England's authors dress up as favorite book characters for exhibit

Renowned British fiction writer Neil Gaiman is pictured looking sly in black-and-white makeup and a burgundy crushed velvet blazer. He’s Badger, of course, from The Wind in the Willows. Then there’s Children’s Laureate author Malorie Blackman, transformed into a terrifying Wicked Witch of the West. There are other English authors, too – Terry Pratchett, Cressida Cowell, Terry Jones and Steven Butler – all dressed up and looking quite convincing as their very favorite children’s book characters.

More than 20 of the U.K.’s most celebrated authors and storytellers took part in a one-of-a-kind opportunity to dress up as their fictional favorites, ranging from Mary Poppins (National Laureate for Storytelling Katrice Horsley), trickster Till Eulenspiegel (poet and children’s author Michael Rosen) and a convincing Jekyll and Hyde (novelist Anthony Horowitz). The photos, meant to appeal to young and more mature readers alike, will be featured in an interactive exhibit at England’s Story Museum.

“I think that anything that preserves stories, that encourages stories, that will lead children to find stories that they might not otherwise stumble across is great,” said author Charlie Higson, in a statement, who chose to dress up as Boromir from Lord of the Rings. “And to have a center where people can tell stories, the very earliest form of storytelling, and writers will enjoy going to, is a great thing.”

The exhibit – titled 26 Characters – will run from April 5 through November 2.