FOR PARENTS · AGES 5–11
Book Day ideas that get children reading (not just the costume)
Start from a book your child loves, not from a shop. Costumes are optional, and the reading matters more than the outfit.
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Book Day is Thursday 4 March 2027. For many families it means a last-minute costume hunt, but the costume is the least important part. This guide covers the £1 book token, costumes that start from a book and cost next to nothing, and simple ways to turn the day into reading your child will actually enjoy.
By the Litsee team · Last reviewed · About this guide
The short answer: start from the book, not the costume
Book Day is a celebration of reading for fun, run by a charity that gives children a book token every year (Book Day charity). The costume is a way in, not the point. Ask your child which book or character they'd most like to be, read that book together in the days before, and keep the costume simple.
The DfE's reading tips for parents put it well: “What matters most is that they enjoy it.” (DfE). A child who comes home buzzing about someone else's costume and asks to read that book has had a good Book Day.
How the £1 book token works
The charity's FAQs explain how tokens reach children: “Schools and early years settings distribute the tokens to children and young people.” Once your child has one, “they can take it to a participating bookseller and swap it for one of the £1/€1.50 books” (Book Day token FAQs). For 2027 the charity says the £1 books can be claimed with the token “between 14 February and 21 March 2027” (Book Day charity).
- Not keen on the £1 books? “The token can also be used to get £1/€1.50 off any full-price book.”
- Shopping online? The tokens “cannot be used for online purchases”, so take it to a shop.
- Make it an outing. Let your child choose the book themselves: choosing is half the fun, and a book they picked is a book they'll read.
Six low-cost costumes that start from a book
Our own ideas, made from things most homes already have. The charity also publishes free dressing-up ideas for the year's £1 books.
A character in pyjamas
One good prop
A paper-plate mask
A cardboard box
The book as a badge
Their own hero
The week before: read the book behind the costume
Whatever your child goes as, read their character's book together that week. If it's a picture book, read it more than once and let them join in with the bits they know. If it's a longer book, read the chapter where their character is at their best. The DfE's reading framework advice for parents is simple: “Make reading aloud feel like a treat.” (DfE reading framework).
Talk about the character as you go. What would they say at the school gate? What would they have in their bag? Questions like these help your child step into the story, and give them something to say when friends ask who they are. Our guide to questions to ask about a book has more, by age.
On the day and after: reading as play
Book Day is a good excuse for reading aloud with voices, acting out scenes and telling stories. The DfE's tips suggest you “play a game where you pretend to be the characters in a book” (DfE), and the national curriculum backs it up at every age:
- Years 1 and 2: children work on “becoming very familiar with key stories, fairy stories and traditional tales, retelling them and considering their particular characteristics”. Ask your child to retell their character's story in their own words, in costume.
- Years 3 and 4: the curriculum includes “preparing poems and play scripts to read aloud and to perform, showing understanding through intonation, tone, volume and action”. Read a favourite poem or scene aloud together, with actions.
- Writing: “Drama and role-play can contribute to the quality of pupils’ writing by providing opportunities for pupils to develop and order their ideas through playing roles and improvising scenes in various settings.” Acting a scene out is a good way into writing one.
All three quotes are from the DfE national curriculum.
Make your own Book Day story
Some children would rather be a character nobody has met yet. Help them invent one: fill in this card together, then tell or write the story. Print it and fill it in on paper; nothing on this page is saved or sent.
My Book Day story
- My hero is called …
- They live in …
- One day, something goes wrong: …
- They are helped by …
- In the end …
From litsee.com/guides/book-day-reading-ideas
Stuck for an idea? Our free story starters give a first line to build on. And My Hero lets your child build a hero from Litsee's characters and outfits, and print it as a poster.
Teachers: our Book Day story unit has a story lesson for KS1 and KS2.
If a costume isn't possible
Costumes can bring pressure that has nothing to do with reading: money, time, or a child who hates dressing up. None of it matters. Your child can bring a favourite book, wear a homemade badge with its cover on, or come as they are and talk about what they love reading. If you're worried, a quiet word with the class teacher before the day usually helps.
Questions parents ask
When is Book Day 2027?
Thursday 4 March 2027, according to the Book Day charity's website. Your school may mark it on a different day, so check the school newsletter.
How does the £1 book token work?
Schools give tokens to children. Your child can swap the token for one of the special £1 books at a participating bookseller, or use it to get £1 off any full-price book. For 2027 the books can be claimed between 14 February and 21 March 2027. Tokens can't be used online.
Does my child have to dress up for Book Day?
No. Dressing up is optional, and a costume doesn't need to be bought. A favourite book, one homemade prop or a character in pyjamas is plenty. If money or time is tight, it's fine to ask the school whether your child can come as they are.
What are good Book Day activities at home?
Read the book behind the costume together, read a favourite bit aloud in character, act out or retell a story, and make up a new story with your child as the hero. The aim is to get them talking about and enjoying books.
Sources
- £1 books and the 2027 date worldbookday.com (the Book Day charity), for 4 March 2027, checked 3 November 2026
- £1/€1.50 book token FAQs worldbookday.com (the Book Day charity), 2026, checked 3 November 2026
- Dressing-up ideas worldbookday.com (the Book Day charity), 2026, checked 3 November 2026
- National curriculum in England: English programmes of study (key stages 1 and 2) Department for Education, September 2013, updated 16 July 2014, checked 3 November 2026
- 10 top tips for parents to support children to read Department for Education, 16 July 2020, updated 25 April 2022, checked 3 November 2026
- The reading framework (Appendix 1: For parents: reading stories to children) Department for Education, July 2023, updated 22 September 2023, checked 3 November 2026
About this guide
Written by the Litsee team and checked line by line against the sources listed on this page.
The costume ideas and story card are our own. Book Day dates and token rules come from the Book Day charity's website, checked on the date shown; check it for any changes.
Spotted something wrong or out of date? Email info@litsee.com and we will fix it. Last reviewed: .
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