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Original poster

To despise what world book day has become

161 replies

Whoinvented · 02/03/2026 17:28

Currently searching for an outfit for my child who hates fancy dress but loves books. Why can’t schools just ask kids to bring their favourite book in? Why the expensive ridiculous need for a costumer every sodding year!!! We don’t have the money to waste, I’m crap at making stuff, my kids hate it. World book day has lost its meaning and can get fucked 😂

OP posts:
JustMerelyHere · 02/03/2026 17:37

The whole thing is ridiculous and seems to have lost the focus on books. You are definitely not being unreasonable.

If people want a dressing up day have that too

Wendalicious · 02/03/2026 17:36

I work in a school and we are all expected to go crazy for this! My kids are older now and I can’t be arsed to make anything and I don’t want to spend money- ironically I love books but not this 🤨

HeadyLamarr · 02/03/2026 17:36

How old are you, @Whoinvented ? Have you been asleep for 30 years? Because it's been a dressing up day for at least that long.

DS once went in a dressing gown and a towel because we'd been reading Hitchhiker's to him and he wanted to be Arthur Dent.

44PumpLane · 02/03/2026 17:36

Our school is relatively sensible in that they suggest pyjamas (or this year space theme or pyjamas) but they always say that there is no need to spend money and to repurpose something you have.

But agree with others, use something you have and make it fit a book......mine went as butterflies one year as they owned wings and I used pipe cleaners on a headband and we borrowed a book from the library about butterflies.

thisfilmisboring123 · 02/03/2026 17:35

BalletSki · 02/03/2026 17:33

Send them in in normal clothes and pick a character in a book they like who wears normal clothes.

This is what we did as the kids got older as mine hated dressing up.
Easy peasy.

MyThreeWords · 02/03/2026 17:35

I think it was always a bit crap. Even twenty years ago it was more about supermarkets cashing in by selling environmentally unfriendly costumes than it was about reading.
But it wouldn't surprise me if it was getting even more crap, since that seems to be the trend generally.

H1ppychicken · 02/03/2026 17:34

Our school has stated costumes can't be bought ones and all kids can just come as they are and be 'authors' - removed the stress completely. Maybe suggest it to your school for next year?

Cosyblankets · 02/03/2026 17:34

World fancy dress day

BalletSki · 02/03/2026 17:33

Send them in in normal clothes and pick a character in a book they like who wears normal clothes.

Snorlaxo · 02/03/2026 17:32

My kids tried to find a character that fit their favourite outfits. This saves money and they got to wear mufti (they were not worried about having a “good” costume that brought attention)

If they have a character T-shirt and that character features in a book then it technically meets the criteria. Eg Marvel Avengers was originally a comic book so wearing a T-shirt with the characters meets the dressing up requirement.

pinkyredrose · 02/03/2026 17:30

Do they have to dress up, can they go in thier school uniform? I agree, i think it's silly and wasteful.