Easy and inspirational World Book Day 2025 costume ideas for girls
Over 10 simple World Book Day ideas for girls to try
World Book Day 2025 will take place on Thursday 6 March 2025.
What’s World Book Day?
It’s a celebration to promote a love of books so that more children feel inspired to read for pleasure. Every year, children dress up as their favourite author, character or book. This could be for fun at home, at school, or with an after-school activity group like Girlguiding.
Looking for easy but inspirational costume ideas for girls? This list includes:
- Books to celebrate female historical figures.
- Books with girl leads by female authors.
- Famous female literary characters.
- Low-cost costume ideas for World Book Day.
Books to celebrate female historical figures
Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly
Recommended for children aged 8-12

Hidden Figures is a true story inspired by real female historical figures. It’s about 4 Black women who were mathematicians for NASA. They provided the calculations for the USA’s first journeys into space! Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson and Christina Darden all feature in a children's illustrated edition of the book. They’re also included in Fantastically Great Women Scientists and Their Stories by Kate Pankhurst.
What to wear: 60s style clothing, glasses and a handmade NASA ID card to wear around your neck.
Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World by Kate Pankhurst
Recommended for children aged 4-8

This beautifully illustrated children’s book is filled to the brim with inspirational women. From Jane Austen and Mary Anning to Amelia Earhart and Rosa Parks, this children’s book will give you over 10 World Book Day costume ideas! Choose any one of these amazing women and you’re bound to stand out.
You can buy the Fantastically Great Women Who changed the World Activity Book from our online shop which comes with stickers, craft and colouring activities and more.
Books with girl leads by female authors
The Lizzie and Belle Mysteries: Drama and Danger by J.T Williams
Recommended for children aged 9-12

The Lizzie and Belle Mysteries are thrilling and gripping books set in Georgian London. They may be from different backgrounds but when Lizzie and Belle meet at a theatre night and witness something suspicious happen on stage, they find themselves bound together on a path of friendship and murder-solving mystery.
The story is inspired by real Black British figures and centres themes of community, Black History and empowerment with a focus on positive representation. It also gives children a backdrop to learn about the history of transatlantic slavery and its impact.
What to wear for Lizzie: red or purple trousers, white socks, puffy white shirt, red jewel necklace.
What to wear for Belle: green or yellow dress and a book as a prop.
Murder Most Unladylike by Robin Stevens
Recommended for children aged 9-12

Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong are 2 girls who set up their very own secret detective agency. They’re on a mission to investigate exciting mysteries. When a murder happens in the school gym, the girls are on a hunt for evidence to try and solve it. But will their friendship stand the test?
This story is one about determination and friendship set against the backdrop of the 1930s. The series also follows Daisy’s journey to discovering she’s queer.
What to wear: skirt, waistcoat over a white shirt, plaits and a magnifying glass.
Books with famous female literary characters
Matilda by Roald Dahl
Recommended for children aged 6-8

Matilda Wormwood is a kind, smart and proud bookworm who discovers she has special powers. You can easily adapt school uniform at home for a quick and easy Matilda costume.
Here’s 5 reasons why we love Matilda.
What to wear: school uniform, red tie and red ribbon in your hair.
The Worst Witch by Jill Murphy
Recommended for children aged 5-9

The Worst Witch is a popular children’s fantasy series. Mildred Hubble attends a witch school called Miss Cackle’s Academy for Witches. Mildred may be clumsy and cheeky but with her friends and new cat Tabby, she’s on a mission to save the school from a pesky spell.
What to wear: black hat, white shirt under a black dress, black coat and a red scarf.
Low-cost costume ideas
Dressing up for World Book Day is optional. It’s up to you and your child what you want to do! There are ways to dress up and keep costs down.
Here are some low-cost World Book Day costume ideas:
- Lots of films are also books. Think of Bluey, Dora the Explorer, Moana or Mulan. If your child’s wardrobe is already filled with graphic t-shirts from famous films or TV shows, you can wear something you’ve already got.
- Go as a colouring crayon from the book The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt. Wear just one colour from clothes you already own and make a paper triangular hat as the pencil tip.
- Wear all green with a red hat and go as The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle.
- Dress up as a walking library and ask for book recommendations. This is a great option if you don’t have big readers at home and you need to put together an outfit quickly. Ask people to draw on a plain white t-shirt or attach a piece of paper to your front and you’re ready to go.
- Don’t want to dress up at all? That’s okay! Wear your comfiest reading clothes. Or wear your pyjamas like the characters in Sleepovers by Jacqueline Wilson or Sophie from The BFG by Roald Dahl.
World Book Day is Thursday 6 March 2025. In the UK, World Book Day happens on the first Thursday of March every year. In other countries, it’s April.
Girls tell us they love doing badges and activities related to reading. Books can take you on journeys all around the world and shed light on important topics. That’s why we have a Rainbows interest badge called book lover. It helps girls aged 4-7 embark on new reading adventures with Girlguiding.