World Book Day costumes for Black, Female Teachers!
I am a teacher.
A teacher of “ethnic minority”.
I have found so much pleasure from my job, and I never would have known how much a child’s laughter and innocent smile could warm a person’s heart.
My heart.
When I first trained to become a teacher, it was super tough, and each day was a struggle.
I remember writing a note to myself to open 5 years later.
It was a message of hope about the sort of teacher I wanted to be by that time. I opened it last year and boy, was it profound.
Through my early years in the profession, I never thought about how I was being a figure of representation for little black and minority ethnic children.
Once I realised this, I attributed so much more significance to my role.
As teachers in the UK know, we have ALOT of special days and events to mark particular causes or matters.
There’s Science Week, Red Nose Day, Children’s Mental Health Week, National Poetry Day, and so many more.
One of my favourites is World Book Day (for obvious reasons).
I’ve loved reading and writing from a very young age so this particular special day in school is a secret pleasure of mine.
I remember the first World Book Day I celebrated with my first class. Weeks before, I spent endless hours, googling outfits I could wear.
As an NQT, I didn’t want to get this important day wrong; you see. Should I go for Red Riding Hood or Belle? I wondered.
There are so many great children’s book classics such as “The Tiger Who Came to Tea” by Judith Kerr, “Rainbow Fish” by Marcus Pfister, “Charlotte’s Web” by E. B. White, “Cat in the Hat” by Dr. Seuss, “Dogger” by Shirley Hughes and “Titch” by Pat Hutchins that I could have chosen.
But in the back of my mind, I knew I wanted to dress up as a character of colour from a story. It was my little way of encouraging representation and pioneering for more of it.
Once I’d made my mind up, it definitely narrowed my search.
I began typing “World Book Day costume ideas for black teachers” and then “black characters in children’s books”.
While they were a few characters that came up like Mary Hoffman’s “Amazing Grace” and Eileen Browne’s “Handa”, the general pool of children’s books with black characters was incredibly small.
Not to mention the scarcity of finding a famous children’s book with a black character by a British author or illustrator.
That was even harder.
I thought to myself: if I dress up as an unfamiliar or not so popular black character, will I be asked for the entirety of the school day, ‘which character are you?’ If I do not dress up as a popular black character in a children’s book, will it derive less importance and joy for the children?
I certainly didn’t have the time to do a 15-minute presentation of the meaning of my costume and the significance it had for me.
The children I taught were 4 years old. The number of books they’d know was even smaller than the internet pool that I had begun my search in.
And so it is every World Book Day, I’m left wondering what to wear!
Here are some costume and outfit ideas for this 4th March, whether it be at home or at school, and depending on the primary school group you teach:
- Grace, in Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman
Back in 2017, I dressed up as Grace for World Book Day.
As a child, it was undoubtedly one of my favourite books to read. Her courage and passion of storytelling was inspiring too little old me and was the beginnings of nurturing my own strengths too.
All you’ll need is a white and pink stripy top/blouse, some white long socks, a lovely, frilly white (or light blue) skirt and some comfy solls.
Add more detail by adding the white and blue stripy bows in pig tailed hair with any old fabric you have lying around the house.
2. Handa, in Handa’s Surprise/Handa’s Hen by Eileen Browne
This was my third choice of outfit for my third class and it was such a laugh to wear it.
I got a basket from the classroom, weaved string through the bottom of it and wrapped it around my hair.
It was quite the mission — but the children could not believe how:
1. I got it on my head
and
2. how it managed to stay there for the majority of the day.
I filled the basket on my head with some knitted fruit and veg from the story (you know — to ease the load) and found a bright, pink maxi in my wardrobe to wear!
3. Lila, in Lila and the Secret of Rain by David Conway and Jude Daly
So when I mentioned I spent ages googling what to wear for my first World Book Day celebration with my class, this was the product.
I got tired and weary during my search and when I realised that I did not have the means to either buy or make an outfit at the time, I was forced to keep it all simple.
At the time, my class and I were reading the story of ‘Lila and the Secret Rain’, a beautiful, imaginative tale of a little girl’s life in a Kenyan village.
When I noticed Lila’s clothes were Massai inspired, I knew just how to work it.
I knew I had a red skirt. Check.
I knew I had a red and African looking scarf. Check.
