#morrismicklewhite

[noodlenuts]

All children need to feel loved and accepted. Period. 👗👗👗 But I think it's just as important that we, as adults, remember that some issues aren't just about politics and "personal beliefs". When we insist on gendering everything, we stifle EVERY child's imagination and creativity, not just those struggling with their identities. I have lots of pictures of myself with male friends, as toddlers in the '70s, dressed up gleefully in my mom's old maternity clothes, having the time of our lives. Those friends grew up to be cisgender, straight men ... and wonderful fathers. Kids need to be allowed to pretend and imagine! So today, for World Mental Health Day, I'm sharing Christine Baldacchino and Isabelle Malenfant's wonderful "Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress" (2014), about a little boy who loves to play in his favourite colourful, rustly dress from the dress-up box at school. The book does a beautiful job of addressing the negative reactions he gets, how they affect him, and ultimately how Morris reminds those around him that imagination shouldn't have limits or boundaries, and everyone deserves to enjoy the things that make them happy. ⚫ ⚫ #noodlenutskidsbooks #bookstagraminthe6ix #morrismicklewhiteandthetangerinedress #morrismicklewhite #christinebaldacchino #isabellemalenfant #worldsmentalhealthday #worldmentalhealthday #mentalhealthday #pretendplay #dressup #dressupplay #imaginativeplay #imagination #bullying #inclusion #nonbinarykids #transgenderkids #genderfluidkids #useyourimagination #stopbullying #creativeplay #readwithriver_discussions #letthembelittle #magicofchildhood #kidsbooks #learnathome #getcreativewith #raisingkindkids #invitationtoexplore https://www.instagram.com/p/B3cU3BWnnaB/?igshid=1dpjiajbpifkn

[childrensliteratureworld-blog]

Blog Post #5: Assumed Gender Identity is Never Okay

Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress is a children’s book about a young boy who loves to dress up in a tangerine dress everyday at school. He is a typical little boy that loves to play, do puzzles, and travel throughout his imagination - especially in space. Naturally, assumptions come up when reading a book like this: Morris could be a heterosexual boy that loves to dress up or he could be struggling with his gender identity. His classmates assume that he has converted into a girl because of this dress and ultimately they refuse to play with him because they don’t want to turn out like him. Christine Baldacchino wrote this story through personal experience and it is saddening to think that this is how children act and bully others by what they like to wear. By the end, the children realize that regardless of the dress Morris is a good friend and playmate, and they choose to play with him because of his personality and qualities other than the dress. This book contains a powerful message of inclusion, individuality, and confidence.

 The sentence I truly want to address is: “Eli and Henry wouldn’t let him on their spaceship, so Morris built his own.” The confidence and individuality is strong in Morris until the hurtful words and bullying get to him throughout the week. But every Monday, Morris is happy and ready to take on the day. His classmates try to break him down and get him out of the dress so they can play with him or acknowledge him, but Morris finds a way to be himself and do his own thing. I commend the confidence and individuality in Morris because this book breaks that initial judgment of Morris being a girl and being someone to not be played with, and instead it shows that he is actually a fun and creative person to be with. The quality of this book is outstanding as it addresses uniqueness, individuality, and the ability to overcome bullying, as those are all prevalent topics in schools.

Best, Kathryn Ruff

February 23, 2017

Stern, M. J. (2016, August 03). What Was It Like Writing an LGBTQ Picture Book in 1989? What’s It Like Now? Retrieved February 22, 2017, from http://www.slate.com/blogs/nightlight/2016/08/03/lgbtq_children_s_book_authors_leslea_newman_and_christine_baldacchino_interviewed.html

Baldacchino, C., & Malenfant, I. (2014). Morris Micklewhite and the tangerine dress. Toronto: Groundwood Books/House of Anansi Press.