All I can say to parents in the thick of it is: this too shall pass. Once your kids are old enough to do their own thing – seven to 12ish, I’d wager – World Book Day gets a lot better.

Parents are likely investing more time and money on their child’s World Book Day costume than they do on, well, books – with some splashing out as much as £100 for an outfit. Schoolchildren ...

World Book Day 2025: easy costume ideas, when is it – cheap characters outfits for boys and girls. ... Parents are expected to spend an average of £19 per child on World Book Day costumes in 2025; ...