I HAD A FAVORITE DRESS

A sprightly, modernized and girly version of the Jewish folktale “The Tailor,” which also formed the foundation of Simms Taback’s Caldecott-winning Joseph Had a Little Overcoat.

An unnamed girl recounts how every Tuesday, her favorite day, she wears her “favoritest” dress. Until the day she finds her dress is too short! Mama says, “Don’t make mountains out of molehills, make molehills out of mountains.” Snip, snip, the dress becomes a new ruffly shirt to wear on Wednesday. When the shirt becomes too tight in the sleeves, snip, snip, it becomes a breezy tank top, then a cool skirt, then a tassely scarf, a pair of socks and a pretty hair bow, finally ending up as scraps and bits. Heeding her mother’s advice, she turns the snippets into a piece of art that she can enjoy year-round. The digitally collaged mixed-media illustrations of watercolors, graphite, colored pencil and needle and thread are what give the story its bounce and flounce. Breezy in style, they smartly stitch each scene of alteration as the not-so-little girl sashays through the days of the week and the seasons.

A charming interpretation of an old story that will speak to young fashionistas. (Picture book. 4-8)