I wish I could give this beautiful children's book a million stars!!

This is such a wonderful, magical, and important book. I wish this was required reading for all school kids! (And MANY adults need this book too!)

This made me smile and feel good about myself. A warm hug of a story.

This sweet story about a boy who wants to twirl and sparkle is beautiful.
I love picture books that make it ok to be any kind of kid you want to be. This story is about a boy who imagines the life of a sparkly red dress in a second hand shop. He want to be part of its story and spin in the bright red sequined dress.
It is not a story about a boy who thinks he is anything but himself. It shows how to work for something when you want it and how supporting family and friends can be. It is a story about Love.

This is a lovely children's book about acceptance and longing. A young boy sees a dress in the thrift store window and cannot wait to buy it for himself.

The text is rhyming and flows well, at times it feels flowy like the dress. The boy daydreams about what the dress has done before making it to the thrift store and then does his very best to help the whole neighborhood with chores to have enough money to buy it.

What I loved about this book, was that there was no questioning why he wanted a dress, it was just another great thing he could buy. Zero judgement from mom or the neighbors. There was so much love and acceptance and it was absolutely wonderful. I loved it so much.

The illustrations were beautiful and whimsical at times. The boy was surrounded by supportive, loving people.

[All that said, the endpages (?) have an illustration of things being dropped off at teh thrift and one likely says "stuff to donate" but it looks SO CLOSE to "sh*t to donate" and that is immediately what I thought it said. So if you are a parent and concerned with this, be aware]

The Dress in the Window is a beautifully told story. Tregoning delivers a charming, heartwarming tale filled with love and acceptance. Everyone around the boy appreciates who he is and joins him in celebrating his birthday and the special gift his mother buys for him.

The colorful illustrations provided by Pippa Curnick are just as beautiful and filled with wonder as the rest of the story. They express the emotions of the characters just as much as the words do.

The Dress in the Window touched my heart, making me think back to those years of my childhood as I played with cars instead of dolls and found shirts and pants much more my style than dresses and sandals. This book gives children the assurance to be who they are, while helping the adults who might be reading alongside them a hint of the joy that comes from supporting their child’s individuality.

I received an ARC of this children's book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a beautiful book. The pictures are adorable and the text was wonderful!

I really liked this book and the illustrations, and that there was a little boy wearing a sparkly dress that made him happy. The kindness of all the characters in this book was great.

Beautiful and fulfilling. A family's love, acceptance, and normalizing. Great addition to every library and a necessary book!

The world needs this book. It’s a delightful book about a boy, a sparkling dress and the loving bonds between a mother and son. On a walk through town with his mother, a boy sees a glimmering gown in the window of a second-hand store. He’s mesmerized and imagines all the lives the dress has lived before wishing he’d have his chance to swish and swirl in it, too. He works hard doing chores for others so that one day, he can buy the dress. But when the time has come, will the dress still be waiting? This is a beautiful, touching story of a child’s wish and a mother who understands the beauty behind it. I burst into happy tears at the end and imagine you will, too.

"The Dress in the Window" is a charming and heartwarming tale that beautifully explores the themes of self-expression, individuality, and unwavering parental support. The story revolves around a young boy captivated by a shimmering red dress displayed in a shop window, igniting his longing to twirl and swish in its vibrant fabric. The narrative unfolds with a delightful mix of innocence and determination as the boy sets out to earn enough to purchase the coveted dress.

The author skillfully captures the child's sense of wonder and longing, making the story relatable for readers of all ages. The playful language and vivid descriptions bring the dress to life, making it more than just an item of clothing but a symbol of the boy's desire for self-discovery and expression. The simplicity of the plot allows for a universal connection, emphasizing the importance of embracing one's true identity.

The book beautifully portrays the positive and affirming relationship between the young boy and his mother. The mother's unconditional love and support for her child's unique aspirations create a heartening backdrop for the story. The author successfully conveys the message that when individuality is met with acceptance and love, it fosters an environment where children can flourish and express themselves authentically.

The theme of self-expression is woven throughout the narrative with a light touch, making it an engaging and enjoyable read. The story encourages readers to celebrate diversity and appreciate the uniqueness of each individual's journey, fostering a sense of acceptance and understanding.

While the storyline is simple, the book's strength lies in its ability to convey a powerful message through a delightful and accessible narrative. The illustrations, presumably vibrant and expressive, further enhance the storytelling experience for young readers.

"The Dress in the Window" is a delightful celebration of individuality, acceptance, and the joy that comes from being true to oneself. With its endearing characters and uplifting message, this book is a valuable addition to any library, offering a positive and affirming story for children and families to enjoy together.

I received a free copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and Flyaway Books; all opinions expressed are exclusively my own.

This is a sweet, adorable read, great for the picture book crowd!

This book, even though it is not necessarily one for me, was well done. The writing flowed easily, and had a sing song rhyme that is pleasant for both kids and parents. The illustrations were beautifully well done as well. Just because it is not a book that I would typically pickup and read does not mean that others would not enjoy it!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

For more reviews and discussions, listen to my podcast The Honest Book Reviewers with Nate and Emma.

https://open.spotify.com/show/3H3ugH4xlzvjMXuUo1Lyvh?si=ewdzfkUnSVKyDmAvHMHIPQ

This story is about a boy who wants a used dress that he saw in a window. He then decides to earn the money. The story goes through the efforts he makes to buy the dress. He then goes to the store and it is gone. The ending is a testament to a mother's love. The illustrations are absolutely beautiful.

Warning: I have shared the story in this review.

Such a sweet little story with fun bright illustrations. However, I feel sure there will be complaints about the subject matter being inappropriate since it deals with a young boy who sees a beautiful red sparkly dress in a store window and wants it. He is fortunate to have a,mother who doesn’t say “no” immediately but tells him if he works hard and saves money, he could buy it. The story does show all,the things the young boy does to help his neighbors as he earns money. Numerous examples are given as he helps older neighbors.

