15 Easy Book-Inspired Kids’ Costumes You Can Make With Items You Have at Home

Baby Llama (Llama Llama Red Pajama, by Anna Dewdney)
Who doesn’t love Baby Llama? In Llama Llama Red Pajama, he rocks some seriously adorable red pajamas that would be easy to recreate with a red top and pants if your little one doesn’t have their own pair. Add some llama ears with a quick construction paper headband and you’re good to go. Bonus: You don’t have to change them out of their costume at the end of the night. Put them straight to bed.

Harold (Harold and the Purple Crayon, by Crockett Johnson)
Accessories make the outfit, so if your kiddo wants to dress as Harold from Harold and the Purple Crayon, you know which art supply they need in their hand. They also need a blue onesie, so this is a really easy and sweet costume to throw on an infant who may not be ready for fairy wings.

Corduroy (Corduroy, by Don Freeman)
Everybody’s favorite bear is also pretty easy to put together as a costume. In Corduroy, the title bear wears green overalls, making it a super quick outfit. If it’s too cold out to go without something underneath, try a fuzzy sweater so your kiddo can look like they have bear fur. Bear ears (which can be quickly made out of felt and a headband or construction paper) and a little black dot on the face for a bear nose are all you need to complete it.

Eloise (Eloise, by Kay Thompson)
Precocious, mischievous, and downright adorable, Eloise has stolen the heart of many children (especially my own daughter). Luckily, your own Eloise can whip this costume together in no time. A white collared shirt, black skirt, and black suspenders criss-crossed in the back are really all you need. Don’t forget her Mary Jane shoes and a pink bow.

Nancy (Fancy Nancy, by Jane O’Connor)
You can go all out with a Fancy Nancy costume and a child that loves the glitz and glam of the title character will really love dressing up. Nancy wears more than one outfit throughout the series, but if you want to cover the title, grab a leotard, add some flair with brightly colored floral fabric wrapped on their waist, and create a fancy updo with your child’s hair. Don’t forget the tiara and accessories.

Harry Potter (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, by J. K. Rowling)
Harry from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is a super easy costume. A black robe with a crest (you can probably print one off the computer if you want, buy an iron-on template, or make your own with construction paper), a red and gold tie, round glasses, and a lightning bolt scar will transform your child into the Boy Who Lived.

Emily Elizabeth (Clifford: The Big Red Dog, by Norman Bridwell)
Clifford: The Big Red Dog may be an overwhelming costume project, but Emily Elizabeth isn’t. There are a couple of different variations on her outfit, but in the original book, Emily Elizabeth is sporting a yellow button down, a black skirt, and yellow and black striped knee-high socks. Bonus points if your kid has a Clifford stuffed animal to carry around, too.

Olivia (Olivia, by Ian Falconer)
Olivia may wear everyone out, but her outfit’s pretty easy to throw together for Halloween. Black and white tights, red dress, black bow at the neck—done. Don’t forget your pig ears (and even a pig snout if you really want to get into it).

A Crayon (The Day the Crayons Quit, by Drew Daywalt)
The Day the Crayons Quit is a classic and it’s easier than you think to make a crayon costume. Some use a poster board to roll up and attach with strings over shoulders, but I’ve got an idea even easier than that — wear sweats all in the same color as the crayon, even down to the socks and shoes if you can manage it. Add a construction paper triangle hat for your crayon tip and you’re good to go. You can even add a protest sign to really seal the deal.

Fern (Charlotte’s Web, by E. B. White)
Got a plaid shirt and a stuffed pig? Then you can transform your child into Fern from Charlotte’s Web. It’s truly as simple as it sounds—blue jeans, plaid shirt, and ponytail. Stuff a Wilbur under one arm and hang a toy spider from the other if you want.

Sam I Am (Green Eggs and Ham, by Dr. Seuss)
Sam I Am is a classic character and his costume from Green Eggs and Ham is super easy to whip up. Get an oversized, long-sleeve yellow t-shirt and cut the ends in a jagged edge. And a tall, floppy red hat and a plate of green eggs and ham and boom—Sam I Am.

Max (Where the Wild Things Are, by Maurice Sendak)
You can find some really expensive costumes for Where the Wild Things Are, but Max is pretty much in a giant white onesie with a hood. White leggings or sweat pants with a white hoodie can give your kid the same look. Just add buttons to the front with cardboard or construction paper and a crown. If your child wants a tail, it’s pretty easy to put together with some fabric and stuffing, but you can also buy fake fur and make a quick one, too.

The Coconut Tree (Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, by Bill Martin Jr.)
Such a fun costume, right? The coconut tree is the star of Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, so give that character the love it deserves. Brown pants and shirt, covered in colorful letters (gluing on those fridge magnet letters is a great idea) gives you the tree trunk, but you can also make a quick hat with some construction paper fronds and cut-out paper coconuts to complete the ensemble.

The Caterpillar (The Very Hungry Caterpillar, by Eric Carle)
A green striped shirt and a red hat with caterpillar eyes will turn your little one into The Very Hungry Caterpillar. If you want to get a little crafty, you can also sew a quick caterpillar tunic together with two shades of green so that it goes all the way to your child’s feet.

The Peddler (Caps for Sale, by Esphyr Slobodkina)
Caps for Sale was one of my favorites as a kid and the peddler costume is simple to throw together. Gray pants, black jacket, white shirt, and black bow tie give the actual outfit, but be sure to create the hat stack for your kiddo’s head. If you don’t have a plethora of hats laying around (and don’t feel like digging at a thrift store), you can use fabric stuffed and glued together to create a similar tower of hats. Don’t forget the mustache!
What are your favorite low-effort literary halloween costumes?