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.
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.
| Published By | Groundwood Books Ltd — May 1, 2014 |
| Specifications | 32 pages | 7.875 in x 10.5 in |
| Keywords | fiction; |
| Written By |
CHRISTINE BALDACCHINO is a writer and artist with a background in early childhood education. She is the author of two picture books, including Violet Shrink, illustrated by Carmen Mok, a love letter to introversion, imagination and protecting one’s own energy; and the Stonewall Honor recipient Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress, illustrated by Isabelle Malenfant, which won the CBC Bookie Award for Best Picture Book, was a finalist for the TD Canadian Children's Literature Award and has appeared on a number of lists, including Kirkus Best Picture Books That Celebrate Diversity and the American Library Association’s Rainbow Book List. Christine currently lives with her husband and cat in Toronto, Ontario. |
| Illustrated by |
ISABELLE MALENFANT has illustrated more than twenty children’s books, including Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress by Christine Baldacchino (Stonewall Honor Book, American Library Association’s Rainbow List, Kirkus Reviews Best Books of the Year) and Pinny in Summer and Pinny in Fall, both by Joanne Schwartz. Isabelle’s illustrations for Pablo trouve un trésor by Andrée Poulin were nominated for a Governor General’s Literary Award. She lives in Magog, Quebec. |
| Written By |
|
CHRISTINE BALDACCHINO is a writer and artist with a background in early childhood education. She is the author of two picture books, including Violet Shrink, illustrated by Carmen Mok, a love letter to introversion, imagination and protecting one’s own energy; and the Stonewall Honor recipient Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress, illustrated by Isabelle Malenfant, which won the CBC Bookie Award for Best Picture Book, was a finalist for the TD Canadian Children's Literature Award and has appeared on a number of lists, including Kirkus Best Picture Books That Celebrate Diversity and the American Library Association’s Rainbow Book List. Christine currently lives with her husband and cat in Toronto, Ontario. |
| Illustrated by |
|
ISABELLE MALENFANT has illustrated more than twenty children’s books, including Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress by Christine Baldacchino (Stonewall Honor Book, American Library Association’s Rainbow List, Kirkus Reviews Best Books of the Year) and Pinny in Summer and Pinny in Fall, both by Joanne Schwartz. Isabelle’s illustrations for Pablo trouve un trésor by Andrée Poulin were nominated for a Governor General’s Literary Award. She lives in Magog, Quebec. |
| Audience | ages 4 to 7 / grades P to 2 |
| Reading Levels |
Guided Reading K
Reading Recovery 18 Lexile AD530L |
| Common Core |
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.3
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.4 |
Short-listed, Blue Spruce Award, 2015
Commended, Canadian Children's Book Centre Best Books for Kids and Teens, 2014
Commended, Quill & Quire Books of the Year, 2014
Commended, Kirkus Reviews Best Books of the Year, 2014
Commended, Kirkus Best Picture Books Celebrating Diversity, 2014
Commended, Today's Parent Top Picture Books of the Year, 2014
Commended, Huffington Post Best Picture Books of the Year: Most Touching/Heartwarming, 2014
Commended, Stonewall Honor Books in Children’s and Young Adult Literature, 2015
“[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
“Baldacchino doesn’t sugar-coat the teasing and isolation Morris endures. . . . Malenfant showcases Morris’s full emotional spectrum.” —Publishers Weekly
“Morris is a complex character whose creativity and personality shine. . . . Sensitive and reassuring.” —Kirkus, STARRED REVIEW
“[A] wonderfully moving and enriching picture book. Morris is a relateable character whom many readers will find both sympathetic and familiar.” —Quill & Quire, STARRED REVIEW
“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.” —Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
“First-time author Christine Baldacchino debunks all the shoulds and shouldn’ts of children’s behavior merely based on the number of x-chromosomes. . . . Veteran illustrator Isabelle Malenfant imbues young Morris with such expressiveness, from his curious joy to hurt silence to cruel rejection to hopeful triumph.” —BookDragon
“Christine Baldacchino's story and Isabelle Malenfant's delightful illustrations show how being different is sometimes the bravest thing you can be.” —National Post
“Baldacchino’s gentle story sensitively depicts gender nonconforming children, offering them reassurance and, one hopes, acceptance by introducing other children to the concept.” —Booklist