Molly and the Magic Dress

Rating:
Summary: Who is the intended audience for this book?
Review: I bought this book for my niece's fourth birthday. The pictures looked vibrant and fun, and my niece's name is Molly, too. The premise of the book looked promising: she has a much-beloved magic dress that makes her anyone she wishes to be (such as a scientist or the mayor). The author, however, describes Molly's existence with a sneering snideness. She lives with her divorced mother and anonymous housekeeper in an all-white New York apartment. Her mother, accompanied by her interior designer, takes Molly to a society wedding, where all the guests appear to be caricatures of adult types that children would have difficulty recognizing. I can't imagine any child who would have a relevant context in which to place this book (and I feel sorry for any who would!). Characterization is poor--all the characters are stock stereotypes, and it lacks the fun and imagination of Eloise, another neglected child living in privilege in New York. This is not a book for children--unfortunately, it's not really a book for anyone!

Rating:
Summary: Who is the intended audience for this book?
Review: I bought this book for my niece's fourth birthday. The pictures looked vibrant and fun, and my niece's name is Molly, too. The premise of the book looked promising: she has a much-beloved magic dress that makes her anyone she wishes to be (such as a scientist or the mayor). The author, however, describes Molly's existence with a sneering snideness. She lives with her divorced mother and anonymous housekeeper in an all-white New York apartment. Her mother, accompanied by her interior designer, takes Molly to a society wedding, where all the guests appear to be caricatures of adult types that children would have difficulty recognizing. I can't imagine any child who would have a relevant context in which to place this book (and I feel sorry for any who would!). Characterization is poor--all the characters are stock stereotypes, and it lacks the fun and imagination of Eloise, another neglected child living in privilege in New York. This is not a book for children--unfortunately, it's not really a book for anyone!

Rating:
Summary: A magic dress?
Review: Molly has a favorite dress and it has become very worn and tattered from constant wear. When she wears it she can be anything and often includes her cat Slim Enid in her adventures. When Molly is forced to wear a new dress to a "very important wedding" she is dismayed, but packs her favorite dress in a backpack to comfort her. What happens next includes a chance meeting with a homeless woman and a miracle of a small girl's belief. I wasn't that taken with the story, noy really liking the illustrations and finding the story a bit simple. I sat down with a friend's little girl and got a whole new perspective, She loved the story! It was this little friend who told me what the story was about, nice things are good, but being nice is always better.

Rating:
Summary: A magic dress?
Review: Molly has a favorite dress and it has become very worn and tattered from constant wear. When she wears it she can be anything and often includes her cat Slim Enid in her adventures. When Molly is forced to wear a new dress to a "very important wedding" she is dismayed, but packs her favorite dress in a backpack to comfort her. What happens next includes a chance meeting with a homeless woman and a miracle of a small girl's belief. I wasn't that taken with the story, noy really liking the illustrations and finding the story a bit simple. I sat down with a friend's little girl and got a whole new perspective, She loved the story! It was this little friend who told me what the story was about, nice things are good, but being nice is always better.