World Book Day is looming — this year’s event is on Thursday, March 3.

“I need a costume for World Book Day”, is one of the things that strikes fear into parents’ hearts, but don’t worry — we thought we would delve into our archives to find some of our favourite characters in recent years to give you some inspiration.

Scroll through our gallery of pictures above to see more...

World Book Day is celebrating 25 years this year and its mission is to promote reading for pleasure and offer every child and young person the opportunity to have a book of their own.

Designated by UNESCO as a worldwide celebration of books and reading, World Book Day is marked in more than 100 countries around the globe and many Isle of Wight schools and organisations will be taking part.

Isle of Wight County Press: Summerfield Primary's Kaedee Kingston, left, and Summer Kingston, four, as Thing 2 and Thing 1 in 2017. Photo: IWCP Archive.Summerfield Primary's Kaedee Kingston, left, and Summer Kingston, four, as Thing 2 and Thing 1 in 2017. Photo: IWCP Archive.

World Book Day is always popular in schools - particularly primary schools - and often your school will encourage the children simply to dress up as their favourite character.

This allows plenty of cope for picking a character - in recent years there have been lots of Gangsta Granny costumes, as well as the ever-popular Harry Potter, Spiderman and other Marvel characters.

Characters from classic children's books will always be popular - think about Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland, which spawned such wonderful characters as the Mad Hatter and the Queen of Hearts, or Dr Seuss's Cat in the Hat.

Isle of Wight County Press: The Queen of Hearts and the Cat in the Hat are popular choices. (For full captions, scroll through the gallery!)The Queen of Hearts and the Cat in the Hat are popular choices. (For full captions, scroll through the gallery!)

Some schools set themes for their dress-up activities - our photographers loved it when St Thomas of Canterbury Primary School in Carisbrooke decided to have a dress-up day centred on parts of the world in 2016.

One group went entirely Australian with their costumes, including plenty of hats with corks, toy koalas and kangaroos and a Baywatch-inspired lifeguard; while other classes had French or Oriental themes - and we loved the little boy dressed up as the Eiffel Tower (see gallery!)

Isle of Wight County Press: Some of the children with their countries-inspired theme at St Thomas of Canterbury's World Book Day 2016. Photo: IWCP Archive.Some of the children with their countries-inspired theme at St Thomas of Canterbury's World Book Day 2016. Photo: IWCP Archive.

Shalfleet Primary School went for a theme of kings and queens for World Book Day one year and the children loved the idea of being royalty for a day (see gallery).

It gave them plenty of opportunity to explore historical tales of kings and queens too!

Dressing up as a favourite animal character is always a good choice - think The Gruffalo, Peter Rabbit, Fantastic Mr Fox, Mr Toad from Wind in the Willows, or Eric Carle's very hungry caterpillar!

For World Book Day 2022, my little boy's school has decided to go with a bedtime story theme and has invited the children to wear their favourite pyjamas and dressing gowns to school - which I am sure will also prove a popular idea with parents!

Still short of ideas? Check out World Book Day's dressing-up ideas page by clicking here.

Are you taking part in World Book Day 2022? Let us know!