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.

Interesting book about how much a little boy wanted a dress that he worked very hard to save his money. When he finally had enough the dress had already been sold. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest feedback!

What a fun book! This book shows inclusion, hard work, love and a red dress! The artwork is beautiful to look at and eye catching.

Review to come March 16th on blog/other places.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.

I just couldn't resist this wonderful book about a mom, her son, and the dress he wanted the most! I just knew this one would spark so much joy and the art looked so much fun!

And boy, this was such a sweet and positive story! A boy notices, in the window of a second-hand shop, the most BEAUTIFUL, SPARKLY, GORGEOUS, OMG, WOW dress of the world and he just absolutely falls in love with it. I just loved how he imagined all the lives the dress had before, from spies to jazz artists. I just loved how deeply he fell in love with a clothing item. How he wanted it the most of all. How he needed it so desperately. But the biggest love for me was for the mom, who was happy for him, told him to do chores so he could buy the dress. Not many parents in books are this open-minded to their children, especially boys, to buying something like a dress. But this mom embraced it, encouraged him to go for it. To think of chores. To think of things to do so he could earn some money. From cleaning to dog walking to helping out with all his neighbours. He was dedicated and I love it. 

When his birthday came around at the same time he had the money I just had a feeling how this one would go. And on the one hand yes to mom, but on the other hand... I would have [spoiler] rather seen him buy it over him getting it for his birthday, I mean the thought is nice, but couldn't she just have asked the people at the store to hold on to it for a bit? And then during the birthday go with him to pick it up? [/spoiler]

But I am still happy with how the book ended and I am so happy that everyone in the boy's life supported him and loved seeing him in a dress. It is a big magical given I know that in real life not everyone will be so accepting, but I don't mind it. I am just happy that at least in book worlds kids (and people) can be happy and be who they want to be. 

The art was really beautiful and I adore the style of it!

All in all, a very happy, positive, and sweet book and I hope that more people are acceptable to their kids like this mom is. I mean, I don't have kids but I wouldn't mind my boys wearing dresses or my girls being knights or wearing suits. I would encourage them. OK, I may warn them of people as well, because I know from personal experience how crappy people can be.

Very sweet book about a boy who wants the most beautiful red dress. I really liked how it allowed self-exploration of gender and how positive the message is. I would definitely recommend it for children exploring the world.

While this might not be a story you’d usually see in a kids book, it was well written and illustrated nicely. What I enjoyed is that the little boy wasn’t made to feel bad because he wanted this beautiful dress and his mom was open to I’m getting it if he paid for it. Sadly the dress was gone when they went back to get it. As adults we can guess what happened to the dress and how the story ends. The celebration at the end with everyone was fantastic and you could feel it from the illustrations. We should all learn to celebrate each other despite our differences.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.

A beautiful story of family and acceptance, of the hope and wish, and work, and wait for a gift we really want, and the support of our family no matter who we are. A very unique twist that I am sure will find haters, I loved every bit of it.

Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this book. I liked how the boy worked hard and earned money for what he wanted! And in the end he was more than rewarded!

"The Dress in the Window" is a book about longing, the need to be seen and understood, and the way a gift can come when you least expect it. The rhyming works well for this story and will endear it to young children and the art is colorful and engaging. I will read/purchase any book about a boy who loves dresses because we need more stories like this. The the mother's support and acknowledgement of her son in this is wonderful. So glad to discover this treasure. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. #TheDressintheWindow #NetGalley

What beautifully written book. The illustrations dance off the pages as the words come alive. A heartfelt story of a little boys wish to own a red sequined gown. A little boy sees a dress in the window of a second hand store and decides he wants to be part of the dress’ story. I love how the author shows the magic of loving who you are and allowing kids to know you can be or do anything you choose. You can dance and twirl in a sequined dress and just be you.

I love rhyming books. Many times the rhyming takes away from the text, but it’s done so well in this book! There are vivid descriptive words, text that moves your eyes through the beautiful illustrations, and a little boy that just wants a sparkly red dress!

This little boy's excitement was infectious! I wanted to find my own sparkly dress and spin around. You could tell that he was a sweet soul because of the way he helped his neighbors when he was working to earn his dress. The rhymes, the bright pictures, this book is a treasure.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this

<i>The Dress in the Window</i> is such a sweet, lyrical, and gorgeously illustrated little tale! I had so much fun reading about this kind young man and his journey to purchase a beautiful dress he becomes mesmerized by after seeing it in a thrift shop window.

We get to follow him as he helps his family, friends, and neighbors so he can complete enough chores to get his dress. The story is rather predictable and you can see what’s coming a mile away, especially when his mother mentions it being his birthday on the day he <i>finally</i> has earned enough money.

I do have to say, I almost wish he’d been able to purchase it himself or, perhaps even better, that he’d used the money he earned to purchase a gift for his mother once he realized she’d bought him the dress as a present for his birthday. It kind of felt silly not to have a payoff for his hard work since the dress was ultimately gifted to him.

All off that said, this missing piece doesn’t really take away from the overall most important message of the book—that of loving, appreciating, and embracing the people around you for who they are as this boy’s mother has done with him. What a wonderful story and a wonderful family.

I’m incredibly glad that this book exists.

Awww..what a treasure this book is. Each human whether grown or small is an individual and has the right to be and love however we choose. This ultra special Mom realized this and respected her son’s love of this red sequined gown totally void of any judgement. I absolutely LOVED this book and will be purchasing copies for friends.