#blogbookaday: The Dress and the Girl
Summary:
“A little girl and her favorite dress dream of an extraordinary life. They enjoy simple pleasures together on a beautiful Greek island. They watch the sunset, do chores, and pick wildflowers on the way home. One day, the dress and the girl must leave the island and immigrate to the United States. Upon arrival, the girl is separated from the trunk carrying her favorite dress, and she fears her dress is lost forever. Many years later, the girl—now all grown up—spots the dress in a thrift store window. As the two are finally reunited, the memories of their times together come flooding back. While the girl can no longer wear the dress, it’s now perfect for her own daughter—and the new journey of a girl and her dress begins. Featuring lush illustrations, The Dress and the Girl is a stunning picture book about memory and the power of the items we hold most dear.” (Taken from Goodreads)
Review:
A little girl and a dress her mother made for her yearn for adventure beyond the small Greek island where they live. But, when the young girl leaves the island and immigrates to America, she is separated from her dress and both realize that the day-to-day activities of the past were extraordinary. Years later they come across each other again and although so much has changed, the memories they had together still remain.
Personal Reaction:
I am a huge fan of Julie Morstad’s illustrations and not just in this book, but in everything I’ve seen. I don’t know if I could even explain it, but I love them all! And this story is no different – it’s the story of family, memories, and not taking for granted the small, every day moments. As for text, this something completely different from Camille Adros’s other picture book Charlotte the Scientist Is Squished. And I love how different they are – they both work so well, but what I love about the dress and this little girl is that even though it’s set in the past, it’s a story that can live on in so many ways. It’s in the Raggedy Ann doll that my aunt made me before she passed away, it’s in the Christmas pin my grandmother picked out of her jewelry box for me, it’s the doll clothes my mom sewed when I was little. Each little thing carries memories that I hope to never forget and the object is there to help me remember the strong women in my family.
Title: The Dress and the Girl
Author: Camille Andros
Illustrator: Julie Morstad
Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: August 7, 2018
This is a new idea I’m trying on my blog this year that was inspired by @donalynbooks and @heisereads – to provide a brief review of a picture book every day of 2018. You’ll get a brief summary of the story, a review of the content, illustrations and theme, my personal reaction to the book and all the pertinent publication information! Enjoy!
