I Had a Favorite Dress: A Picture Book (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9781419700163)

Author Boni Ashburn and illustrator Julia Denos's I Had a Favorite Dress is a fresh, stylish, and "endearing" (Wall Street Journal) picture book about growing up and keeping hold of your favorite memories.

"Will speak to young fashionistas." --Kirkus Reviews

This is a lively, energetic story about adjusting when you need to and being creative when you have to. As the year passes, the narrator's favorite dress goes through a series of creative changes, from dress to shirt to tank top to scarf and so on, until all that's left of it is a good memory. Assisted by her patient and crafty mama, the narrator finds that when disaster strikes her favorite things, she doesn't need to make mountains out of molehills--she "makes molehills out of mountains" instead!

Structured around the days of the week, the story is also illustrated to show the passing of the seasons, a perfect complement to the themes of growing older and keeping hold (and letting go) of special mementos. The collaged mixed-media full-color illustrations of watercolors, graphite, colored pencil, and needle and thread give this unique and charming story its bounce and flounce. Breezy in style, the artwork smartly stitches each scene of alteration as the not-so-little girl sashays through the days of the week and the seasons.

This modernized version of a traditional folk tale will delight new audiences of parents and children who will learn that everything old can really become new again.

"What could have been yet another example of kindergarten consumerism instead becomes one of resourcefulness and resilience." --New York Times

Also available:
I Had a Favorite Hat


Author: Boni Ashburn
ISBN-10: 1419700162
ISBN-13: 9781419700163
Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers
Language: English
Published: 08/01/2011
Pages: 32
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 0.92lbs
Size: 10.87h x 8.82w x 0.47d

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 3.4
Point Value: 0.5
Interest Level: Lower Grade
Quiz #/Name: 145816 / I Had a Favorite Dress

Award: Volunteer State Book Awards - Nominee
Award: Cybils - Finalist

Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 07/15/2011
School Library Journal 08/01/2011 pg. 67
Publishers Weekly 08/08/2011
Hornbook Guide to Children 01/01/2012 pg. 17 - Below Average, With Minor Flaw