"It might be fun to dress like Dad.
So Fred carefully picks out a shirt
and a tie and a pair of shoes. But he
has trouble putting them on.
Fred looks at Mom's side of the
closet. He thinks about the way
Mom dresses. It might be fun to
dress like Mom. So Fred carefully
picks out a blouse and a scarf and
a pair of shoes. He has no trouble
putting them on."
Dressing is not really Fred's thing; he much prefers to wear no clothes at all. He loves the freedom that being clothes-free allows. His parents are nonchalant. On the day he discovers what is inside his parents' closet, he stops in his tracks and has a careful look. Wow! There is a lot to see. How could Fred possibly resist this invitation to dress up?
First, he considers dressing like his father; everything is much too big. When he tries his mother's clothes, it is so much easier to find something that fits. Although the huge shoes make walking difficult, a further check has him looking at her jewelry and her makeup. He's only getting started when his parents come to see what he is doing.
They smile; Fred smiles. Fred watches as Mom does her hair and makeup, and follows her lead. Soon, the whole family is in on the fun of getting dressed - even the dog! A family portrait provides a perfect ending; then, a surprise.
Brown's art is always fabulous. He uses an unusual palette to great effect as he celebrates the true genius of young children. They have fun! The story is written as a tribute to his mom who found Peter playing with her makeup. He had made a bit of a mess with it. She cleaned his face and then showed him how she applied her makeup; Peter followed along. What a warm and lovely memory to share with readers in this charming picture book.
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