I Had a Favorite Dress

Title: I Had a Favorite Dress
Author: Boni Ashburn
Illustrator: Julia Denos
Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: August 1, 2011
Rating: 4 stars

Every little girl has had a favorite dress that she outgrew.  And her mommy probably remembers the big fuss she made about it.

The narrator of this picture book had the same problem, but her mother had a solution.  The dress is too short?  We'll just make it a long shirt over jeans! Sleeves too tight? We'll make it a tank top! On and on it goes until there's virtually nothing left.  What will happen then?

Julia Denos' illustrations are highly textured and take on the look of a scrapbook. There's also plenty of pink!

Positive elements: The main character and her mother express much creativity.  Readers learn about accepting change with grace; such a small event in this little girl's life opens up the floor for a bigger discussion of handling life's inescapable disappointments. The book is full of alliteration and rhyming words, even though it is not a rhyming text.

Negative elements: There is one logical jump in the text. The girl can't wear the dress because it's too short; however, later, her mom makes a skirt out of it. This would have also been too short.

Little girls of all ages will love this book.  It is full of hope for the future and joy in the present.

What did your favorite now-outgrown dress look like?

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