Sodding World Book Day - Help!!

[Oioicaptain]

Hi All,
My son started secondary school in September. I felt sad at him leaving primary school, but this was compensated in part at the relief of not having to make another World Book Day costume at the 11th hour for him.

Oh how wrong was I!! His school have stepped it up a notch by the addition of a theme. This year it's "pictures with words". This apparently can include, not just comics, but also illustrated non fiction books and book covers! He also has to have a copy of the book (although obtaining a book is the easy part).

Help! I am clueless. I have thought of the book The Marvels as he has that and it is largely illustrative, but I do not have the motivation to run up a quick Regency Nautical costume at such short notice. Where's Wally is also out, as it doesn't have words! And how does one dress up as a book cover?!
Anyone got any clever ideas for a fairly self conscious 12 year old boy, preferably not involving him having to wear one of my blouses back to front or a pair of ten denier tights!

Any ideas much appreciated! I'm stumped.

Jeans and a hoodie. Boy. That way if nobody else is dressed up he can at least look like all other teenagers.

If you must be book themed. There are tonnes of books where jeans, T-shirt and hoody are what the main character would be wearing anyway.

Has he got a toy shark or dinosaur? Could he take that and go with the book Jaws or Jurassic Park? Both of those have striking front covers.

How about some Halloween dracula teeth and a copy of Dracula?

Or do you (or does someone you know) have a bowler hat? With a flesh coloured eye patch over one eye and a bit of face paint in the shape of a cog around the other he could go as the figure on the front of A Clockwork Orange.

Another idea would be to send him in in black with a copy of The Godfather on a set of puppet strings (Google the book cover and you'll see what I mean).

Years ago my dds secondary decided to do this. She was in Year 7 loved books and was still quite enthusiastic. She still remembers in horror now that only 2 children in the whole school dressed up, her and her best friend. They spent the day mortified. If he dresses up make sure it's everyday clothes with his book link stuffed in his bag, just in case they're asked. Most won't dress up.