The Gold-Threaded Dress - Judy Freeman's Booktalk: Back-to-School Books - Brief Article

Instructor, August, 2002 by Judy Freeman

THE GOLD-THREADED DRESS.

By Carolyn Marsden. Candlewick, 2002; 73 pages; $13.99 (Gr. 2-4).

Fourth grader Oy is teased by classmate Frankie about her almond-shaped eyes, and excluded from classmate Liliandra's secret clubhouse meetings. When Qy is offered a chance at acceptance for letting Liliandra and the club members try on a beautiful dress from her native Thailand, she must decide whether fitting in is worth the sacrifice.

ACTIVITY: Show-and-tell. Have students bring in objects related to their country of origin or family traditions.

JUDY FREEMAN, a children's literature consultant and workshop presenter (www.JudyReadsBooks.com), is the author of More Books Kids Will Sit Still For (Bowker/Greenwood, 1995).