How to Make Children's Storybook Character Costumes

Create a costume from the Wizard of Oz with items you already have in the house.

Classic children's tales have long inspired additional acts of creativity. Children's fiction has been a source of endless inspiration, including to movie makers, playwrights and illustrators. Draw on your own imagination to make an ideal child's storybook costume. Delight a child on Halloween or just because it's raining outside with an outfit straight out of their favorite fairy story.

Things You'll Need

• Books
• Videos
• Tape measure
• Tinfoil
• Paper towel holder
• Glue
• Red sequins
• Picnic basket
• Stuffed dog

Instructions

1. Find a detailed picture. In order to design a costume, you should have a good look at a character. Go to the library, and see if you can find multiple versions of the selected story. Many libraries have different books by different authors on the same story. The book should include detailed color illustrations indicating exactly what the characters are wearing. Videos are also useful. You can pop one in and freeze the frame to get a close-up look at the director's vision of the character. Ask your children to participate. Let them choose which representations they like best.

2. Measure the child who will wear the costume with a flexible tape measure. Measure the size of the child's waist as well as the distance between the child's shoulder and arm. If you will be making a headpiece, also measure the size of the child's head at the widest part of the forehead. Take note of the child's pants size and shoe size as well.

3. Pick a final design. Work with your child to find out what is most important in the creation of the costume. Your child may love the fact that Goldilocks had long blond hair or Tinkerbell can do magic. Focus on the details of the costume that the child likes the best. If your child is a redhead, give Goldilocks thick hair made from yellow yarn. Craft a magic wand by wrapping tinfoil over a cardboard paper towel holder for Tinkerbell so your child can use her imagination and perform magic as she wears it.

4. Use concrete details to flesh out your vision. For example, if you are creating a costume of Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, glue red sequins to a pair of shoes to suggest the ruby slippers. Use a picnic basket, and place a stuffed dog in the basket to remind people of Dorothy's dog, Toto. Braid your child's hair.

5. Gather your materials the day you want to make the costume. Have all materials in one place before you start so you aren't searching as you go along. Children can find it hard to sit down for fittings. Make as much of the costume quickly and in advance as you can, which can help the child keep the costume clean.