To think World Book Day needs a rethink.

This year his favourite readingis the 13 Storey Treehouse and its sequels. I shall have fun trying to make a costume for that one.

Your DGS2 sounds a bit like one of mine. He is fascinated by cars, roads, maps etc . One year he went as a road sign as his favourite book was the Highway Code.

I think YABU, as you ask. Nobody has to buy a costume, my DGC have never had a ready-made one yet. And it doesn't have to be over the top either. At my school we used to have a few piratey scarves, cloaks, crowns and suchlike to hand for children who didn't come in outfits but wanted to dress up, so noone missed out. DD2 is a bit flummoxed this time as DGS2 wants to go as a dustbin. From a page in his favourite book which is all about useful vehicles (he hasn't quite grasped the concept of favourite character).

There are some great free books for children to choose from this year. I'm hoping one of mine will pick Nadiya's Bake Me A Story, but I know nicely that the Marvel Avengers will win through as usual!

Everything 'nowadays' seems to take on a life of its own.
What should be pleasurable ends up being a nuisance to the parents and the children.

The day itself is a good thing but yes, it needs a face lift. It was stale 10 years ago when my youngest was still at primary school and I don't think anything has changed since then.

Quite agree. It has changed beyond recognition and buying a costume was surely not the intention. That money should go for books instead. Maybe shops could stock 'official' world book day books and children could have fun choosing one to take in and donate to the school.

(In a small voice) I like it. I'm doing another 'meet the author' event at a library again. I always enjoy the 'meet the reader' aspect of it.
I was recently very taken aback though, to find that I had to have personal public liability insurance to do talks in libraries. Obviously I'm a dangerous public liability! However, I'm now all insured and ready to go. Let me know if anyone's local library is brave enough to want me to do a talk!

From my perspective, its a pain in the arse!

My DD has always put together wonderful costumes for our twin DGC without spending a lot of money but this time in their final year at primary school they really do not want to get involved.

We will have a problem in Wales

I agree with you Trisher. It got really out of hand in our school, with even the HT spending a fortune on a costume, when there were many families living on the breadline. It put parents under so much pressure.
Donations of books instead is a good idea.
Instead, children could make a face mask of their favourite character in class, as part of an cross curricular activity.