So I borrowed some African jewellery from mum for my hair and around my neck, and I was good to go (Notice I wore tights, it was freezing cold that day and that scarf was super thin!)
4. Princess Tiana, in Princess and the Frog by Walt Disney
Is it not a lovely thought to dress up as a princess as an adult?
Takes me back to being a little girl, if you are anything like a Disney fan, like I was.
While it’s delightful to dress up as a Cinderella, Rapunzel or Snow White, embracing an authentically black princess is more satisfying for matters of our identity.
You can buy a cheap green or silver coloured tiara and a green, apron ball gown dress.
Alternatively, you could use a green spaghetti top you already have and sew on multiple layers of green chiffon from your local fabrics store.
Don’t forget Tiana’s distinctive up-do hairstyle, the long, white, satin gloves, and that gorgeous flower around the waist too!
5. Mary Seacole, in Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History by Vashti Harrison
Gather a medieval, Victorian style tea gown from a costume store and touch up with a flower accessorised bonnet or stripped back protective hairstyle, basket, white beaded jewellery and an (optional) embroidered hand fan.
In that basket, you could add some nursing equipment too!
6. Kenaya, in I Love My Hair! by Natasha Anastasia Tarpley and E. B. Lewis
Did you wear hair beads as a child?
Did a family member of yours keep them in your household?
If so, great — these beads will come in handy.
Kenaya has gorgeous red beads in the story attached to some short neck length braids.
You can braid your hair with the red beads and wear a pink top or pink dress.
7. Ruby, in Ruby Finds A Worry by Tom Percival
The character of Ruby is so cute!
The book is such an important model for children on dealing with feelings, especially in the times we are living in now.
To transform into Ruby, you could find any blue and white polka dot shirt dress with long stripy socks and plain shoes.
Adapt your look with two bushy pig tails with braids in the middle. The bushier and more Afro-tastic the hair, the better.
8. Rocket, in Nathan Bryon & Dapo Adeola‘s, Look Up!
STEM. STEM. STEM.
Rocket is a lovely character to dress up as, as a way of encouraging little girls to aspire to careers as a scientist, astronaut or engineer.
You could use a baggy orange jumpsuit you already have and design a quick handmade NASA logo on a sticky label. Then, wear some hefty boots and buy a plastic astronaut helmet.
9. Sulwe, in Sulwe by Lupita Nyong’o and Vashti Harrison
This is such an easy one to put together.
A blue shiny dress, small pendant necklace and glittery headband on laid back hair and Sulwe becomes instantly recognisable.
No make up necessary (which helps).
10. Baby, in So Much by Tricia Cooke
Red dungarees is the singular thing you need. That is all.
11. Ada Twist, in Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty and David Roberts
Ada Twist, like Rocket in ‘Look Up’, is a character worthy of celebrating to once more encourage all girls and young women to work in STEM.
There is nothing to say that women can’t engage with the level of content and can’t aspire to such higher educational courses.
Girl Power!
For Ada’s look, you’ll need a sleeveless red dress with white polka dots, yellow hair bubbles, scientist googles, long, white socks and yellow rubber gloves (from the sink if you wish).
12. Mai, in The Mega Magic Teacher Swap by Rochelle Humes
In the second installment of Humes’s books, Mai wears this yellow top with a grey dungaree skirt dress.
It’s easy and super quick to find locally.
You can curl your hair with mousse or curling cream for Mai’s luscious locks or use a big curly wig instead!
13. Aurora Beam, in Lightning Girl by Alesha Dixon
Aurora’s clothes are also very simple.
A stripy blue and white blouse or top and some light blue jeans is just it, with, what seems to be the glorious trend with most of the books covered so far, the big, frizzy and curly Afro hair.
You might wanna add some lightning imagery into it all too to attest to her wonderful magic abilities.
Which one will you be going for? :)
p.s. have you heard of the new, exciting campaign called #hairytales brought to you by @tangleteezer and @wokebabiesuk? They have used 3 classic children’s books and given them a much needed revamp using black characters and have put black hair and all it’s beauty centre stage. They include “Zel Let Down Your Hair”, “The Puppet Who Wanted Hair” and “Jackson and the Hairstalk”, all written by the wonderful Trish Cooke. Plus all profits from the books sold will be donated to @prettybrowngirls , a charity that empowers young, black women!
