To think this is ridiculous for world book day??

[Applescruffle]

Not the day but some of the ridiculous costumes. It's supposed to be a celebration of books and authors but aalli keep seeing every year is kids in superhero costumes or a character from their favourite film.
There's so many characters to choose from, why can't they choose an actual book? Something written as a book that the child has read and enjoyed.
I've just seen a costume that really takes the biscuit. A young, primary aged child dressed as.... Del boy. Yep, Del boy from only fools and horses.
Come on!!
I'm sure it's very funny and clever but it's not only a sitcom and very much not a book, it's an adult sitcom and very much not for kids.

As a book lover and children's author, I just find it a bit sad.

DD will be dressed as a very generic ballet dancer.

Books are very, very important to me. But faffing about with costumes is not, and I don’t believe it correlates with literacy at all.

It’s pointless Labour that will almost always fall on women, and I don’t want to take any more on. Judge us for that if you want.

There are often books about Tv and film, which is good if it gets kids reading about their fave characters. My son had a spider man book so went as spider man in year 1. I think so long as you have read a book about it, it’s fine. He wants to go as David Attenborough this year!😂

You must appreciate that everyone is allowed their own choice and interpretation though.

As a mother of two autistic children who hate dressing up and the change to the school routine, I’d like it abolished altogether but I know I’m in the minority and accept that.

Oh balls. When is world book day? 😩

I do agree Del Boy is ridiculous though. And the “costumes that are jokes for adults” like the viral photo where the kid is dressed as the Argos catalogue. Parents making it about themselves is irritating.

It’s banned at ours. Kids take their fave book into read. Zero outfits

My kids loved reading but it's ludicrous to expect parents to fork out for outfits for one day a year.

My son went as a power ranger for years on end til he grew out of his costume. I don't believe in paying for new stuff they'll wear once a year.

My kids usually go in pyjamas as it's offered as an alternative to a costume since books are usually associated with bedtime for little ones.

I’d like to see it gone too….too disruptive, too much work and it doesn’t have any bearing on whether you like to read or not..

I hate it. Seems so pointless at our school. With most people spending £15 on some Asda crap costume. Have heard other schools do book exchanges etc which makes so much more sense.

World book day is horseshit. It’s not even world book day. It only happens on that day in the U.K.

The problem with dressing up is what character can you dress up as that is only a book and but recognisable?

Moreover our parents evening is also WBD so am I expected to sit there and discuss a child’s achievements while dressed up? Not happening.

DD's school had a Dahl dress-up day. She chose to go as a witch, as described in The Witches. She was not impressed with the kids who turned up in pointed hats.

On the other hand, I do have every sympathy with those who just go with whatever costumes they happen to have, because it's easier.

Exactly this!!
Bloody DEL BOY???

You’ve given me a panic but apparently world book day isn’t till March!

Children find it hard to understand what 'proper' books are as opposed to cheaply produced, badly written paperbacks sold in supermarkets or places like The Works. As such, when my daughter was in KS1 she always wanted to go as a Disney princess - she had the dresses, she had books with them in and to be fair, had never actually seen any of the films. To her, that was as legitimate as going as My Naughty Little Sister or Katy Morag or whatever. How do you argue with that? I'm a teacher and dread WBD, especially now the curriculum is so full. It seems to have become completely pointless.

I keep asking the kids to dress up as Jesus, but they are not having any of it 🙄 it's a pretty popular book all over the world. Kids eh?

Last year our dc’s old primary school did a book swap on World Book Day.

kids took in books that they wanted to swap and got a swap voucher per book. The local community was also asked for donations so there were more than enough books compared to the number of vouchers. It went down really well.

It's a million times better than Del Boy.

I actually can't get over it 😂 bloody Del Boy for a child on world book day. Now I've seen it all.

Oh I would love this!

Mine are all going as witches (they've yet to decide which witch specifically) because they were witches at Halloween and already have the costumes (They do also have plenty of books with witches in between them!)

ds 7 has shelves of marvel books, ghostbusters annuals from the 90's and ninjago books all of which he's read and he's got costumes of each so if he wants to wear them why shouldn't he.

Dressing gown and a towel - instant Arthur Dent costume. Sorted.

DD and two friends dressed up as a team and one of her mates had a brilliant costume. I asked the mum. Well, the dad is a pretty famous artist and he made it, from scratch, in one evening. She said, "I just drink wine and watch". He ruined my primary school system:

Would a man do this?

No?

I won't either.

My kids’ school is saying this year, dress as a word from the dictionary. I think that’s a really nice way tried do it. They said you can just pick “child”, or “pyjamas” or similar, or you can be as creative as you want!

I'm pretty sure a lot more writing goes in to something that is 'only' a sitcom than goes in to one of your children's books. 64 episodes plus 16 Christmas specials don't write themselves.

I have no issue with the fact that it's not appropriate fancy dress. I'm just surprised to see a writer make a comment it being 'only a sitcom', when it's a) one of the most enduring British sitcoms ever and b) comedy is one of the hardest things to write well.

I would much rather families spend the money they would spend on a costume on books! Whether they be 10 for £10 at the works or an expensive paperback ! Anything that gets them reading. My son read English at Oxford and grew up with a mixture of lots of different types of reading material.