does anybody else get a bit p***d off over "Book Day"?

[cutekids]

I know it's a bit of fun for the kids to dress up as "their favourite characters" but absolutely no kids do...do they? they're all either little "Gerrards" or "Barbie" etc. which is great because they're the outfits many kids have got in their wardrobes but I just find it all a bit fake and surely the teachers get fed up with all the kids dressing the same? Call me old and cynical....

I don't think it has to be a character that wears a hat - I was thinkng in terms of a themed hat - Giant Peach hat would be perfect . I am qutie creative but simply not good at sewing actual garments. Hats! No problem making a hat. Might suggest that next year.

We do a whole week of activities so to those who say schools are being lazy, I offer: parents come in to read stories, visit by author, kids make book marks and write book reviews, kids produce a newspaper, kids bring in books to swap, oh and kids dress up too. And the teachers.

We like it because we plan something and get together and make it, like chamaeleon says.

Sorted my costume last night (I help on a Friday) I am the witch from Room on the Broom tho the kids? witches hat is a tad small?.have attached long ginger plait to the delight of DD (who is going as the Rainbow Magic fairy we chose as a) easiest to do and b) most practical ie warm in early March.)

Like idea of Tiger Who came to tea.

Hurrah for califrau's database too!

Our school doesn't do dressing up for world book day. Hooray hooray. If they did, I would persuade my sons that their fav character was Neville Longbottom, and so send them to school dressed as normal.

I think it's great fun-kids love it.ds went as Harry and the Bucketful of Dinosaur, minimal effort here.

ds1's school don't seem to be doing it at all. Feel quite sad for him really, because dd's school, across the playground is. Since htey got the new head, a lot of the fun things seem to have stopped.

It is a pita trying to think of outfits though. I stuck dd in a lengha choli in the end and she is Jasmine from Aladdin. I don't blame parents for using clothes they have got, I wouldn't fork out jsut for one day.

ggirl - that is what I wanted to do for my ds1! Poor ds was lookign forward to it!

DD2 had to take a "prop" and her class have to guess what book it was from. I was so fed up last night when she was trying to sort one out and she eventually took what I had suggested in the first place - one of Callum's nappies!

Not sure if anyone will get "My Brother's Famous Bottom - Jeremy Strong"

Thanks for reminding me i need a trip into town to buy a brown curly wig for dd's 'Tracy Beaker' Hopefully it won't be too much and can be used again somehow...

I quite like book day, but i'm a sucker for fancy dress

Aww how cute, at the tiger who came to tea!!

I helped out at school this morning and must retract any thoughts I had about this being the lazy way for the staff.
ALL THE TEACHERS WERE DRESSED UP AS WELL !!!
They'd really made a big effort.
They also had spare bits and pieces and costumes for anyone who'd forgotten
Some kids even went home to change because they'd forgotten or suddenly decided they did want to do it after all when they saw all the fairies and pirates in the playground.
Also, it makes it harder work in the classroom because they children are excited.

So definately -not- the easy option for the school. -I- -still- -hate- -it- -though-

ooh I hate it. Its left to us mums to find the costume..and lets fact facts your average infant school is full of kids that have got no further than Rainbow fairies, princesses or spiderman, cos any other costume is too darned expensive.

dd's school brings in booksellers and we are encouraged to Buy Buy Buy.

What is the point? they all have to read 10 mins each night of Biff and chip anyway. Anyone else get the feeling the whole 'literary' drive is over the top?

We really like it in our house, my dds (y and 6 now but they've always liked doing this) are very good at desiging and making their own costumes though so all DP and I do is provide a bit of help.

If they aren't in the mood for making an effort they go in something simple, or something we already have a costume for. So dd1 has gone in tiger costume (tiger who came to tea) or cat costume (6 dinner Sid) we already have. While dd2, more perfectionist, enjoys making costumes such as Captain Hook or Peter pan, mostly from tinfoil, crepe paper and cardboard.

microwave only, well done if yur kids read 10 mins every night.

Loads of kids don't unfortunately.

So maybe if things like Book Day get em excited about reading then it's worth it.

BTW Rainbow Magic not an unimaginative option these are genuinely DD's fave books and we actually put a lot of work into it!

At our school (where yes teachers dress up as well) about 2/3 of the girls were in Disney princess dresses anyway, so not very much hassle for anyone (except the kids getting cold and tripping over their hems...)

I'm with seeker - it's fun!

DD loves dressing up and we both love reading and making things together.

This year she went as Maria Merryweather (Little white horse), has been Mowser (mousehole cat) Lauren from My Secret Unicorn, Golidilocks complete with porrige bowl, Charlotte from Charlottes web (I am still impressed by that costume!)and Angelina.

I can see that it's not everyones cup of tea, but if the school do it annually then it's not much of a surprise surely?

Calii, I saw your posts about book day what a great idea! I also wanted to join in the one about dressing up costumes but felt people would call me smug and boastful - DD/DS have at least 20 complete costumes 80% of which I made (over the last 7 yrs, not all at once)from scratch or adapted for evening dresses etc.

She has a fizz costume I made from a large lurid pink sweatshirt I bought for 50p in a charity shop for a nursery parade.

DS has a pumpkin costume made from a large orange fleece - 50p.

DD had to be a chick for school play, guess what £1 for a bright yellow fluffy fleece from the same shop. It takes minimal cutting and stitching (most things could be glued tbh)to adapt a fleece as do not need hemming.

Girl book folk

• Any famous five/secret seven

• Lauren from My Secret Unicorn - for this she took a toy unicorn and I made her a little purple 'moon flower'.

• Posy from 'Ballet Shoes'

I will try to think of more.

Well we love WBD!!!!! DD has a real passion for books AND drama and when you put the two together she goes into her own little world. Every year we make a bit thing of it. Last year it was Mary Poppins. This year she was Veruca Salt! She was complete with fake fur coat, golden ticket, curly hair, etc. The teacher told me she spent the whole day acting out and did'nt slip up once!
She loves drama and its a great way to express herself and her love of books.

DD has always loves reading but there are plenty of children that dont! and this day it a great way of encouraging children to read and I think its great! DD is reading Anne Frank at the moment and has already told me she wants to be Anne frank next year! Im sure she will change her mind about 10 times before next WBD though