Praise for Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress

Lately, I’ve been reading this book a lot to my son, it’s his current favorite, and it gets better on each re-read. It’s a story about the cost of self-editing at a young age, the steady power of a Mom’s love, and wild, saving grace of collective imagination.

Author, Christine Baldacino did wonderful work with the pacing of the book. Walking with Morris as he moves the through the solitary joy of wearing an orange dress, to solitary depression of shrinking himself to fit his peers’ expectations, and finally to shared joy is bitter sweet. The turns happen so quickly. I’ve had similar turns in my life, and let me tell you, it took decades. To see this journey play out in 5 minutes is exhilarating.

I love Isabell Malenfort’s illustrations. The characters are adorable cartoons with believable emotional depth. The color orange appears steadily throughout the book, serving as a warm anchor, a vibrant delight, and an indication of other-ness.

This book is great for a child (or parent) who has felt othered in some way. It offers hope that we can work through self sensoring to great effect! Grab a copy today, I really think you’ll love it. ❤️