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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

World Book Day

122 replies

popcorndiva · 03/03/2022 15:34

When did World Book Day become wear something from a Marvel/Disney/Pixar movie Day

Is it just me that thinks the amount of screen time children get now that schools should encourage purely books today not films .

I remember when I was young dressing up was not a thing we did a sponsored spellings or reading etc. The focus was on literacy anyway.

AIBU - it's just fun and kids don't read books now
YABU - yes it's annoying kids should be Book characters only

OP posts:
DarkDarkNight · 03/03/2022 18:55

I think YABU because lots of kids already have Disney/Marvel dressing up outfits and it’s so wasteful to buy something to wear once.

Marvel superheroes obviously come from comics and lots of Disney have fairy tales as source material. The first world book day for my son I was insistent he went as a book character, in Y1 he wanted Spiderman so I just let him. We read together every day, we read good books both classics and modern novels, I think some of the insistence on book characters is snobby.

metellaestinatrio · 03/03/2022 19:35

In principle I agree that children should be dressed as book characters rather than something from a computer game / film (there are tons of ideas on the internet for simple, cheap costumes for the financially / creatively challenged among us). So far my children have been happy to do this but I imagine that by Y6 I’ll be delighted if I can persuade them to dress up at all!

However, we have to be realistic - who wants to start the day fighting with their child who is desperate to wear their superhero / Disney princess costume? The important thing is that they are joining in and will hopefully be able to speak to their class about their character in a way they wouldn’t be able to if they’re dressed as a random book character they’ve never heard of but Mummy deems worthy.

Halllyup17 · 03/03/2022 19:40

@alwaysmyfault

I teach year 6 and we had one child come in as Tommy Shelby ( Peaky Blinders), one as a character from Squid Game and Two were Mr Bean. Ridiculous.
Mr Bean's Diary was one of my favourite books when I was a child. It's hilarious.
Abraxan · 03/03/2022 19:40

Children wear costumes they already have.

Most of the characters do have books linked to them, even if the books are spin offs from the films.

I wear a wizard cloak today, based on the HP books. However, my cloak is a branded Warner Bros cloak, based in those worn in the films. So, is my character from a film or a book? And does it really matter that much? The activities and stories read in the day are much more important than the dress up - we only do that because our children mostly enjoy it, and parents wanted it to return.

IME, children have been wearing branded character costumes, such as Disney and superheroes ones, for many years.

Abraxan · 03/03/2022 19:44

@Legoisthebest

As the teacher did you talk to the children (and their parents) about their inappropriate outfits?
We had to do this with 2 parents last time - 2 6y sent in wearing costumes from horror movies, 18+ movies too. Not even sure the characters were from books either before or after either.
Abraxan · 03/03/2022 19:48

WBD started 25 years ago, so 1997.
Dd went to school from 2006, and children were wearing branded costumes, such as Disney and Marvel, back then. I know friends with slightly older children and costumes were similar for them too, so I'd say for most of the time WBD has existed children have attended wearing these kind of pre bought costumes.

Eggmcmuffin · 03/03/2022 20:43

Disney costume here....no way was I wasting money or time assembling a bloody book costume. Couldn't really give a monkeys what anyone thinks, little one loved it!

Jduh · 03/03/2022 20:50

Technically marvel and Disney are based on books/comic books a lot of the time.

Cookiecrumble22 · 04/03/2022 10:14

My child's school is a mix they come as a character in a book. Or they come in general dress up clothes. Or just non school uniform.

Some People can't afford to buy something that will possibly only wear for 1 day. And no child should be left out because money is short.

TheGratefulBread · 04/03/2022 10:58

I'd rather see children dressed up as comic book characters, as opposed to the girl in my daughter's class, who was dressed as Anne Frank. Her mum had actually made a yellow star badge, with the word Jude embroidered on it, for authenticity. 😬

ExcaliburBaby · 04/03/2022 11:03

OP - you do realise that Marvel/DC characters were in books way before they were in films?

couldhave · 04/03/2022 11:10

you need a third option:
"yes it's annoying, kids should focus on the enjoyment of reading books, get a small book token, and not do any dressing up at all (that is just a parent compeition)"

couldhave · 04/03/2022 11:13

And looking down on kids who wear a 'film/TV' costume ready-made is snooty snobbery. As pp says, comics and graphic novels are valid too.
And homemade costumes often do involve spending money.

My 4 yo was thrilled to be superman at school on his first WBD, didn't stop him being an voracious reader with amazing written English and vocabulary now.

