Have I ever told you that the FIRST thing Miss M learned to sign when she was a baby was how to say she didn't like something? Shortly after learning the sign, she would sign and repeat to me "NO LIKE MAMA!" as I would try to get her dressed for school. Eventually, I just let her pick out her own clothing. On most days, throughout preschool, she looked like Punky Brewster's little sister. If it matched, she wasn't having it. Each outfit had to contain her own special assortment of colors, stripes, and polka dots. And each outfit she came up with was awesome. Now that she is in Kindergarten, I can see her struggle with the pressures of conformity already. She will ask to wear something because someone else wore something similar.
Invisible Isabelle is written and illustrated by Wendy Lynn Sefcik. It is the story of a spunky, artistic, and creative girl named Isabelle that gets made fun of by her classmates for the funky clothing she designed and wore to school. Upset by their name calling, little Isabelle tries to make herself look like the other kids, but in her attempt to conform she becomes invisible. It takes the encouragement of her art teacher, Miss Fizzle, for Isabelle to become proud on her individuality and self-expression.
I was so excited that the story of Invisible Isabelle left an imprint on her because I think her fashion sense if impeccable when she chooses things for herself.
Check out the website for the book or watch a video reading of the story:
And here is Miss M's review of the story:
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I love that you let your daughter develop her own sense of style! It sounds like your daughter has a lot in common with my youngest. For example, her favorite colors are "happy colors" like bright yellow and neon green.
ReplyDeleteI really had to bite my tongue when my girls were younger and I saw what they picked out to wear to school and how they had done their hair, but as long as it was decent and in dress code, I let it go. After all, I didn't have to look at them all day when they were at school. :) Right now my youngest *always* wears mismatched socks. I must say, it makes laundry easier!
Thanks E.S. Ivy! That is great that your youngest will wear mismatched socks. I wish I could convince my daughter to take up that way of thinking. We always end up having a sock crisis before school each morning.
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