airmedw's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism
melmed's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
kslhersam's review against another edition
3.0
I have no idea where I heard about this one. It was a quick read-aloud with my 2 kids and they liked it, but I thought there might be more to it in the end. A boy wakes up and has to wear a dress to school. He realizes what it's like to be treated like a girl all day. It was interesting to read to my son and daughter and discuss the different issues. It seemed a bit outdated though. My 12 year old son would sometimes listen in though and was interested as well, so there's that.
megan_lynch's review against another edition
4.0
Okay, I know what your all thinking... why is some teenager writing a review on a children's book?
But this book isn't just a 'some children's book.' Bill's New Frock was the first book I ever bought back years ago and I still display it proudly on my bookshelf.
I occasionally read back on the story now, just for kicks. It is only around 80 pages long and each time I take away something different from it. Anne Fine clearly demonstrates the differences between boys and girls in a clever, fun and endearing way.
Each chapter we are faced with new dilemma throughout Bill's day as a girl. It is left up to us to decide if it was real or dream. Which as a child I was surely left entertained.
This book is very close to my heart for all ages. Lovely for a quick, quirky and fun read.
But this book isn't just a 'some children's book.' Bill's New Frock was the first book I ever bought back years ago and I still display it proudly on my bookshelf.
I occasionally read back on the story now, just for kicks. It is only around 80 pages long and each time I take away something different from it. Anne Fine clearly demonstrates the differences between boys and girls in a clever, fun and endearing way.
Each chapter we are faced with new dilemma throughout Bill's day as a girl. It is left up to us to decide if it was real or dream. Which as a child I was surely left entertained.
This book is very close to my heart for all ages. Lovely for a quick, quirky and fun read.
pixiebix's review against another edition
5.0
One day, Billy Simpson wakes up to find he is a girl! Even worse, his mum makes him wear a pretty pink frock with fiddly shell buttons. Billy is about to find out how different it is to be a girl...
This is a very funny and very enjoyable book which will make people smile whenever they read it, young or old. This is one of my favourite Anne Fine books and whenever I'm a bit down in the dumps, I can pick up Bills New Frock and it always makes me smile. This book is unforgettable and very funny, and will touch all hearts. I think Anne has a great talent in writing, and if you like THIS book, she has done LOTS of others!
Please read this book! It's great because, as I've said previously, its funny and unforgettable. This is also why I rated it 5 stars. Keep up the good work, Anne Fine!
Faye xx
This is a very funny and very enjoyable book which will make people smile whenever they read it, young or old. This is one of my favourite Anne Fine books and whenever I'm a bit down in the dumps, I can pick up Bills New Frock and it always makes me smile. This book is unforgettable and very funny, and will touch all hearts. I think Anne has a great talent in writing, and if you like THIS book, she has done LOTS of others!
Please read this book! It's great because, as I've said previously, its funny and unforgettable. This is also why I rated it 5 stars. Keep up the good work, Anne Fine!
Faye xx
serukis's review against another edition
4.0
One morning, Bill Simpson wakes up to find that he is a girl. His mother forces him to put on a pretty pink frock with fiddly shell buttons, and then he has to go to school. At school that day, he faces the reality that girls are treated very differently from boys whilst he struggles in vain to stop his dress getting dirty.
I'm reading this one for two reasons: firstly, I loved this story in my childhood, and secondly, I might be writing a conference paper on it, so I've been reading it with a very academic eye.
As a children's book, Bill's New Frock is an interesting insight into gender, and how boys and girls are treated differently at school. This edition was published in 1990, but I feel that some of the issues it raises are very much important today.
Girls are seen as neater, more responsible, and weaker. Boys are seen as scruffy and violent. Most of all, it is about how unfair these differences in treatment are. Like Bill being told off because his work isn't neat, whereas the boy beside him with much messier work gets a 'well done'. Or Rohan being told off more for kicking Bill even though Bill punched him first.
It's not clear whether Bill waking up as a girl is a dream or real, but personally I came out of it feeling that Bill is a Female-to-Male transgender character. (Not when I was child, though. XD)
Anne Fine raises these issues in a humorous way; lots of the incidents that happen to Bill throughout the day can be seen as quite funny e.g. the 'wumpy choo'. On the other hand, there are some moments of true poignancy as well:
Bill reached out to try to stop her.
‘But who am I?’ he asked her desperately. ‘Who am I?'
Pretty deep question for a children's book, huh?
All in all, I think that this is an excellent book for raising gender-based dialogues with children, whether it is about gender stereotyping and socialisation, the gender divide, or feeling that you are in the wrong body.
I'm reading this one for two reasons: firstly, I loved this story in my childhood, and secondly, I might be writing a conference paper on it, so I've been reading it with a very academic eye.
As a children's book, Bill's New Frock is an interesting insight into gender, and how boys and girls are treated differently at school. This edition was published in 1990, but I feel that some of the issues it raises are very much important today.
Girls are seen as neater, more responsible, and weaker. Boys are seen as scruffy and violent. Most of all, it is about how unfair these differences in treatment are. Like Bill being told off because his work isn't neat, whereas the boy beside him with much messier work gets a 'well done'. Or Rohan being told off more for kicking Bill even though Bill punched him first.
It's not clear whether Bill waking up as a girl is a dream or real, but personally I came out of it feeling that Bill is a Female-to-Male transgender character. (Not when I was child, though. XD)
Anne Fine raises these issues in a humorous way; lots of the incidents that happen to Bill throughout the day can be seen as quite funny e.g. the 'wumpy choo'. On the other hand, there are some moments of true poignancy as well:
Bill reached out to try to stop her.
‘But who am I?’ he asked her desperately. ‘Who am I?'
Pretty deep question for a children's book, huh?
All in all, I think that this is an excellent book for raising gender-based dialogues with children, whether it is about gender stereotyping and socialisation, the gender divide, or feeling that you are in the wrong body.