A joyful story in which the central conflict has nothing to do with the gender of the main character, a boy wishing for a beautiful dress - he's completely supported by his family and community, there's no teasing or questioning him or even pointing out that this might be at all outside the norm. Picture books have come so far in the past decade since Morris Micklewhite! In an interview, Robert Tregoning said, "I wanted to write a story about a boy who challenged gender stereotypes, that didn’t contain a single speck of shame." And he has succeeded beautifully. With fun, rhyming text and vibrant illustrations, this is a book for every kid but especially affirming for dress-loving boys and anyone who longs for a world where all kids are celebrated for exactly who they are.

It`s a very cute book on an important subject but it flew over my kid's head. I feel this would be better as a chapter book and not a picture book.

I read this little adventure at a time when I needed love and approval.
I found it in every page and drawing.
If you want to achieve something work using all your skills, the ending can’t be different from a happy ending.

Thank you to the author, Flyaway Books and NetGalley, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. My apologies for the delay in posting this review, I had a bit too much going on.

This children's book is like a warm hug, about dreaming, self-expression and nurturing imagination. The illustrations are fantastic, and I loved the subtle not-so-subtle message about gender roles and inclusivity. Although I am not a big fan of rhyming, it suited the story very well. My only quibble is the lack of a male role model that was as positive as the female role model.

This sweet book tells the story of a boy who falls in love with a red, glittering dress that he sees in a shop window, and how he works hard to save enough money to buy it. Along the way, he faces some challenges and doubts, but he never gives up on his dream. He is unconditionally supported by his loving mother and his kind neighbors, who all celebrate his happiness and individuality! This book is a wonderful celebration of self-expression, acceptance, and diversity. Also, the illustrations by Pippa Curnick are vibrant and absolutely charming.

A pretty straightforward story about working to get something that matters to you. That's the face value message. Of course there is also the not-so-subtle messaging about gender roles and feeling pretty regardless of gender. Cute.

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

The Dress In the Window is a beautiful, expressive children's picture book about embracing and nurturing imagination.
A little boy falls in love with a beautiful, sparkly red dress in a charity shop window and let's hid imagination run wild with all the people the dress has been worn by before ending up in the window. His mother suggests he do some chores to get pocket money and save up to get it, and the boy sets to work running errands, cleaning neighbours' cars and houses, cutting lawns, and walking their dogs. Just as he's saved enough, he races to the shop on his way home from school on his birthday, but the dress is gone. But all is not lost as mum had secretly bought the dress for him for his birthday, knowing it may have sold by the time he'd saved enough money to get it.
I loved how inclusive this story was and how it showed a mother supporting and nurturing her sons dreams and imagination and allowing him to embrace them.

I loved this picture book about a child wanting to buy a beautiful dress they say in a resale store window. I loved how their mom and neighbors were so supportive of who they are. I would have liked to see more friends joining in but it seemed it was more about their neighbors or people in the community they saw often. It's still a great picture book for all libraries!!

The illustrations are super pretty and full of movement, the cadence of the story telling follows rhyming meter traditions. I liked it! I thought it was nice that it showed a little boy being drawn to a sparkly dress, but not assigning him any sort of orientation or identity- just enjoying a dress. I would say this is LGBTQ+ safe or relevant, but it's not exclusively for that community!

WHERE IS THE DAD. We need more representation of dads accepting boys drawn to feminine clothing/styles.

And all that hard work he did was worth $25 of coins? In this economy? And he didn't even get the satisfaction of using his earnings?

Also upset at the mom. I realize her briefly saying she didn't want to walk by the shop was the author trying to show remorse, but she never openly apologizes to the boy or lets him feel his sadness- which is a totally fine thing to do, even over something material. If it was me, I would tell him right then and there that I was scared it would sell, so I bought it for him and it's waiting at home instead of accidentally negging the poor kid.


I played a prank once on my 10yrs younger brother. For his 7th birthday, he wanted an Xbox DESPERATELY. We urged him to save up holiday money and to do extra chores, because money was tight and a new console was a Big Deal. So we got him one and set it up secretly, but left clues in the rest of his wrapped gifts as to what his big gift was.... but there was no Xbox to be unwrapped. That kid was so heartbroken that we couldn't get him out of his room to come see that we actually did get him his greatest wish. This story reminds me of that night and a little boy being built up only to have the pedestal of hope kicked out from under, and then haphazardly hoisted back up.

The Dress in the Window is a heartwarming and hopeful book about a boy who falls in love with a red dress, and his mom who supports his love for it. The illustrations are vibrant, colourful, and perfectly match the tone of the book. I loved the rhyming and structure of the story as well, it kept you reading along to find out what was coming next.

The Dress in the Window is a breath of fresh air. It tells the story of a young boy who falls in love with a beautiful dress and his mother who, without any judgment, embraces her boy and his love of this dress. It also describes a community that sees the boy and celebrates him as he is. If only we all lived in such a world. Thank you to the publisher for this ARC.

Fantastic lyrical story about a boy who sees a garment that really catches his eye! Bright and beautiful illustrations full of details in the neighborhood the boy lives as well as the tasks he takes on in order to raise money for something that he really desires. Inclusivity is key in this story by the mother supporting and loving her child just the way he is!

This book was beautifully illustrated and so much fun! I had a great time reading this one aloud to my kids and they seemed to get really into it.

I think this a fantastic book for little kids or even kids that are a bit older. It normalizes the idea that anyone can wear anything they want and it doesn't matter their gender! No one in these pages questions that a young boy would want to wear a dress and that was really heart-warming to me.

This was so heartwarming and wonderful. I adored on so many levels. He worked so hard to earn the dress, and was so sad when it was gone. Then, to find out his mom bought for his birthday….pure joy. Happy sigh.

What a delightful rhyming story of an interesting young boy. Walking his his little sausage dog down the street he saw a wonderfully imaginative dress in the second hand store window and wondered about its earlier life. So he did odd jobs around the neighborhood to save up and everyone was happy because he was filled with joy and imagination. Perfect!
The illustrations by Pippa Curnick are sensitive, imaginative, colorful, and delightful.
Well suited for reading WITH someone of any age including ESL, and great for gifting to everyone, but especially to a school, hospital, or your local public library!
I requested and received a free temporary e-book on Adobe Digital Editions from Flyaway Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

This adorable picture book is about a boy who sees the most amazingly beautiful dress and wants to have it. He works hard and saves money but when he goes to buy the dress, it's gone. This book is about acceptance and love and how everyone should have an opportunity to feel beautiful.

LOVE LOVE LOVE! This book was fantastic! I love the acceptance, the rhyming, the illustrations, the flow of the words on the page. Everything was just lovely and perfect. Thank you for making this book and I can’t wait for more people to read it!

This was a cute picture book about self-expression and about working hard for the things we want.

A young boy finds a one-of-kind sequin red dress in a second-hand shop and falls in love. He works hard to save the money for the dress until the day he finally has enough to buy it.

The illustrations are vibrant and cute, the characters are fun and interesting. It's a heartwarming book about individuality and self-expression.

A beautifully written story of creativity, acceptance and fun. The rhyming cadence is perfect for reading aloud and the illustration were absolutely beautiful. This nana definitely recommends The Dress in the Window. Thanks #NetGalley #FlyawayBooks

I adored this book! With delightful rhymes and illustrations, the story is sweet and joyful. Our hero imagines a beautiful secondhand dress's past, and earns up money to save and buy it for himself. Full of love, this is sure to delight!