Hitty Her First Hundred Years by Rachel Field

Hitty was published in 1929 and won the Newbery in 1930. I knew nothing about this book until I read 52 Monday's by Anna Ciddor in 2019. I have kept my eye out for a copy of Hitty so I was surprised and delighted to see a copy at a recent charity book sale. In fact there were two copies which is quite strange when you consider this is a very old children's classic from America - I wonder who owned these two copies here in Australia. 

Hitty is a wooden doll who passes through the hands of many different owners over the period of one hundred years. The exact dates are not stated but I think she was made in Maine in 1830 so she lives through the Civil war; the end of slavery; the advent of steam trains; the early days of motor cars and changes in fashion.

Fashion and clothing are an important part of this story and I imagine a child who read this book back in the 1930s or perhaps 1940s would have loved the way various owners keep making new clothes, some from very beautiful fabrics, for Hitty after all her adventures. The narrative follows a pattern where Hitty is owned by a child, a young girl, and then she is somehow lost or dropped or flung far away. She lives in various houses and settings all over the country and travels in sailing ships, trains, a steam ship, horse drawn carriages and a car. She tells her story as a memoir from her final home in an antique shop. Having lived with various children Hitty had learned to read and write so that's how she can share her story with her readers. 

The original illustrations for Hitty were by Dorothy P. Lathrop

Here is a brief plot summary from Wikipedia: The book details Hitty's adventures as she becomes separated from Phoebe and travels from owner to owner over the course of a century. She ends up living in locations as far-flung as Boston, New Orleans, India, and the South Pacific. At various times, she is lost at sea, hidden in a horsehair sofa, abandoned in a hayloft, part of a snake-charmer's act, and picked up by the famous writer Charles Dickens, before arriving at her new owner's summer home in Maine, which turns out to be the original Preble residence where she first lived. From there she is purchased at auction for a New York antique shop, where she sits among larger and grander dolls of porcelain and wax, and writes her memoirs.

How Rachel Field was inspired to write this book is a story in itself. She and her friend Dorothy Lathrop, an illustrator, had been eyeing a tiny wooden doll in a New York City antique shop. No larger than six inches, the calico-clad brown-skinned doll seemed to have so much character. At twenty-five dollars, quite a tidy sum back then, she was out of their budget. Finally, the two friends agreed to pool their money to purchase her, and at once, little Hitty stirred their imaginations. (source)

I think a modern child is probably unlikely to want to read Hitty - the historical references won't mean much to an Australian child of course but also at times some of the writing feels quite dated and even at times racist. My copy from Aladdin (1998) has very tiny print. I do like stories about dolls (my own favourite is Miss Happiness and Miss Flower by Rumer Godden) but as a child I am not sure Hitty would have appealed to me. As an adult I did find the whaling scenes very distressing and also I grew a little tired of the repeated plot pattern of with Hitty constantly (I think in every chapter) being lost and found.

In 1999 Rosemary Wells wrote a new edition of Hitty with illustrations by Susan Jeffers. I think the image below might be the one from under the dust jacket. Here is a detailed review which explains all the plot twists in the life of little Hitty (she is quite a tiny doll almost small enough to fit in a pocket). I have read a few other reviews of the Rosemary Wells edition and most readers who loved the original do not really like all the text changes. 

Three Dresses by Wanda Gibson

I was so proud of my three dresses. I took care of them so I'd always have 

one to wash, one to wear and one spare. 

This is a book that should be shared with children all over Australia (and beyond). For many children this story will be so thought provoking. Imagine if your Christmas present was a new dress - I am sure most little girls would be excited. And what if you were given three dresses - now that is sure to make you extra happy. But what if the three dresses were not new? These are second-hand dresses given to you by the Lutheran church. Have your emotions just been through a roller coaster? Now think about how you feel if these are your only dresses - your best dresses - your special dresses. 

