November
01
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Top Ten Characters I Wish I Would’ve Been for Halloween by Cindy Minnich
I’m going to start out by saying that I did dress up this year. And not unlike the year that I dressed up like Death from Neil Gaiman’s Sandman comic book series, most students didn’t know who I was. I wore loose mismatched clothes and my thick-lensed glasses, carried around a teacup and a wand and pretended to be Professor Trelawney. I guess I could have worn a wig and sported some more bangles – maybe it would have helped. Unlike the year that I dressed up like Death, I picked this one because I had those things handy and didn’t have to actually plan anything.
But, like every single year before, I feel as much regret about not going all out for Halloween costumes as I do for eating far too much candy. So here are the characters that make my shoulda list over and over.
Dulcie from Going Bovine
From the first time I read the description of Dulcie (she’s described on Goodreads as “a loopy punk angel/possible hallucination with a bad sugar habit”), I knew that she would be awesome. Once I read the book, I knew she’d be the most awesome character to dress up as. Broad angel wings that she paints differently nearly every time she sees the main character Cameron, combat boots, bright hair, and tons of attitude – she would take some planning to get together. Sure, it would be easier to celebrate this book on Halloween by making a CESSNAB t-shirt and carrying around a bowling ball, but Dulcie would be so much more fun.
Bellatrix Lestrange from Harry Potter
Halloween is about embracing what you are not. And Bellatrix would have to be the most extreme form of that. But dressing up like my favorite Death Eater for the day would be a walk on the wild side.
Miss Frizzle from The Magic School Bus books
I have always loved Miss Frizzle’s style – whether it be her taste in fashion or the way she gets her kids to learn and appreciate the world around them. I’d probably have to commission a dress to be Miss Frizzle, but I’d just have to dream about having a magic school bus.
Miss Viola Swamp from Miss Nelson Is Missing!
No question about it. We teachers who have read Miss Nelson Is Missing! have all dreamt about having our evil twin take over for a while to get our kids to appreciate us. I’d settle for getting to be Miss Viola Swamp for the day.
Pippi Longstocking
I read these books over and over and over again when I was a kid. I loved her spunk and bright red hair and the fact that she didn’t have to answer to anyone. A jumper, a red wig that I could put into pigtails, a monkey to carry around and call Mr. Nilsson, and the chance to stick my tongue out at people would be all I’d need.
The Queen of Hearts from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
When she’s not busy ordering executions (which never actually happen), she’s busy playing croquet and ordering people about. But the potential for a fancy costume here is huge. I always loved ball gowns – and who wouldn’t want to be queen for the day?
Professor Minerva McGonagall from Harry Potter
I genuinely love this character in the books. And I love how Maggie Smith played her in the movies. But this would be an easy costume – a witch’s hat, an academic robe, a wand…and a tabby cat to sit on the desk to grade papers while I’m out of the room for lunch.
Cow from Click Clack Moo: Cows That Type
This book never ceases to make me laugh. I think I’d just wear a cow costume and bring in my electric blanket. And maybe unearth my typewriter for the day.
Effie Trinket from The Hunger Games
Let the kids be Katniss. I have a fondness for bright and flashy costumes – someone or something that would be easily recognizable. Her make-up would require some help and I would definitely need to go shopping. She’s not a last-minute character. But I think I could handle saying, “May the odds be ever in your favor” over and over.
Nancy Drew
I owe my love of mysteries to Nancy Drew, the Bobbsy Twins, and the Hardy Boys. I always saw her as bold and confident and ready to take on any challenge – and that left more of a mark on me than the other mystery series. A smart skirt, sensible shoes, and a flashlight would be a must for this costume – but so would standing up straight and looking ready for anything.
Share with us your favorite bookish costumes – whether you’ve done them or not!
Cindy Minnich is a high school English teacher at Upper Dauphin Area High School. She lives among piles of books at home and at school and lives for the opportunity to talk books with anyone. She blogs at Charting by the Stars.
Nerdy Book Club 
Ha! This reminded me of dressing up as Pippi one year at school. I kept my pig tails up with a metal hanger… ouch! My head was throbbing come 3:30! But it sure was funny:)
My favorite costume from a book was Frodo Baggins from the Hobbit. A green table cloth for my cape, capris, and a little extra hair on my feet (connected to some flip flops) and I was good to go! That was a fun one!
Did you see the Viola Swamp photo on Pinterest? It’s an awesome costume! I was Nancy Drew this year. Very grateful to Mod Cloth for having the vintage-look pieces I needed. The costume was a big hit. Next year, I think I’m going as Fern from Charlotte’s Web.
I was Laura Ingalls when I was 9 or 10 – an easy dress for my calico-loving grandma to whip up, mom’s apron, braids and a paper bonnet tied with string. Now, I think a Gatsby-themed costume for my husband and I would be fun!
Now perhaps I’d dress as Luna Lovegood form Harry Potter, hoping for a chance to talk about strength of character. As a child, we tended toward stock characters–vampires, scarecrows, fortune tellers with lots of jewelry, and once as tin woodsmen, but I think if book characters had been the rage I’d have donned jodhpurs like my childhood hero, Sgt. Jim Thorpe of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (Silver Chief)
I love dressing up as Arthur Dent from The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Bathrobe, pajamas, and a towel. Easy and comfy.
How did this one never occur to me??? I’d just have to hope not to encounter any Vogon Construction Fleets….
I’ve always wanted to go as Tiffany Aching, the young witch from Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series. I just can’t find small green men, or small men to paint green.
Oh! She would be so much fun!!!
Pippi is my all-time favorite too!
Love these! I’d like to be Nancy Drew, too…and could I have her convertible? (THere’s a very cool Magic School Bus at Bookworm Gardens in Sheboygan–maybe they’ll loan it to you as Miss Frizzle.)
Oh, yes! How could I forget her convertible?! And I’m going to have to try to check out the Magic School Bus someday. Very cool!
My girls love literary costumes, even if only the grownups find them hilarious and not the kids. We’ve had a Bellatrix, the Queen of Hearts, a “real” witch a la Roald Dahl, Madeline, Violet Beauregarde, and plans for a Rita Skeeter costume next year. My oldest’s imaginary friend was Viola Swamp from about 2.5-4.5 years old. I’m not even kidding.