As his birthday comes around, he walks past the shop only to discover the dress is gone. He is heartbroken yet at his birthday party, his final gift is the beautiful dress. He is able to wear it and enjoy the fabulousness of it.

What a wonderful story about letting a child be a child. There was certainly nothing here that said because a boy is a boy, he cannot wear a dress. And at no time did anyone tease him about the dress. I am reminded of the poem William Wants a Doll in the book Free to be You and Me where William wants a doll so he can learn how to be a good daddy when he grows up..

As an educator, I would love to be able to use this book but I do fear there could be backlash from doing so. It could possibly be used in talking about being an individual but I am not sure. There could also be discussion centered around helping others as our young boy does help s9 many neighbors. I would love to be able to recommend it but again, I would have to be careful. I wonder how ,any schools will put it in their libraries.

So appreciative of the opportunities to read this book.
#thedressinthewindow

A boy sees a sparkly red dress in the window of a second hand shop. He can picture himself twirling,
swirling and dancing in the dress. His mother says if he saves up the money, he will be able to buy
the dress. Doing chores for his neighbors finally earns him enough money to buy the dress on his
birthday. But when he gets to the store, the dress is gone - he had never wanted something so
much. He goes home to celebrate his birthday with neighbors. His mother's gift is the red dress!
He is so happy dancing in the dress and everyone wants to dance with him and share his joy.
Love the support he received from his mother and how the neighbors accepted the boy in the red dress.
#TheDressintheWindow #NetGalley

The Dress in the Window, written by Robert Tregoning, is a wonderfully inclusive and beautifully illustrated book about a young boy who finds a beautiful dress in the window of a second hand shop. He is very curious about the dress, how it was used in the past, and how he might look in it. He works very hard to be able to afford the dress, but is in for a surprise when he goes to purchase it! I really appreciated how inclusive this book, and the family members and friends of this little boy were. I think that this book can be a wonderful example for many! Thank you to NetGalley and to the author and publisher of this book for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A young boy is out walking his dog with his mom and as they pass the thrift store, he sees a gorgeous, sparkly, bright red dress in the window. It makes his heart do flips! He presses his nose to the glass and imagines all the different people that might have worn the dress. His mom notices his love for the dress and tells him that if he does chores and saves his money, he should be able to save enough to buy it. So he works very hard - and finally has enough money saved. It is his birthday - and the dress will be the best gift of all! But when he and his mom get to the shop, the dress is gone. Oh no! Mom lovingly suggests that they go home for his party - who knows what presents he might receive?

Savvy readers will guess that mom bought the dress long ago - knowing that it was something her son really, really wanted - so that no one else could buy it first because, after all, there was only one dress! Mom's love saves the day!

Such a sweet story of love, affirmation and acceptance. The boy immediately goes to put the dress on after he opens it and dances and sashays around the house. All of his neighbors and they all encourage his love for the dress and appreciate his enthusiasm and excitement. Just a reminder that, no matter who you are, there is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to wear something bright and beautiful and sparkly.

Thank you to the publisher for an advanced review copy.

A little boy sees a bright red fancy dress in the window and starts imagining what it would be like to wear it. He asks his mother to buy it for him, but she tells him he must earn the money himself.

And so he takes in dog sitting, and leaf racking, and anything to get that dress. He imagines who could of worn it before him. Perhaps a famous singer, or a spy or a movie star.

This is a sweet story of a boy wanting the dress just because it is beautiful and he can swirl and feel special in it. And the nice thing is his mother doesn’t say no, but that he must earn the beautiful dress.

I love how now other ideas are put into the story. Just the boy and the dress, and how no one finds it odd, or strange. Just accepting.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book is being published the 19th of March 2024.

This book is a warm hug for those who love someone (or are someone) who doesn't fit the traditional gender norms of our culture. The cover and title say it all as this book follows a boy who wants a pretty red dress he sees in a thrift store window. His mom encourages him to save up his money to purchase it. The love that flows from this book is so comforting. Everyone in the neighborhood and his family easily loves and encourages the boy's excitement without making it into a big deal. The rhyming and bright colors of the story also add to the plot.

This is good for readers around 5 and older. It is a great place to talk about gender norms with your kids. It doesn't have to be complicated or overwhelming. Sexuality does not need to be part of it, especially for very young children. But a simple conversation can be had about how everyone has different interests and our gender shouldn't affect that.

I received an electronic ARC from Flyaway Books through NetGalley.
Beautifully colored illustrations capture the magic and joy this boy feels when he sees a glittering red gown in a thrift shop window. Readers see him imagine who wore it before and how it would feel to wear it. He earns money by helping around the house and helping neighbors. When his birthday arrives, he has enough to buy the dress but it's no longer there. One more surprise awaits as he opens his gifts. Readers see the full joy he feels as he dances in the dress.
Lovely message about being who you are.

Thank you so much to Flyaway Books and Netgalley for the ebook to read and review.

A little boys sees the sparkliest and most beautiful red dress in the window of a second hand store, he dreams of it becoming his and the life it had before. He works hard and saves and wants it even more.

This was seriously adorable, he was so excited and so in love with that dress, he was dedicated to it and to being able to own it, that he did any job he could to help everyone he possibly could. He saved, he dreamed and he worked hard for it.

I loved seeing the illustrations of his dreaming about the dress, of him wearing the dress, seriously they were all so very cute, his joy at being able to own the one thing he dreamt of the most was just so precious.

This is a wonderful story, it’s a wonderful book to read with your children, to encourage their dreaming minds and letting them be who they truly are inside, and getting to shine on the outside too. It’s so beautiful.