"You should have seen the joy on our faces when we put on those second-hand dresses. We were so happy."

Wanda and her family live at Hope Vale Mission. This is her story. She was born in 1946. 

"When I was a kid, I went to school and had to work on the farm. After school, I did domestic duties for the Mission staff."

Now let's continue the story. The next thing to think about as you read this book is holidays. How long do your family have for a holiday? Where do you go and how do you get there? What do you do on your holiday?  Wanda and her family have just two weeks each year. Wanda packs her three dresses, one to wear, one to wash and one spare. 

"We didn't have bags, so we'd lay our dresses on the ground and roll them up like a little swag to carry on our backs. Mum and Dad would take tools, blankets, and mayie to eat. We all had to carry so much."

Compare this with your class discussion. The family will walk to their holiday destination, they have no suitcases and on the next page we read the journey takes two days. 

So now think about where they might be going? What will they do there? Where will they stay and what will they eat?

The group arrive at the beach. They set up a camp and catch fish, gather bush tucker and tell stories. Of course, eventually the holiday ends but the little girls in the family still have their precious dresses. And for Wanda, recalling her childhood, this is a very special memory. 

Blurb UQP: When Wanda Gibson was a little girl, her mum would tell her this as they packed to go on holidays. Wanda grew up on Hope Vale Mission in Far North Queensland, and her family were allowed only one short break away from work each year. At their special spot at the beach, they camped in the sandhills, cooked fresh fish on the fire and swam in the ocean. Beautifully illustrated with Wanda’s paintings, this heart-warming true story celebrates family time, connection to place and finding joy in the simple things, like your favourite three dresses.

Thank you to UQP for sending the advance copy of Three Dresses which will be published on 30th April, 2024. Make sure you add this to your library collection - Primary and High School. Here are the teachers notes. And take a look at this excellent review from The Bottom Shelf. 

Wanda Gibson is a Nukgal Wurra woman of the Guugu Yimithirr people (on her mum’s side) and lives in Hope Vale on the Cape York Peninsula, Queensland. Her dad is a Yuuethawarra man and his country is around Cape Melville. Both of Wanda’s parents were Stolen Generation and were brought to Cape Bedford Mission when they were ten or twelve. Wanda is a master weaver – she weaves baskets, birds and fish from dried grass. She is also a painter and completed a Diploma of Visual Arts at Cairns TAFE in 2014. Wanda has five kids, eleven grandkids and five great-grandkids.

Companion books:

A Dress with Pockets by Lily Murray illustrated by Jenny Løvlie

Aunt Augusta takes Lucy shopping for a new dress. They go to the Fabulous Fashion Store and the manager proceeds to show a myriad of fancy dresses to Lucy. It is scene adults might link with the shopping one in Pretty Woman.

Apart from the title, there is a huge hint about Lily and her need for pockets when you look at the end papers - they are filled with tiny bits n' pieces perfect for placing in pockets!

"Sun dresses, fun dresses, blue dresses, green. Titchy dresses, witchy dresses, very very itchy dresses! Swirly-twirly-whirly dresses, fit for a queen.

Finally after all the flurry of over the top dresses, Lucy whispers her true desire - a dress with pockets! Lucy is an outdoor girl. She collects bugs, beetles, shells, feathers and leaves. Pockets are essential. 

Luckily the shop keeper has just the right dress - although I was hoping he might suggest something different such as pair of overalls or jeans. Anyway, Lily is delighted and so is Aunt Augusta - in fact they take two of these dresses - one each. 

It is fun to think about the way the author uses her own name for her young character. 

Gently whimsical and humorous, and underscored with a subtle feminist message, this is a joyous ‘read it again’ book and one that if shared with more than one child at a time, must be taken sufficiently slowly to allow for enjoying the wealth of detail and ongoing canine capers shown in every scene. Red Reading Hub

Jenny Løvlie is originally from Norway. She now lives in the UK. Here is her web site. 

