I Had a Favorite Dress, by Boni Ashburn, illustrated by Julia Denos, 2011, New York, NY: Knopf Books for Young Readers. 32 pages. ISBN: 978-0375842535.
Age/Interest Level: 4-7 years
Lexile Level: N/A
Awards: N/A
Reader Annotation: The main character has a favorite dress and she intends to keep it. Though she outgrows it, her and her mother have a plan to keep it lasting a long time.
Plot Summary: The main character has a favorite pink dress that she wears every Tuesday. One Tuesday, she has suddenly outgrown it. Thinking quick, her and her mother work to change the dress into a shirt that she begins to wear every Wednesday, and it is her absolute favorite shirt. Eventually, she outgrows that too, and it’s back to the drawing board to create tank top. But, what happens when she eventually outgrows that? A scarf, of course! Something can always be made out of something.
Critical Evaluation: This is charming story about resourcefulness. The main character is disappointed when she outgrows her favorite skirt, but she works with her mother to come up with a solution. It exudes both creativity and a universal sentimental value placed on objects. The narrator grows to learn that it’s okay if damage is done or if she outgrows something: There is a way to fix it. The watercolor illustrations are a great addition to the piece, whimsically showing the beauty of each piece of clothing. They practically radiate with each new creation.
Why Included: This work teaches a practical resourcefulness. As well, this is a fabulous book with strong African American main characters while the plot does not deal with race.
Age/Interest Level: 4-7 years
Lexile Level: N/A
Awards: N/A
Reader Annotation: The main character has a favorite dress and she intends to keep it. Though she outgrows it, her and her mother have a plan to keep it lasting a long time.
Plot Summary: The main character has a favorite pink dress that she wears every Tuesday. One Tuesday, she has suddenly outgrown it. Thinking quick, her and her mother work to change the dress into a shirt that she begins to wear every Wednesday, and it is her absolute favorite shirt. Eventually, she outgrows that too, and it’s back to the drawing board to create tank top. But, what happens when she eventually outgrows that? A scarf, of course! Something can always be made out of something.
Critical Evaluation: This is charming story about resourcefulness. The main character is disappointed when she outgrows her favorite skirt, but she works with her mother to come up with a solution. It exudes both creativity and a universal sentimental value placed on objects. The narrator grows to learn that it’s okay if damage is done or if she outgrows something: There is a way to fix it. The watercolor illustrations are a great addition to the piece, whimsically showing the beauty of each piece of clothing. They practically radiate with each new creation.
Why Included: This work teaches a practical resourcefulness. As well, this is a fabulous book with strong African American main characters while the plot does not deal with race.