First, an apology: when I wrote Small! I didn’t think about the World Book Day costume implications of creating a character who wears stilts for an entire book. (Unless the young readers in your life go to circus school, please don’t encourage them to try it.)
Luckily, there are lots of safe ways for fans of SMALL! and SMALL BITES BACK to dress as characters from the books.
Here are some printable props you can use to become Walloping Toenail, Ms Sugar Plum or Clot the vampire dentist apprentice on World Book Day.
Walloping Toenail
Walloping’s my favourite giant. If you love him too, copy his style by:
- writing the word MAPS on a piece of paper, then rolling it up and sticking it down one sock
- printing out this cover for The Big Book For Explorers
- cutting around the dotted line and wrapping it over another book for the day.
To look like any giant at Madame Bogbrush’s School for Gifted Giants, try wearing dungarees and boots or and kind of glittery dance outfit and boots.
Then print and add this school crest to your outfit to show which school you belong to.
Clot
If you have a leftover vampire costume from Halloween, you could be any of the vampire dentists in Small Bites Back. Just remember to carry a toothbrush wherever you go!
Clot also loves carrying her pet bat Fruity on her wrist. Download the template and follow the instructions to make your own flying bat wristband.
Ms Sugar Plum
Fancy being a Beastly School Board inspector? Then grab a clipboard (or use the side of a cereal box and a paperclip) and print off your very own inspection report! Spend the day tutting loudly and scoring your school.
Add any extra fairy touches to your costume that you have at home, too – like wings or a sparkly tiara. You could also print and colour these wings and stick them onto the back of your outfit.
Have a brilliant World Book Day! If you dress as any Small characters, don’t forget to share your pics with me (I’m @MissDePlume on all the social media channels) 😄
Hannah Moffatt, word wrangler 