Legoisthebest · 04/03/2022 11:19

The gratefulBread I commented on one of the other WBD threads that I couldn't believe people suggest The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas as a costume and wondered whether they had actually read the book. Why on earth would someone want to dress their child as a victim of the gas chambers? Would any child even actually have that as their 'favourite' book? A book that may educate and have a profound effect on a child yes - but favourite character? Really?

Cas112 · 04/03/2022 11:20

Stop being so miserable.

Its not you dressing up so stop whinging

youdoyoutoday · 04/03/2022 11:21

I hope those judgey pants keep you warm at night! Hmm

Hospedia · 04/03/2022 11:23

I hate this whole idea that people should only participate in WBD (and other dress up events) if they have a 'worthy' costume. Why make life a game of one-upmanship?

Youngest DCs school had them dress up as a word and then the other kids and the teachers had to try guess what they were. DD went as "colourful" - stripy tights, spotty dress, neon wrist warmers, rainbow ribbon hairband. DS went as "heroic" - Spiderman costume (shop bought too...gasp, shock, horror!). Some word costumes in the yard were Nature (flowery everything), Science (white coat, safety goggles), Fitness (gymnastics kit), Adventurous (Indiana Jones outfit), there were also a few Sparkly's, Sporty's, and Courage's. It gave the kids a chance to use their imaginations but it also meant that all of the kids were included as they could wear whatever they wanted and whatever they were comfortable and happy in. There was also a book stall and book related games.

Hospedia · 04/03/2022 11:27

Why on earth would someone want to dress their child as a victim of the gas chambers? Would any child even actually have that as their 'favourite' book? A book that may educate and have a profound effect on a child yes - but favourite character? Really?

It's so the parents can demonstrate how much better they are at parenting than all the other parents in the yard. "Oh Anaglypta only reads proper books, don't you? She finds most KS1 book to be beneath her ability and enjoys the complexities of the themes in this book which is why she chose this character. I wish she would dress as a princess! Oh I do, I really do, I'd simply love to be able to take the easy option and stick her in an Elsa dress..."

AChocolateOrangeaday · 04/03/2022 11:39

My DS is 17 on Monday and has SLD and ASD, he has been OBSESSED with books since he could first hold the cloth type books as a baby.

Over the years we have amassed over 500 "noisy" play a sound type books, which he absolutely adores owing to being partially sighted and enjoying the sounds.

For his Birthday he has asked for a "Frozen" play a sound book and a cat in the hat book. He's never had any interest in toys whatsoever.

For World Book Day he went in his Jurassic Park t-shirt (he's a big dino fan!) and I suppose most people would assume that it was a film reference but the book came out 3 years before the film.

Thank you Michael Crichton!

Didioverstep · 04/03/2022 11:44

Most films originate from books. Hence the many Harry potters and wizards etc. And most superheros where comics/books before they where books. And those that weren't books will be books of some form now. It's just to get the kids excited about reading and literature. Surely that's a good thing than making a day if boring things which won't encourage them at all

Pinchofnom · 04/03/2022 11:45

It’s what we had and I didn’t want to buy yet another pair of costumes for them only to be worn once. We did however make some parts of the costume but the main bulk was store bought.

Live and let live I say.

Legoisthebest · 04/03/2022 11:46

Hospedia it's more like someone who has never read the book and has zero clue what it's about and picked up on the word 'pyjamas' as an easy costume.

SleepingStandingUp · 04/03/2022 11:46

When did World Book Day become wear something from a Marvel/Disney/Pixar movie Day Since all of those things could be read about in a book.

SleepingStandingUp · 04/03/2022 11:48

@sayanythingelse

Kids read plenty of books but it would make parents lives a lot harder if they could ONLY come as a character from a book. 4 year old DD loves books but she doesn't have a Very Hungry Caterpillar, Tiger Who Came To Tea or Goldilocks costume so she went as Owlette from PJ Masks.

Plus Disney princesses are in books, Marvel is a comic, etc.

We own lots of PJ Masks books and also went as a PJ Mask of one sort or another lots.

Basically any kids show these days will likely have a book version somewhere. Who cares as long as they read.

nokidshere · 04/03/2022 11:50

What does it matter what other people are wearing/doing? Mine hated dressing up, if I suggested face paints they would look at me in horror. For WBD they always went in regular jeans and t shirts as Charlie Cook. Except for the one year we forgot and they went in uniform but there were plenty of others who also forgot.