37

This book is not something you commonly see addressed in children's books. A child who does not conform to gender norms. We have seen this before where female characters fight for equal rights or to "do what boys do", but we don't often see the opposite. Where a boy wants to do something that is primarily reserved for girls. I especially like this the parents are not welcoming of this from their son. We always like to think that parents would be supportive, but that isn't reality. This story does not sugar coat that. Instead, he finds support in a friend, Laurel. The illustrations in this book are also amazing. It is definitely worth the read. ( )

I don't know what it is I didn't like about this book. The illustrations didn't do much for me. I did like that the narrator used female pronouns even though everyone else used male ones. ( )

Sexist family members make a dress-loving, female-identified kid pretty miserable. While I appreciated the message, somehow I didn't love the story. The ending -- where the older girl says the young protagonist is the best girl she knows -- really annoyed me. "Best" girl? I'm not a fan of the idea that someone needs to be the "best" or "better than" to have their identity affirmed. Or that presenting gender by wearing and making dresses makes you the "best" girl. ( )

This book about Bailey, a child who does not feelings do not match the gender they were born with, and they dream about dresses. Bailey's family don't support or help Bailey be who she is, on the contrary they are dismissive and hurtful towards her. Bailey runs away and a neighbor helps Bailey make the dresses she dreams about.