About the Author

Kristen McCurry is an Iowa-born children's writer and editor who lived in lots of places before settling in Minnesota. She loves reading, whacking tennis balls, and hanging out with her family, which includes her husband, teenage twins, and a sneaky beagle named ZuZu.

Reviews

A child plays with his favorite piece of clothing. Patrick, a White boy with curly orange hair, includes a pair of purple polka-dot tights in most of his games. They're endlessly versatile--useful as a dog's leash or a prop in dramatic play or for dress-up--and also add a layer of warmth. They actually belong to Patrick's older sister, Penelope, who gets possessive only on piano-recital nights. After one recital, Patrick is upset when an ice-cream incident stains them, but the happy resolution comes when his father (finally) decides to buy Patrick his own box of multicolored tights. This book succeeds in showing a White family accepting a child who freely explores clothes and games despite gender stereotypes, without bullying or conflict. The pacing and plot, however, including a three-page scene at a superstore to pick up some light bulbs and toilet paper, keep this from being a particularly engaging or entertaining story. The illustrations are similarly functional and bright, depicting the action described on each page without elevating or illuminating the story. This book works as positive representation of a gender-nonconforming boy without violence and is also a realistic look at a sibling relationship. A useful story with an unusually light touch on the topics explored. (Picture book. 4-7)-- "Kirkus Reviews"

Patrick has a lot of reasons for loving his purple polka-dotted tights. They aren't bulky under his snowpants. They keep his toes warm at night. They can double as a dog leash, or a headband. They look great with a big hat and a skirt. But the tights belong to his sister, and when she takes them back, she accidentally ruins them. Minnesota writer McCurry keeps this story simple and fun, without preaching or labeling. Haley's primary color digital illustrations are expressive and lively.--Laurie Hertzel "Star Tribune"

Patrick, a round-headed kid with orange curls, freckles, and pale skin, loves a particular pair of "perfect and purple" polka-dotted tights. He finds myriad uses for the hosiery--wearing them as insulation under snow pants, transforming them into a leash to walk the dog, complementing a dress as he struts down the catwalk--which causes sibling tension because the tights in question belong to his older sister, Penelope. When Penelope wears the tights and ruins them with an extensive hot fudge sundae stain, Patrick is crushed--until his parents surprise him with a treat from the local superstore. Haley's expressive digital illustrations emphasize different textures and patterns throughout, making Patrick's emotions, and love of colorful stockings, immediate for young readers. McCurry joyfully celebrates one child's carefree clothing creativity while modeling a supportive family alongside realistic sibling interactions. Ages 5-7. (Jan.)-- "Publishers Weekly"

Patrick, who is white, loves his polka dot tights. With his imagination the possibilities for their use go from the mundane (keeping his toes warm) to the highly creative (his strut down the catwalk/dining room table). Unfortunately, Patrick's tights are actually his sister Penelope's and when they go to the piano recital followed by a disastrous trip to the ice cream parlor, Patrick ends up in a desolate state. All works out well for the young boy who finds a plethora of new opportunities for imaginative play. There is prancing, dancing, strutting, and confidence in every colorful page that accompanies the engaging text. VERDICT A solidly positive purchase. While not focusing on gender or identity issues specifically, this affirming story embraces many forms of self-expression and play.--John Scott, Friends Sch. of Baltimore "School Library Journal"

Patrick is a young White boy who loves to wear his purple polka-dot tights with his snowsuit, while dressing up for a tea party with his sister, and to keep his toes warm in bed. The tights, however, aren't his--they belong to his sister Penelope's. Most of the time, she doesn't care if he borrows them, but she needs them to wear for her piano recital. His sister "didn't deserve those tights," Patrick thinks during the recital, since "she failed to appreciate their many uses," including as a rescue rope, dog leash, and more. We even see Patrick wearing them for "a strut down the catwalk" in heels and a dress. When Penelope accidentally stains the tights with ice cream after the recital, Patrick is distraught. When the family then stops at a superstore for groceries and lightbulbs, however, Patrick's dad buys him a whole pack of several colorful tights. We see Patrick using them imaginatively in the final pages, and keeping the purple polka-dot ones which, despite the stain, "were still perfect." Readers should appreciate this story about a gender creative boy that doesn't involve anyone questioning or harassing him for his gender creativity.-- "Mombian"

Patrick loves his purple polka-dot tights. They provide extra warmth under snow pants, add flair to dress-up outfits, and make great teddy-bear lifesaving equipment. The only problem: technically, the tights belong to his sister, even though "Penelope didn't care about the tights...most of the time." The cartoonlike illustrations, featuring an energetic boy with curly orange hair, amplify emotions in the child-centered text. "It wasn't fair," the narrator comments when Penelope takes back the tights to wear during her piano recital. The accompanying illustration shows a visibly displeased Patrick sitting amidst smiling, oblivious audience members, including his parents. "Disaster" strikes during a post-recital ice-cream outing (Penelope spills hot fudge on the tights), and Patrick's body language clearly conveys his dejected feelings. When his dad presents him with new tights--a three pack!--a double-page spread celebrates along with Patrick. Featuring realistic sibling dynamics and parents who model nonchalant support without editorializing, this book affirms kids' creative expression and imaginative play.--Kitty Flynn "Horn Book Magazine"