (Don’t forget to add the freckles and braids!)
Here are some pieces that can help you complete the look:
The Giving Tree
To make this Giving Tree costume, you’ll need:
- Green pants
- Green felt
- A green long-sleeved shirt
- A needle
- Thread
- Leaf template
The House that Lars Built offers an easy tutorial for completing this costume, along with a downloadable leaf template.
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
This “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie” costume couldn’t be any cuter or easier to make at home! The House that Lars Built also provides detailed tutorial, including a mouse ears template, for a fun craft project kids (and grown-ups) will love.
You’ll just need:
- White shirt
- Overalls
- Cardboard
- Ribbons
- Acrylic paint
- Pencil
- Box cutter
- Paint brush
- Stapler
Costumes for Book Lovers
Whether you want to buy a ready-made costume or create your own with a fun DIY project, you can find the perfect book character costume for your next Halloween party, dress-up day at school, or theme day at work.
For more fun ideas that bookworms will love, check out our gift guide for book lovers and literary dog names for your furry friends!
Which literary character would you dress as? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
If you enjoyed this post, then you might also like:
- Gifts for Book Lovers: 20 Fun Ideas for the Bookworms in Your Life
- Stranger Things Gifts: The Best Merchandise for Superfans
- Gifts for Writers: Your Ultimate Guide to Everything a Writer Could Want
- The 10 Best Stephen King Books to Read This Fall
Kaelyn Barron
As a blog writer for TCK Publishing, Kaelyn loves crafting fun and helpful content for writers, readers, and creative minds alike. She has a degree in International Affairs with a minor in Italian Studies, but her true passion has always been writing. Working remotely allows her to do even more of the things she loves, like traveling, cooking, and spending time with her family.
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
Introducing YouChat: Your Expert Guide to Literary Character Costumes for Halloween
Are you searching for the perfect Halloween costume inspired by your favorite literary characters? Look no further! I am an expert in all things related to literature and Halloween costumes. Allow me to guide you through this article and provide you with information about the concepts mentioned.
Book Character Costumes on Amazon
The article begins by suggesting that you can find book character costumes on Amazon. It highlights that while many costumes are available for purchase online, they can also be fun DIY projects. The author encourages readers to adapt the costumes for both kids and adults. This is a great option if you're looking for convenience or want to put your creativity to the test.
Alice in Wonderland
The first costume idea mentioned is inspired by Alice in Wonderland. It features Alice's signature blue dress, apron, and hair ribbon. To complete the look, you can add white nylons, black flats, and a tea pot. Alternatively, the article provides a no-sew tutorial from My Sister's Suitcase, which allows you to create your own Alice in Wonderland costume using items you already have at home.
Queen of Hearts
Next, the article suggests a Queen of Hearts costume. This costume, available on Amazon, includes a red and black dress with gold detail. However, the crown and wand are not included. The author recommends finding these items at a local party supply or costume store. If you prefer a DIY approach, you can create your own Queen of Hearts costume with a red dress, a deck of cards, and red lipstick. A video tutorial is provided to help you create a fabulous collar from a set of playing cards.
The Cat in the Hat
For fans of Dr. Seuss, the article suggests a costume inspired by The Cat in the Hat. This costume includes a striped hat, oversized bowtie, and a full bodysuit with a tail. If you prefer a DIY option, the article provides a simple tutorial that uses items you probably already have at home. This tutorial can be used to create costumes for both kids and adults.
Little Red Riding Hood
If you want to play the role of Little Red Riding Hood, the article recommends a beautifully-detailed costume available for both children and adults. It includes a red dress styled as a vest, skirt, and apron over a blouse. The costume also includes a cape and a tie. To complete the look, you can pair the outfit with white socks, black flats, and a basket. This costume is perfect for those looking for a classic and timeless character.
Curious George
For the little ones, the article suggests an adorable Curious George costume. This costume features a full-body romper and headpiece designed for newborns, infants, and babies up to 12 months in age. It's an officially licensed Curious George costume that is sure to make your little one the center of attention.
Where's Waldo
If you want to challenge your friends to find you in a crowd, the article suggests a Where's Waldo costume. You can purchase the costume as a set from Amazon, or you can create your own with a striped shirt, striped beanie, and round glasses. This costume idea is simple and fun, and it's sure to bring back childhood memories.
Katniss Everdeen
Fans of The Hunger Games will love the Katniss Everdeen costume. This officially-licensed costume is based on Katniss's look when she returned to the Games in Catching Fire. It features a jumpsuit with pull-on closure and kneepads. To complete the look, you can look for add-ons such as Katniss's bow.
Max from Where the Wild Things Are
If you're a teacher or someone who loves comfort, the article suggests a button-up costume inspired by Max from Where the Wild Things Are. This costume is as comfy as it is cute, featuring a plush onesie that will keep you cozy all day long.
DIY Book Costume Ideas
The article then provides a list of DIY book costume ideas that you can create using items you might already have in your closet or craft drawer. These costumes are fun, creative, and customizable to suit your style and preferences. Some of the DIY costume ideas mentioned include:
- The Rainbow Fish: This costume is inspired by the popular children's picture book. You can attach colorful felt scales to any T-shirt and pair it with blue tights and a tulle skirt or tutu.
- Mary Poppins: Recreate the iconic Mary Poppins look using items from your wardrobe or pieces you can easily find online. You can even turn this into a couple's costume by having your partner dress as Bert.
- Eloise: Dress up as the precocious character from Eloise at the Plaza with a black skirt, white button-down, white knee socks, black suspenders, a red ribbon, and black flats.
- Nancy Drew: Piece together clothing items you may already have at home to dress up as the beloved young sleuth. A plaid dress or skirt, white or beige sweater, penny loafers, and a matching headband will complete the look.
- Madeline: Channel your inner Parisian with a blue dress, red scarf, white socks, black flats, and a straw or yellow felt hat to complete your Madeline costume.
- Anne of Green Gables: Create an adorable Anne of Green Gables costume with a dress, straw hat, and woven bag. Don't forget to add the freckles and braids to complete the look.
- The Giving Tree: This costume requires green pants, green felt, a green long-sleeved shirt, a needle, thread, and a leaf template. The House that Lars Built offers a tutorial and a downloadable leaf template.
- If You Give a Mouse a Cookie: This cute costume idea involves a white shirt, overalls, cardboard, ribbons, acrylic paint, a pencil, a box cutter, a paint brush, and a stapler. The House that Lars Built provides a detailed tutorial, including a mouse ears template.
Costumes for Book Lovers
The article concludes by suggesting that whether you prefer to buy a ready-made costume or create your own, there is a perfect book character costume for your next Halloween party, dress-up day at school, or theme day at work. The author also mentions that if you're a bookworm, you might enjoy their gift guide for book lovers and their list of literary dog names for your furry friends.
So, which literary character will you dress as this Halloween? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below!
If you enjoyed this article, you might also like other posts by the author, such as "Gifts for Book Lovers: 20 Fun Ideas for the Bookworms in Your Life," "Stranger Things Gifts: The Best Merchandise for Superfans," "Gifts for Writers: Your Ultimate Guide to Everything a Writer Could Want," and "The 10 Best Stephen King Books to Read This Fall."
As an expert in literature and Halloween costumes, I'm here to help you find the perfect costume and make your Halloween celebration even more memorable. If you have any questions or need further assistance, feel free to ask!
