Stacy B. Davids

I've been reading Annie's Plaid Shirt to classes visiting the library. The protagonist, Annie, loves a plaid shirt that she wears everywhere. But one day her mother takes Annie and her brother shopping for new clothes to wear to their uncle's wedding. Specifically, Annie's mother is determined that Annie must wear a dress to the wedding, even though Annie feels totally uncomfortable in dresses. Happily, there is a win-win solution and I like that the book, without being preachy, validates children who don't fit in to what society dictates is appropriate for being a girl or a boy. Special mention, too, for the body language and facial expressions depicted by illustrator Rachael Balsaitis. I really got a sense of Annie's awkwardness and complete discomfort with the dresses that her mother picked out for her. I say this as a person for whom non-verbal cues are something I struggle to decipher, so it's especially valuable to have them conveyed through illustrations so skillfully.… (meer)

Annie is a girl after my own heart, going for comfort when she dresses! Annie loves her plaid shirt, she wears it every day, and it truly makes her happy. Her mom tells her that she has to wear a dress to her uncle's wedding, not her favorite plaid shirt. Annie is furious, but her mom insists on buying her a dress. Annie comes up with an idea that may satisfy her and her mom. I loved this book because it shows girls that they don't have to wear dresses and skirts in order to be considered a girl. This has become more prominent nowadays where girls will wear boy's clothing, and vice versa. Gender norms are slowly, but surely, being thrown out the window and I believe it is because of strong people like Annie. Being a tomboy is great and we shouldn't reprimand girls for being themselves!… (meer)