Fred Gets Dressed
One day Fred, a white child who loves running naked around the house, ends up in his parents’ closet. He looks at Dad’s clothes. “He thinks about the way Dad dresses. It might be fun to dress like Dad.” But it isn’t. He looks at his Mom’s clothes. “He thinks about the way Mom dresses. It might be fun to dress like Mom.” And it is. Fred is in the middle of adding jewelry (a pearl necklace) and make-up (he isn’t quite sure what to do with that) when Mom and Dad come into the room. Two wordless page spreads follow. In the first, Fred looks uncertain as he faces his parents, whose expressions are unreadable. In the second, all three of them are smiling. Mom gives Fred make-up lessons, and soon, “The whole family joins the fun.” The refreshing matter-of-factness of Fred’s play challenging gender expectations, and his parents’ acceptance, is underscored by the mostly short, declarative sentences. Digital, stylized art in a limited palette includes marvelous lipstick-pink highlights throughout. ©2022 Cooperative Children’s Book Center
Illustrated by Peter Brown
CCBC Age Recommendation: Ages 3-7
Age Range:
Babies/Toddlers (birth – 3)
PreK-Early Elementary (Ages 4-7)
Format:
Picture book
Subjects:
Affirmation
Clothing
LGBTQ+ Persons
Diversity subject:
Gender Nonconformity
Publisher:
Little, Brown
Publish Year: 2021
Pages: 40
ISBN: 9780316200646
CCBC Location: Picture Book, Brown