Dr. Seuss Costumes

Choosing a character

Dr. Seuss characters are bright, simple and easy to spot from across a room. That makes them popular for Book Week, World Book Day and class parties. Many can be put together from everyday clothes plus a few key pieces.

Characters for children

• The Cat in the Hat: a tall red and white striped hat, a red bow tie, white gloves and a black or dark outfit. The hat does most of the work.
• Thing 1 and Thing 2: a bright blue wig and a red jumpsuit with a white circle and the number on the chest. These suit two friends or siblings.
• Sam-I-Am: a rust or orange outfit and a soft hat. Carry a plate of green eggs and ham to complete it.
• Horton the Elephant: grey clothes, big floppy ears and a trunk. A small pink flower or a toy speck of dust in a jar makes it clear who you are.

Characters for adults

• The Grinch: green face and hands, a red Santa hat and a scruffy green top. It works well at Christmas parties.
• The Lorax: an orange top, a big yellow moustache and bushy yellow eyebrows. It is comfortable and easy to move in.
• The Cat in the Hat: the same hat and bow tie, worn with a black suit or a striped shirt.

Finishing touches to make at home

A Lorax moustache is simple to cut from yellow felt and attach with a loop of elastic. For Sam-I-Am, paint a paper plate with green eggs and ham, or use green card cut into shapes. Use child safe glue and let it dry fully.

Choosing the right size

Check the size chart against a recent measurement, and choose a little bigger for children so there is room for layers and growth.