The boy in a dress

[EweSurname]

Argh, this is the first time something has popped up in real life.

We had a parents evening last night and talked to dc’s reluctance to read fiction, which the teacher said she’d tackle.

DC came home from school saying the teacher had noticed that dc and a friend didn’t like reading fiction so challenged them to a competition to see who could read a book the fastest.

The book given was a brand new copy of “the boy in the dress”.

I’ve had a quick flick through in the hope that it would be about a boy who liked wearing dresses and learnt it was fine to but no, Dennis apparently becomes Denise when wearing a dress.

The teacher is so lovely and I’m so grateful that she’s acted so quickly but I don’t think I want DC reading that book, especially given lack of exposure to other fiction!

Google tells me it’s a book celebrating crossdressers ffs. Has anyone read it?

Cressida Cowell may suit your immediate needs OP.

Popular, excellent and dogma free.

We had a plague of Walliams at Christmas, all off to the charity shop unread

I've only ever known a couple of kids not like David Walliams books and they have been kids who are reluctant to read anything.

Maybe have a read of what the books are about before you buy in future as it sounds like you wasted your money.

Is that you David?

I didn't buy them it was the lovely well meaning relatives trying to do nice who were robbed by the pr campaign.

He gives me the complete creeps and he’s a low rent Roald Dahl wannabe. Blergh.

We had the bear who went boo - just didn’t resonate with us at all.

I don't care that Walliams doesn't write good literature.
I don't even care whether he actually writes his own books.
I don't care if he rips off plots from elsewhere.
He got my DD, and many other reluctant readers like her, to read something , and that's what matters with some children.

It really is just a story about a boy who likes to do his own thing which sometimes includes wearing a dress.

Both my boys loved his books when they were younger.

Is that you David? I didn't buy them it was the lovely well meaning relatives trying to do nice who were robbed by the pr campaign

Oh dear. 😂

I think they are poorly written and there are some lazy stereotypes in there (Raj) but if they engage with the reluctant readers, then they are a good shout. DS (7yrs) loves them. He is the boy in the dress - dresses up on the sly, plays football etc. I just explained to him that wearing a dress doesn’t make you a woman, the boy is still Dennis. Just like me wearing trousers doesn’t make me a man.

Loathsome books, loathsome man. There are plenty of other books in a similar vein for reluctant readers

There are plenty of other books in a similar vein for reluctant readers

Well you say so. But we tried a lot of authors before we got to DW and actually succeeded.

What have you tried Teen? I have reluctant readers - maybe I could advise?

Orchid We tried a lot at the time!

(DD is now 14 and will read stuff now, if it has magic / wolves / similar. She graduated from David Walliams to Harry Potter. From thence to Divergent, Hunger Games, and recently Mortal Instruments.)

Apologies for bumping an old thread but I'm currently reading this with my 6yo DD.

At first I thought the book was quite enlightened with regards to toxic masculinity, the fact that Dennis is breaking stereotypes by liking dresses and playing football...

Then last night we read a chapter where he went to school disguised as 'Denise' and went to the girl's toilets and how amazing it was- all those girls in there, brushing their hair and doing their make-up, and all fussing over 'Denise' and helping 'her' do 'her' make-up, with none of them any the wiser that he was actually male. It was like pure AGP fantasy, right there on the fucking page.

I ended up having a talk with my daughter to tell her that Dennis was being very, very naughty and that no boys should EVER be in the girl's toilets at school, no matter what they're wearing.

FFS. It'll be going straight to the charity shop when we're done with it. David Walliams is gross, and I bet his books are ghost-written.

'But in my house we teach acceptance'

Without exception?

Yes Walliams loathsome, vile.

KEMP, Gene. The Turbulent Term of Tyke Tiler

as I can’t stand Wallliams. Or Baddiel, or most of Dahl...