My Forever Dress

8-1/2 x 11 in; 40 pp ; full-color illustrations, ages 4-8
Hardcover
Published in April, 2009
ISBN 9781934706459
ISBN10 1934706450

$16.99  

My Forever Dress -- A story about sewing and sharing, recycling and remembering, this book follows a special party dress a grandmother makes for her granddaughter. When her granddaughter grows taller, new fabric is added. The next year, the dress is ingeniously turned into a sleeveless jumper. Finally, when the little girl turns ten and is ready for a new outfit, she decides to give the dress to her little cousin so it can be her forever dress.

Liz Murphy's collage artwork is the perfect medium for this inventive story of sewing and altering, mixing and matching, and the rituals that connect generations.

Harriet Ziefert has been making magic with words for many years. She is the author of over 200 books for young readers. A mother of two and grandmother of five, she lives in South Orange, New Jersey.

Liz Murphy was born and raised in England and attended the Kingston Art College, where she majored in graphic design. She currently lives with her husband and two sons in Montclair, New Jersey. Liz has illustrated four other picture books for Blue Apple.

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colorful and clever multimedia illustrations

2009-11-30 | 4:50 PM | Kirsten Cutler

School Library Journal K-Gr 4 A girl tells how her grandmother makes her a "special" dress every year. The colorful and cleverly created multimedia illustrations vividly show what's involved: the paper patterns, bolts of fabric, step-by-step process of cutting out material, basting, and using a sewing machine. A delighted youngster dances as her grandmother comments, "Pretty as a princess!" and her mom adds, "A perfect fit!" The child looks over her shoulder into a mirror and smiles as she says, "Thank you, Grandma!" The story goes on to promote recycling: the following year, Grandma says to the now-seven-year-old, "We all need to do our part.... We should use new material only if we have to. You're no wider, just taller, so let's start with what we have and add to it." They add pretty leggings, a new pair of shoes, and a matching belt to extend the use of the garment. And the following year, a spread reveals how the old dress is made new once again, and the gleeful girl informs her friends, "This is my forever dress. I've worn it forever...well, almost forever. Since I was six." Young girls will enjoy this tale about a loving relationship between grandparent and child.-Kirsten Cutler, Sonoma County Library, CA