The Dress

This is a book that talks about bullying in the elementary grades and how instrumental parents are in making sure their child feels special for being a little bit different than everyone else.

A black velvet dress sat in the back of my closet when I was a child. I remember the day my mom bought it, and I dreamed of the day I would get to wear that dress. But the day never came. Growing up as an American Indian in the 1960’s was awful. The children teased me, taunted me, pushed me down, ran after me, stole my pencils in school, and laughed at me. When I brought this to my teacher’s attention, she just rolled her eyes and did nothing. I had no allies, no friends; no one who understood what it was like to be tormented for something I couldn’t change...

…the color of my skin.

This book is dedicated to those children who are growing up feeling or looking just a little bit different than those around them.

Be thankful you are different.

How boring would the world be if we were all the same?