Nancy Bess Had a Dress

Claire Noland, Angela C. Hawkins

Book cover for Nancy Bess Had a Dress
Book cover for Nancy Bess Had a Dress

Nancy Bess Had a Dress

Nancy Bess Had a Dress

Claire Noland, Angela C. Hawkins

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Description

Waste not, want not! A patterned flour sack becomes a clever creation in this story set in the late 1930's featuring a crafty girl with a gift for repurposing her favorite daisy print.

When the family flour sack is emptied, Nancy Bess remakes it into a dress. But little girls grow as little girls do, and soon that dress is too small. Bit by bit, Nancy Bess fashions the material into new creations, until finally, all that is left of the flour sack are a few tattered pieces. Peering into the family scrap basket, Nancy Bess comes up with a plan to use the material once more, sewing something special to last for generations.

With carefully crafted and richly detailed illustrations, Nancy Bess Had a Dress will appeal to curious young historians and recycling enthusiasts, as well as like-minded teachers, librarians and caregivers.

About the Author

Claire Annette Noland is an award-winning author of books for young children. As a children's librarian, reading specialist, and author, her life's goal is to excite kids about books and reading. Claire lives with her husband in a book-filled home in Kingsburg, California and finds inspiration from the children in her life, family stories, and her very large poodle-mix, Mr. Ernie. When not writing, you can find Claire stocking her Little Free Library, playing bocce ball on the beach, and taking field trips using kidlit as her travel guide. Connect with Claire at www.claireannettenoland.com.

The Arts are embedded in Angela Hawkins' DNA: Not only has she wielded pencils, crayons, and markers from when she was as small as her book characters, she's also studied violin, piano, voice, and ballet (her heart won't let go!). Much to her teenage sons' chagrin, she is often found - and heard! - singing, humming, whistling, and dancing to the music swirling through her neurons. Angela has won a number of illustration awards, including the 2021 SW-Texas SCBWI Portfolio Award, the 2020 Summer SCBWI Bulletin Art Spot, the 2017 SCBWI Don Freeman Grant Winner, and the 2017 RMC-SCBWI Portfolio Showcase. She's illustrated for several clients, including Babybug, Ladybug, and Spider Magazines. Cute kids and charismatic animals are her specialty. Above all else, she aims to delight, educate, and inspire love while attempting to capture the wonder of our world and the beauty within each human soul. She lives in Denver, Colorado. Connect with Angela at www.angelachawkins.com.

Critical Reviews

"A resourceful girl imparts a history lesson and a message on sustainability in this period picture book. It's the late 1930s-and Nancy Bess's turn to choose the patterned flour sack. Once the daisy-printed sack is empty, it becomes a dress, an apron, a satchel, and much else before ending as a heartfelt gift. Bold colors and whimsical patterns stitch together to form dynamic illustrations as Nancy Bess skips along a creek's edge, balances pies on her head, and picks oranges." - DANIELLE BALLANTYNE (March / April 2024)

Publishing Information

Publisher: Gnome Road Publishing
Pub date: 2024-03-19
Length: 32 pages

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