We often hear cries of needing more diversity in our books and picture books are no exception to that rule.
And just to clarify, we mean across the board from gender, race, disability, sexual orientation and religion, to name but a few of the core areas.
This is why it was so utterly refreshing to receive this book by Christine Baldacchino, illustrated by Isabelle Malenfant.
Quite simply about a boy, Morris Micklewhite, who loves to wear his tangerine dress.
Mainly because he likes the way it sounds as he walks and it reminds him of tigers, the sun and his Mother’s hair.
As you may expect Morris is teased for his love of the tangerine dress and he struggles with his peers at school to try and make them understand why he feels better in the dress.
It’s great to see a character that children can relate to and perhaps identify with in a picture book for younger readers.
This is not an ‘in your face’ or overt message about gender identity, it’s a subtle story about a boy who simply likes to dress up.
We really loved Isabelle’s fresh illustration style and her pictures fully supported the story without trivialising the message.
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