A magical day for a child but an extra expense for their parents. World Book Day is coming up, but this time it will be echoed by a worsening financial crisis. 

The annual event this year will be held March 5 in every school around the country, to encourage children to read and be more interested in literature, all while they are dressed up as their favourite book characters. 

But this day can put a strain and pressure on families, especially ones with multiple children.

To combat this, Sheffield is offering alternatives to buying a brand new costume. Many charity shops around the city, such as Marie Curie, are selling second hand costumes all year round, and schools are also coming together to offer parents cheaper and eco-friendly alternatives.

Will Oliphant is a dad-of-two, with one child in nursery school and another in primary.

He said his children always take part in world of book day, with past costumes ranging from the Gruffalo, to the golden ticket from Charlie and the chocolate factory. They usually buy new costumes or make them, but often his younger child wears his eldest’s costume.

But this year their school is running a second hand costume sale for the first time, and the Oliphants are planning on attending. He said:  “The aim is that you buy a second hand costume and that money goes to the school and it’s less waste in general.” 

Michelle Rawlins’ daughter Tilly, aged 10, goes to a different school that is running a clothes swap where parents can bring in old costumes and then other parents or the same parents can go and swap.

This year Tilly has decided to wear the same costume from last year to dress up as her favourite book character Hermione Granger.

Mrs Rawlins said: “It helps parents financially and stops this waste of clothing that might only be worn once, and it means children can share.” 

Becky Vaughan has described World Book Day as a “complete shock”, with two daughters in primary school, aged five and seven. While her eldest has settled on Grace from city of dragons after many ideas, her youngest has set her heart on a character from K-Pop Demon Hunters.

She said: “I feel like it comes as a complete shock every year. We all know it’s the first week of March but it comes around so quickly and it’s like “oh God it’s world of book day this week, what are we doing?””

To help out parents, the school also gives children the option to come in their pyjamas and bring along their favourite book.

“It’s quite a lot of pressure on parents. It can put a lot of strain, it’s quite expensive sometimes as well.”