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Tess's Red Dress

Honouring love and family

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Pub Date May 12 2026 | Archive Date Apr 02 2026

Medicine Wheel Education | Medicine Wheel Publishing


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Description

Using age-appropriate and empathetic language, Tess’s Red Dress introduces young children to Red Dress Day and the importance of remembering the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2 Spirit People. Backmatter pages include resources to support parents and educators through this important and difficult conversation with their children. Six year old Tess is excited to welcome her new baby sibling into the world! She asks her mom what it was like growing up with a sibling. Tess’s mom tells her stories about baking in the kitchen, singing loudly in the bathtub, sharing a bedroom, and braiding her sister’s hair.
Despite their excitement over their growing family, they have experienced loss: her Auntie is one of the missing. The loss of any family member makes a drastic change for those left behind and the generations to come. As the family gets ready for the Red Dress Day march, Tess's mom and dad show her how to honour her Auntie by wearing her red dress and keeping the stories and memories of her family alive.

Using age-appropriate and empathetic language, Tess’s Red Dress introduces young children to Red Dress Day and the importance of remembering the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2...


Advance Praise

From Jaime Black Morsette (founder of Red Dress Project):

"Tess's Red Dress brings gentle but profound insight into the impacts of MMIWG2S on children and families. This book offers an intimate glimpse into the unbreakable bonds of care and connection between generations and a resolute lesson in standing up to speak out against injustice."


Jenna Jasek, Director of Indigenous Learning at the Outdoor Learning School & Store (Secwépemc & Ktunaxa):

"Red Dress Day is a significant day of grief for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities. While it's difficult to put into words in a gentle way suitable for children, Carolyn Roberts accomplishes this beautifully. She honours and celebrates the gifts and beauty of the Indigenous women taken from their communities, weaving in a tender story of young Tess, her mother, and the strong presence of her lost Auntie, who is remembered lovingly in their home and community. Roberts emphasizes the resilient spirits of these women, their strength, and the love they shared for their families and communities, while softly sharing the heartbreak, grief, and loss their loved ones endured, along with the dark history experienced by Indigenous people in Canada. This book should be in every home on Turtle Island, and we must continue to keep working to end the ongoing and unwarranted violence against Indigenous women, children, and 2-Spirited peoples."

From Jaime Black Morsette (founder of Red Dress Project):

"Tess's Red Dress brings gentle but profound insight into the impacts of MMIWG2S on children and families. This book offers an intimate...


Available Editions

EDITION Other Format
ISBN 9781778540905
PRICE CA$22.99 (CAD)
PAGES 32

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Average rating from 3 members


Featured Reviews

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This book shares a really valuable message, and I think we need more like it. Kids need to understand what's happening in the world, but in a way that's more digestible. I thought the written story was good, and the message was strong and beautiful, with the illustrations really adding to it.

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Tess’S Red Dress is a MUST READ for everyone. It captures the lived experience and daily impact of MMIW2SLGBTQIA+ and the ongoing impacts of colonization. This is the perfect age appropriate book to tangibly bring in the conversation for young kids and expand their understanding of history and grassroots resistance

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Thank you to NetGalley and Medicine Wheel Education for granting me access to an e-ARC of “Tess's Red Dress: Honouring Love and Family” by Carolyn Roberts in exchange for an honest review.

Tess’s Red Dress is a short, powerful, and impactful read with beautiful art. As an Indigenous woman, this book was extremely impactful and emotional.

Seeing this story through Tess’ eyes, through the eyes of a child, makes this book hit harder; we see her burning desire to learn more about her aunt, and we see a sliver of exactly how these losses impact for generations. Approaching this from Tess’ perspective makes this an accessible read for all ages, as the topic is approached from an age appropriate manner, and the additional context provided in the back of the book for teachers/parents make this book a learning tool for all. This is an important read for all, whether you’re a parent teaching the next generation, an Indigenous parent trying to answer questions about Red Dress Day, or an adult trying to learn more. Everyone who lives on Turtle Island should own a copy and share the knowledge in these pages!

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