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Original poster

World Book Day panic

131 replies

EnglishHamlet · 06/03/2024 19:57

Please help!
12 year old boy at secondary school.
School announced on Monday that they want kids to dress up as book characters for World Book Day.
I thought WBD was on Friday so I was planning to sort this out tomorrow, as I have the day off work.
To my horror, I've literally just found out they have to go in dressed up tomorrow!!! DS's school are doing WBD tomorrow!!!
Help!
What on earth can I dress DS as?
To make it more complicated, he now wants a 'cool' look, understated, low key, as he says he'd get laughed out of secondary school if he went in dressed as Harry Potter.
It's 8pm, I'm tired, and I'm really panicking!

OP posts:
Phillippeflop · 06/03/2024 20:18

I’m amazed they’re still doing this in secondary school. I would imagine most kids will just go in normal own clothes- surely there won’t be many in full costumes? My DS is year 7 and would be horrified. I’d just sent him in normal clothes. He can pretend he’s some random generic character if a teacher asks but I do think it’s ridiculous to ask this of secondary aged children

Original poster
EnglishHamlet · 06/03/2024 20:21

Thanks everyone.
But what book characters aimed at 12 year olds dress as ordinary kids?
DS literally stopped reading books 2 years ago. He changed from an avid book worm all his life, reading through books at a rate of knots, there was no stopping him, to suddenly literally overnight stopping reading and declaring no further interest in reading books!
No amount of encouragement or persuasion has got him reading again.
So I don't actually know any book characters that he could say he is, whilst dressed in normal clothes!
And as for sorting this out himself, he can't even get himself sorted out for school every morning, so he's never going to pull this one off by himself. Getting assessed for adhd.

OP posts:
whatkatydid2014 · 06/03/2024 20:21

Obvious one is uniform and as a schoolchild. Plenty of books with those or in PJs and find a book set in hospital.

Tulipvase · 06/03/2024 20:22

EnglishHamlet · 06/03/2024 20:21

Thanks everyone.
But what book characters aimed at 12 year olds dress as ordinary kids?
DS literally stopped reading books 2 years ago. He changed from an avid book worm all his life, reading through books at a rate of knots, there was no stopping him, to suddenly literally overnight stopping reading and declaring no further interest in reading books!
No amount of encouragement or persuasion has got him reading again.
So I don't actually know any book characters that he could say he is, whilst dressed in normal clothes!
And as for sorting this out himself, he can't even get himself sorted out for school every morning, so he's never going to pull this one off by himself. Getting assessed for adhd.

But does he actually want to go as anything? I don’t believe for a second they will be making the children dress up if they don’t want to.

Original poster
EnglishHamlet · 06/03/2024 20:22

Re the 'generic book characters ' - please could you name a few?

OP posts:
Original poster
EnglishHamlet · 06/03/2024 20:23

Tulipvase · 06/03/2024 20:22

But does he actually want to go as anything? I don’t believe for a second they will be making the children dress up if they don’t want to.

Show quote history

Yes, he wants to.X

OP posts:
Tulipvase · 06/03/2024 20:24

What’s the last book he enjoyed? I know you said it was a couple of years ago.

Original poster
EnglishHamlet · 06/03/2024 20:24

DasAlteLeid · 06/03/2024 20:08

What’s his favourite books or shows based on books??

He doesn't have any, that's the problem. I'm stumped and so is he.

OP posts:
mnahmnah · 06/03/2024 20:24

@EnglishHamlet

See my previous post re: Percy Jackson

Crunchymum · 06/03/2024 20:24

superplumb · 06/03/2024 20:11

Oh god I had hoped this dressing up shit would end in secondary school.
Bloody hate wbd.

I was just going to type this exact paragraph.

PurringTabbyCat · 06/03/2024 20:24

I would do Percy Jackson too. You don't even have to do the proper t-shirt. Just his normal clothes and he says "yeah I'm Percy Jackson" to teachers.

They still do WBD at my teen's secondary school. Apparently a lot of them (edit, all girls) plan to wear normal clothes and say they are from Heartstopper.

Original poster
EnglishHamlet · 06/03/2024 20:24

Banrion · 06/03/2024 20:06

He's 12. He should be sorting this out for himself surely? My dds have always decided themselves and got whatever they need themselves.

Helpful. Thanks.

OP posts:
Tulipvase · 06/03/2024 20:25

Make a golden ticket?

Original poster
EnglishHamlet · 06/03/2024 20:25

Hellocatshome · 06/03/2024 20:11

DS would just go in his normal clothes and pretend to be some generic teenage boy book character that doesn't have a particular look. I cant imagine many secondary school kids going in proper costumes.

But which generic teenage boy? Please could you name any??

OP posts:
Tinkeytonkoldfruit · 06/03/2024 20:26

Go as a muggle from Harry Potter in his own clothes - my DSS thought they were hilarious doing that back in the day and obviously it's the lowest maintenance outfit out there.

DiscoBeat · 06/03/2024 20:26

He's 12. He should be sorting this out for himself surely? My dds have always decided themselves and got whatever they need themselves.

You're helpful.

Original poster
EnglishHamlet · 06/03/2024 20:27

SalmonEile · 06/03/2024 20:09

Does he know what any of his friends are going as ?

I asked him this, and he said no-one knew, that everyone was saying "I dunno" or "Think I'll just wear my football kit".
DS doesn't play or like football so doesn't have a kit.

OP posts:
naichick · 06/03/2024 20:27

What about Will from his dark materials- he is just a normal teenage boy!

Minikievs · 06/03/2024 20:28

No help on your actual issue, but they're dressing up in secondary???
I have one in primary (still doing WBD, I fucking hate it) and one in secondary, who is NOT doing it. In fact I apparently ruined his life by sending him in a Xmas jumper on Xmas jumper day in Y7, so WBD would be an absolute no no.

DiscoBeat · 06/03/2024 20:29

Oliver Twist? Ripped trousers and ripped white shirt and a bowl and spoon?

Or has he got any Halloween costumes that he could nick a character from?

Original poster
EnglishHamlet · 06/03/2024 20:29

superplumb · 06/03/2024 20:11

Oh god I had hoped this dressing up shit would end in secondary school.
Bloody hate wbd.

Yep, me too.
It's the whole school too! Years 7 to 11!
Message from Head to say "All pupils are expected to dress up as their favourite book character'!

OP posts:
menopausalmare · 06/03/2024 20:29

Dressing gown. Arthur Dent, The Hitcherhickers guide to the galaxy with a cardboard 42.

GauntJudy · 06/03/2024 20:29

The cool option would be not to dress up. Although would that mean wearing uniform? Just wear everyday clothes and be Adrian Mole.

DiscoBeat · 06/03/2024 20:30

menopausalmare · 06/03/2024 20:29

Dressing gown. Arthur Dent, The Hitcherhickers guide to the galaxy with a cardboard 42.

Excellent idea!

PurringTabbyCat · 06/03/2024 20:32

Black trousers and a white top would be Diary of a Wimpy Kid.

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