Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Book Character Planner: Free Printable Planner for Reception
- ForReception
- StageEarly Years
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Book Character Planner is a free printable planner for Reception (ages 4 to 5). Children choose a favourite book and character, draw and talk about what the character looks like, and plan the costume they would wear for World Book Day. It needs only a pencil, and page 2 gives the grown up notes, help ideas and a stretch task.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, give page 1 to your child and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
This is a planner, so there are no right or wrong answers. Children work through boxes about their favourite book, their favourite character, what the character looks like and the costume they would wear. There are lines for writing and boxes for drawing or notes. A grown up can scribe while the child talks, and children can add letters or words as they are ready.
- My favourite book
- My favourite character
- What my character looks like
- The costume I would wear
Turn the plan into a costume
Make a costume list
Look at the finished planner together. Ask your child what the character wears or carries. Write a short list for them, one item on each line, and let them tick items as you find them.
Hunt for things at home
Look through clothes, hats, scarves and bags. Many costumes come from things you already own. Talk about which item could stand in for something in the story.
Draw a prop
Choose one object that belongs to the character. Let your child draw it, then show them how to make a simple version from card. An adult should do any cutting.
Practise being the character
Ask your child how the character walks, talks and moves. Try it out in front of a mirror or for the family. This helps children link the book, the costume and the story.
Why plan a character costume?
World Book Day is a celebration of reading that many schools in England mark by letting children dress up as a character from a book. For a four or five year old, choosing a character is a big decision. It means remembering a story, picking a part of it they love and explaining why. That is a real piece of speaking and thinking.
A planner gives that thinking a place to land. Talking first, then drawing, then adding words lets young children move from ideas to marks on paper at their own pace. It also gives the grown up something to look at together, which makes it easier to ask open questions about the story and the character.
Skills and curriculum link
- Talking about stories
- Drawing ideas
- Early writing
- Describing a character
- Making choices
- Listening and sharing
Ideas to help you talk about characters
- Characters can be people or animalsStories can be about children, grown ups, animals, monsters or toys. Ask your child what kind of character theirs is.
- Pictures give cluesIllustrators show what a character looks like. Look at the pictures together and point out colours, clothes and faces.
- Characters have feelingsAsk how the character feels at different points in the story. Happy, cross, brave and scared are good words to try.
- Costumes tell us about a characterWhat someone wears can show who they are. Ask what one part of the costume tells us about the character.
Key words
- CharacterA person, animal or creature in a story.
- FavouriteThe one you like best.
- CostumeClothes you wear to dress up as someone else.
- DescribeSay what something is like, using words.
- TitleThe name of a book.
- AuthorThe person who writes a book.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has notes for you.
- Read the box labels aloud together. Let your child talk about their ideas before they draw anything.
- Work through the planner together the first time. Talk about each choice and ask why they chose it.
- Check page 2 for the notes and help ideas. Praise the thinking as well as the drawing.
- Come back to it another day. Repeating a familiar activity builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Look at the books on your shelf together and let your child point to a favourite character. Ask them to tell you one thing about the character before they draw. Write down a word or two for them if they want you to.
To stretch confident children
Ask your child to write the first letter of their character's name. Confident writers can try a whole short sentence on their own, such as what the character wears. Say the sounds slowly together and accept sensible spellings.
Make it a game
Take turns to act like a book character without saying the name. Use movement, sounds and faces. Can the grown up guess who it is? Then swap, and let your child guess the grown up's character.
Talk about it
- What is the name of your favourite book, and who is in it?
- Why do you like this character?
- What does your character look like? What colour are they?
- What would you wear to look like your character?
- Is your character kind, funny, brave or something else?
- What would you say if you met your character?
Take it off the page
Story picture
Fold a piece of paper in half. Draw the start of a favourite story on one side and the end on the other. Tell the story aloud using your pictures.
Dress up box
Gather scarves, hats and bags into a box. Pick items and say which book character they could belong to. Act out a short scene from the story.
Character puppet
Draw a character on card and ask a grown up to cut it out. Stick it to a lolly stick or a ruler and use it to retell part of the story.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit with your child for the first go and let them lead. Ask open questions and listen to the answers. Write for them if they get tired. The planner works well in the weeks before World Book Day.
Teachers
Use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing. Children can share their plans in a circle, which supports speaking and listening, and page 2 gives support and stretch ideas.
Home educators
Pair it with a favourite picture book and a trip to the library. Let your child choose the character, then use the plan for a costume or a role play afternoon. It can be reused for brothers and sisters.
Where this fits in learning
Before this sheet, children enjoy listening to stories, joining in with favourite parts and talking about pictures. They begin to make marks and draw to share ideas. Planning a character builds on all of this by asking them to choose, explain and show.
After this, children move on to writing labels and captions, then simple sentences about the stories they read. In Year 1 they retell stories, describe characters in more detail and write short pieces. Talking and drawing first gives them the ideas to write about.
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Book Character Planner for?
It is written for Reception, ages 4 to 5, in the Early Years Foundation Stage. Younger children can join in by talking and drawing. Older children can add more writing and detail to their planner.
- What will children practise?
Children talk about a favourite story and character, then draw and say sentences about them. This links to EYFS Communication and Literacy. They also practise making choices and explaining them to a grown up.
- Do children need to write on the sheet?
No. Drawing and talking are a good start. Children can write letters or words if they are ready, and a grown up can scribe for them. Early writing grows best when children enjoy it, not when it feels like a chore.
- What if my child cannot choose a character?
Look at the books on your shelf together and let your child point to a favourite. If they find it hard, ask which character made them laugh or which one they would like to meet. Any choice is fine.
- Do I need to finish it in one go?
No. Children can complete it in short sessions over several days. Stop when interest fades and return to it another day. Repeating a familiar activity builds confidence, and your child may add new ideas each time.
- Is it free, and do I need colour printing?
Yes, it is free to print for home and classroom use. No, you do not need colour. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper, and children can add colour with their own pencils or crayons.
- Is this a screen free activity?
Yes. It needs only paper and a pencil, so it works well for quiet time, rainy days and school holidays. Teachers and home educators can also use it as part of a wider plan with books and role play.
Preview the full PDF
Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.