World Book Day: easy and cheap costumes you can make at home

World Book Day is taking place on Thursday 2 March and will see millions of children across the nation dressing up as some of their favourite characters to celebrate the literary event. However, that can leave parents in a bit of dilemma: do you go for expensive shop-bought costumes or spend hours creating a fun homemade look? Well this year, Amazon have teamed up with blogger Toby&Roo and have found an easy solution (not to mention it'll get your kids reading and learning about the characters!).

Toby&Roo's Harriet has shared handy step-by-step guides for easy and budget-friendly costumes you can create - modelled by her own adorable kids - and all inspired by a recent poll which revealed British kids' top ten favourite book characters.

Harry Potter topped the list, with The Gruffalo and Matilda close behind. Other favourites include the BFG, Winnie the Pooh, Tracy Beaker, Paddington Bear, Charlie Bucket, Peter Rabbit and even Alice in Wonderland.

Click through for Harriet's easy guides to making these costumes…

All images courtesy of Amazon and Toby&Roo. Visit tobyandroo.com

Alice in Wonderland: This simple yet striking costume makes for an adorable tribute to Lewis Carroll's classic novel.

THE BFG: Little ones can channel their inner giant from Roald Dahl's quirky novel thanks to this innovative take on Quentin Blake's original illustrations – perfect for kids who were also huge fans of the film when it came out last year!

Peter Rabbit: Kids are sure to melt hearts in this sweet ensemble inspired by Beatrix Potter's classic.

Matilda: One of the most famous bookworms in the world, it doesn't take much to become Matilda – another Roald Dahl favourite. All you'll need is a T-shirt, some dungarees and, of course, her iconic red headband.

Harry Potter: J.K Rowling's famous wizard never fails to be popular amongst kids and adults and we're loving Harriet's thrifty take on the look, which includes using an adult cardigan instead of buying a gown, and creative pipe cleaner glasses!

Winnie the Pooh: Harriet's clever use of pipe cleaners and a biscuit jar make for an eye-catching take on A. A. Milne's honey-loving bear.

The Gruffalo: Little monsters will be sure to turn heads in this creative and easy-to-make costume (just make sure to practice your face-painting skills beforehand!).

Paddington Bear: Michael Bond's famous teddy bear is easy to emulate: just make sure you have his iconic red hat and yellow wellies!

Tracy Beaker: Jacqueline Wilson's feisty character is renowned for her iconic unruly hair, so you can skip getting your little ones' tresses looking their best before sending them off to school.

Charlie Bucket: Another Roald Dahl classic, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory remains a firm favourite amongst children to this day, and while Willy Wonka can be a popular costume option, this Charlie creation is a bit easier to source.