Synopses & Reviews
Morris is a little boy who loves using his imagination. But most of all, Morris loves wearing the tangerine dress in his classroomand#8217;s dress-up center. The children in Morrisand#8217;s class donand#8217;t understand. Dresses, they say, are for girls. And Morris certainly isnand#8217;t welcome in the spaceship some of his classmates are building. Astronauts, they say, donand#8217;t wear dresses. One day when Morris feels all alone and sick from their taunts, his mother lets him stay home from school. Morris dreams of a fantastic space adventure with his cat, Moo. Inspired by his dream, Morris paints the incredible scene he saw and brings it with him to school. He builds his own spaceship, hangs his painting on the front of it and takes two of his classmates on an outer space adventure. With warm, dreamy illustrations, Isabelle Malenfant perfectly captures Morrisand#8217;s vulnerability and the vibrancy of his imagination.
Review
"Morris is a complex character whose creativity and personality shine. . . . Sensitive and reassuring." — Kirkus, starred review
"[R]ather than presenting an overt message about gender identity, the book provides a subtle and refreshing glimpse at a boy who simply likes to dress up." School Library Journal
Review
Stonewall Honor Book in Childrenand#8217;s and Young Adult LiteratureSelected for the American Library Association's Rainbow List
Finalist for the Blue Spruce Award
A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Yearand#160;
Kirkus Reviewsand#160;selection for Best Picture Book Celebrating Diversity
A Cooperative Children's Book Center Choice
A Huffington Post Best Picture Book of the Year
"Morris is a complex character whose creativity and personality shine. . . . Sensitive and reassuring." and#151; Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"[R]ather than presenting an overt message about gender identity, the book provides a subtle and refreshing glimpse atand#160;a boy who simply likes to dress up." and#151; School Library Journal
"Baldacchino doesnand#8217;t sugar-coat the teasing and isolation Morris endures. . . . Malenfant showcases Morrisand#8217;s full emotional spectrum." and#151; Publishers Weekly
"Unlike some more messagey titles on the subject, this one provides Morris with a personality beyond his dress-loving nature, making him enjoyable literary company." and#151; The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"Baldacchinoand#8217;s gentle story sensitively depicts gender nonconforming children, offering them reassurance and, one hopes, acceptance by introducing other children to the concept." and#151; Booklist
Review
and#147;Morris likes lots of things about school. He likes to paint. He likes to do puzzles. He likes the apple juice at snack time and singing the loudest during circle time. Most of all, Morris likes the dress-up center. And the tangerine dress.and#8221; and#151; from the book
Synopsis
Morris is a little boy who loves using his imagination. But most of all, Morris loves his classroom's dress-up center and its tangerine dress.
Morris is a little boy who loves using his imagination. He dreams about having space adventures, paints beautiful pictures and sings the loudest during circle time. But most of all, Morris loves his classroom's dress-up center -- he loves wearing the tangerine dress.
But the children in Morris's class don't understand. Dresses, they say, are for girls. And Morris certainly isn't welcome in the spaceship some of his classmates are building. Astronauts, they say, don't wear dresses.
One day when Morris feels all alone, and sick from the taunts of his classmates, his mother lets him stay home from school. Morris reads about elephants, and puts together a puzzle, and dreams of a fantastic space adventure with his cat, Moo.
Inspired by his dream, Morris paints the incredible scene he saw, and brings it with him to school. He builds his own spaceship, hangs his painting on the front of it and takes two of his classmates on an outer space adventure.
With warm, dreamy illustrations Isabelle Malenfant perfectly captures Morris's vulnerability and the vibrancy of his imagination. This is a sweetly told story about the courage and creativity it takes to be different.
Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.3
Describe characters, settings, and major events in a story, using key details.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.4
Identify words and phrases in stories or poems that suggest feelings or appeal to the senses.
About the Author
Christine Baldacchino is a graphic artist and web designer with a background in early childhood education. She lives in Toronto. Isabelle Malenfant has illustrated more than a dozen childrenand#8217;s books, mixing mediums such as watercolor, pastel, and charcoal to create poetic and sensitive worlds. She lives in Montreal.