by Rebecca · Last updated Sep 6, 2026
Adult sizes, school dress-code friendly, and every one of them comes from a book on your shelves.
There is one thing worse than not dressing up: dressing up and spending all day explaining who you are. These are characters your students know, so hopefully you get more “OMG, you’re Katniss!” and less “...what are you supposed to be?”
I looked for costumes that an adult can wear to school and still do their job. That means no short skirts, no questionable cutouts, and no accessories that require you to spend the day explaining yourself to your principal.
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This is probably the easiest costume on the list. Put the orange Camp Half-Blood shirt over your own jeans and call it a day.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan
The shirt is all you need. The pen is usable, so it can live in your library supplies after Halloween instead of becoming one more thing in the costume bin.
If you don’t want to wear a costume, this is the one for you. It is basically an outfit you might wear anyway.
Matilda by Roald Dahl
The dress has a collar and pockets, and the cardigan is what makes the whole thing read as Miss Honey. Without it, nobody would know you were wearing a costume, which may be exactly what you want.
You don’t need to go all out for Auggie. The astronaut helmet does most of the work.
Wonder by R.J. Palacio
I would carry the helmet rather than wear it. It covers your face and cuts your vision, which is not ideal when you’re supervising students. Under your arm, though, it works just fine.
A green cloak and a ring. That’s basically it.
The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
The necklace comes as a two-pack with an Evenstar pendant, so you can convince a colleague to be Arwen. The cloak is also warm, which is either a bonus or a problem depending on how your school handles the thermostat.
If your students love graphic novels, don’t overlook Jack.
The Last Kids on Earth by Max Brallier
The shirt and gloves are normal, comfortable clothes. The inflatable bat is what makes the costume work without requiring you to carry an actual bat through the halls. Check your school’s prop policy before bringing it in.
This is probably my favorite option if you want a costume that doesn’t feel like a costume.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Wear a black shirt underneath and braid your hair over one shoulder. That’s all it takes. The pieces are ordinary clothes and accessories until you put them together.
The bow has suction-cup arrows, but check your school’s prop policy before bringing it. The set also comes with a plastic knife. Leave that one at home.
Orange coveralls. Red hat. Shovel. Done.
Holes by Louis Sachar
The coveralls are roomy enough to layer over your own clothes, which is useful if your school is one of those buildings that can’t decide whether it is October or January. The shovel makes the costume, but check your school’s policy before bringing it in.
This one feels a little more like an actual outfit and a little less like a Halloween costume.
Enola Holmes by Nancy Springer
The navy jacket and long pale skirt give you the look, and the magnifying glass is under $7. It works at six-times magnification, so you could put it in a library display when you’re done with it.
I mean, obviously.
The Magic School Bus by Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen
The dress comes with the school-bus bag, but the wig is what makes it Frizzle rather than just a woman in a space-themed dress. It is also going to be warm. Plan accordingly if your building runs hot.
If your students are into manga, this one is going to get noticed.
Haikyu!! by Haruichi Furudate
The jersey and shorts are lightweight, so you can move around in them all day. Your Haikyu!! readers will probably recognize you before you make it to the library.
A classic, and one that even students who have never opened a Pokémon book will recognize.
Pokémon
The vest, cap, gloves and Poké Ball all come together, so there isn’t much to figure out. Put it on and you’re ready.
A good choice for students who know Avatar from the graphic novels, comics, or screen adaptations.
Avatar: The Last Airbender graphic novels by Gene Luen Yang
It’s a complete outfit, which is nice when you don’t want to spend three weeks trying to assemble a costume from five different listings.
This is probably the best deal in the whole guide.
Coraline by Neil Gaiman
One set includes the yellow raincoat, blue bob wig, wig cap, dragonfly clip, yellow socks, crossbody bag, key necklace, green heart pendant and button glasses. It’s under $30, and the raincoat falls at or below the knee on most adults.
The button glasses are fun for pictures. I would not wear them while you’re working because, unsurprisingly, you can’t see very well through button eyes.
This one is about as easy as it gets.
Demon Slayer by Koyoharu Gotouge
The checkerboard pattern is the whole thing. Wear it over your regular clothes and your Demon Slayer readers will know immediately.
For the librarian who is ready to commit.
Naruto by Masashi Kishimoto
One thing to know before you buy it: this is the Akatsuki villains’ robe, not Naruto’s outfit. Your students will know the difference.
The link opens the size Large. It is cut loose, so it doesn’t fit like a typical Large.
It’s also the most expensive pick in the guide, and the price has moved several times recently.
Alice is hard to get wrong. Even the students who haven’t read the book will probably recognize her.
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
The blue dress, white apron, bow headband and stockings all come together. No hunting down four different pieces.
For the librarian who has always wanted an excuse to tell everyone to stop running.
Matilda by Roald Dahl
The dress and belt do most of the work. Add a whistle from the gym closet and a completely straight face.
If you’re going to dress up, you might as well commit.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
The purple tailcoat, top hat and brown trousers come together in one officially licensed costume. It is easily the most theatrical option here, but Wonka is not a character that calls for subtlety.
It’s about the books
The best part of dressing up as a book character isn’t the costume.
It’s the moment a student walks past you, stops, and suddenly realizes who you’re supposed to be.
Maybe it’s the sixth grader who has been carrying Percy Jackson around for three weeks. Maybe it’s the kid who has read every Demon Slayer volume in the library. Maybe it’s a student who has never said much to you at all, but suddenly wants to tell you that your Katniss costume is perfect.
Those little interactions are the reason I like book-character costumes so much. They turn something silly into another way to connect kids with books.
And if you can do it while wearing something comfortable enough to survive a full day in the library, even better.
Prices and availability change quickly on costumes, so check the current listing before buying.
