AIBU that world book day doesn’t support reading, but instead supports the buying of crappy costumes on amazon?

[Midlifeargh]

I really am starting to hate world book day.

Sure, it comes from a great place.

But sick of making costumes because I’m too cheap to buy them (also don’t like throw away fashion).

Also sick of it always being MY problem because I’m the freaking woman.

Am I being unreasonable that world book day does more to support amazon.com’s costume department than actual reading?

(I sort of want to be unreasonable in thinking that, to be honest!)

I enjoy making costumes, but can empathise with those who find it a complete drag.
I agree that it doesn't appear to promote reading much as all I tend to see are children dressed as film characters, rather than book characters.

So true OP. I'm no good at making costumes so always end up ordering rubbish ones from amazon.

My DC's school does do some worthwhile activities as well though. Eg a book swap, an author's visit, a reading challenge etc.

My kids school are telling kids to wear pjs tomorrow and just bring in their favourite book to show the class. Much better!

Agree 100%

Oh god no my kids hated wearing pyjamas to school

You can’t win though HuntIdeas because someone was complaining their kids school was doing Pjs instead for WBD on here yesterday. I have 3 to buy for so I’m definitely not making them!

I don't 'make' or buy costumes. But throw something together with a well chosen belt/hat etc. Doesnt have to be a drama

My DDs have to dress up as Fairy tales...

YANBU. I can think of a lot better way to promote the live of books and reading than dressing up as a random character.

I don’t think mine would want to wear PJs either tbh, mind you neither would I want to wear them out so don’t blame them.

Our school has a theme... this year it’s Shakespeare 🙈 I’d much rather spend a tenner on actual books than a polyester costume off Amazon! DS says they haven’t actually done any work on Shakespeare this week either.

My daughters school has to make a character from a potato or a spoon. Hate it.

Would much rather buy a costume for a tenner. Does my head in

My son's school doesn't do costumes. Tomorrow they've been asked to bring in something related to their favourite book so their classmates can guess what said book is.

Much better!

It's as easy or hard as you want to make it though. I cut out the shape of Mr grumpy from a cardboard box, then DD 5yrs old painted it. A bit of elastic to attach it around her arms and she's done.

Took me 10 mins and DD about an hour.

There's no need to spend lots of money on outfits or hours handsewing a master creation.

Jeans and a T-shirt with a bottle of purple liquid saying medicine on the label and you've got George from George's marvellous medicine.

Or

• jeans and a stripy T-shirt - where's wally
• red jumper and yellow scarf - Rupert the bear
• dress and a hair ribbon - Matilda
• blue dress and blue ribbon - Alice in wonderland

Our school is doing a costume OR pyjamas (so hopefully make it a bit easier). They are also doing a book swap event & library walks so it's focussed a bit more on reading again. Kids seem to love it!

I feel your pain OP. I like making costumes and I see for a hobby, so the kids don't get supermarket polyester costumes but the time can be a bit pressured, and of course it's my job not DH's.

*sew

Aww I like the costume I Primed from Amazon for the child I know if I made her costume she'd tear it to shreds before we even got the bus to school! Its been lovely seeing how excited the children are about tomorrow though.

It's not that expensive if you get on eBay or use your imagination. Little accessories can be picked up for pence. If you're buying a full costume from a supermarket for £15 each it can get silly. But personally anything that encourages talking about books is a good thing in my opinion!

I agree. My children love reading anyway so all this world book day has done is cost me a fortune. £16 for a costume each and then I had to buy the book and then a donation as well!!

I don't have school age children yet. Do children still get a voucher to choose a free book from a selection?

Nursery have said you can dress up if you want this week but what they really want is for them to bring in their favourite story and they are going to read them throughout the week

There should be a ban on bought stuff. School tie and kohl-freckles = Naughtiest Girl in the School, tin foil machete + cub uniform = bear Grylls/Beck Granger. It’s us parents making it a commercial nightmare, then we’re blaming schools, who are trying to make kids love literature in the face of the souldestroying demands of the national literacy requirements.
Pjs and fave bedtime reading book is also good.

I agree with all of this, including the film characters bit.... but sometimes getting a book of the film can encourage children to read. So I don’t mind it then, if the kids are actually reading books with those characters in.

I have two daughters, one of them hated 'fancy dress' or any kind of costume, so it was always a pain in the arse for us. She is a total bookworm though!

I also resent all the days when the school tell them to wear a particular colour e.g. 'wear red for anti-bullying awareness', 'wear stripes day'

Oh and xmas jumper day

Totally agree. Would be better for kids to read for an hour or be read to.