Pockets are so useful and I find now, when I always need to carry a face mask (Covid), I appreciate pants and dresses with pockets even more.

Here are some other books about pockets - you could perhaps include this as a mini library theme:

Keep a poem in your pocket by Beatrice Schenk de Regniers

Keep a poem in your pocket

and a picture in your head

and you'll never feel lonely

at night when you're in bed

The little poem will sing to you

the little picture bring to you

a dozen dreams to dance to you

at night when you're in bed

So-

Keep a picture in your pocket

and a poem in your head

and you'll never feel lonely

at night when you're in bed.

Rose's Dress of Dreams by Katherine Woodfine illustrated by Kate Pankhurst

"You will become a very rich woman and wear a fine dress to the Royal Court"

Rose has a dream. She loves beautiful dresses. One day she is sure she will create one that is truly special:

"Often at night, Rose dreamed of the most beautiful dress of all. It was a dress woven out of moonlight and starlight. A dress rippled and swished like the wind across the sea. A dress with skirts that stretched as wide as the might sky and glittered all over with stars."

Her mother has no time for these dreams but one day a fortune-teller arrives in the small French town. The fortune-teller confirms her dream and so taking this message into her heart, Rose leaves her home and sets off for Paris. She meets rejection at every turn until finally she is taken in by Mademoiselle Pagelle. Rose expects to begin designing the gowns of her dreams straight away but instead she is put to work sweeping, polishing and scrubbing. 

She spends many weeks working hard but one day the most wonderful opportunity arises. Rose is sent to deliver a splendid dress to the Princess de Conti. Arriving at the grand house she is taken into a room where she waits with a servant or so she things. Actuallu this simply dressed lady is not a servant - she is the Princess. Rose has told her all about her dream to create beautiful gowns. This wonderful moment means her dream can now come true.

I smiled through this whole story - it feels like a fairy tale - then I gasped. At the end of the book Katherine Woodfine explains this story is based on a real person. Marie-Jean Rose Bertin (known as Rose) was born in 1747. She did indeed travel to Paris and she did design and make beautiful gowns for the royal court including for the famous Marie Antoinette. 

Perfect for any young fashion fans, the story is a lovely read for children just moving away from picture books, and is resplendent with historical and dressmaking detail. Book Trust

Together, Woodfine and Pankhurst have created a truly shining gem of a book. Minerva Reads

You can read the first chapter on the Barrington Stoke web site. I do love this series - Little Gems. Every story is a delight to read. They are perfect for newly independent readers. In this video Katherine Woodfine reads chapter three from her book. And in this video Katherine talks about her book.

Check out the web site for the illustrator Kate Pankhurst (I was delighted to discover she is indirectly related to Emmeline Pankhurst)and the author Katherine Woodfine.

Many years ago I read The Clockwork Sparrow which is for an older age group and I really loved it. I now discover this book is part of a series The Sinclair's Mysteries. I need to add the other three titles onto my expanding "to read" list.

My Forever Dress by Harriet Ziefert illustrated by Liz Mrurphy

Did you watch the ABC television series here in Australia called "The War on Waste"? The episode that resonated most strongly with me was the one that focused on fashion waste. We have become, in the Western world, people who treat clothing as though it were fast food.  Here is an excellent segment from our ABC Television series BTN (Behind the News) which explains this issue to Primary students. Here is a set of activities to use with this video.

This is such an important topic and this book provides a perfect way to raise awareness of recycling our clothes for a very young reader. It is also a beautiful book that shows a grandmother sharing her skills and love with her grand daughter.

As the story begins our narrator is six years old and her beautiful (young looking) grandmother offers to make her a dress. I well remember my mum measuring me for the dresses she made. This new dress is splendid and the little girl enjoys wearing it to a party for her cousin.

One year later her grandmother suggests they should modify the dress.

"We need to do our part, ... we should use new material only if we have to. You're no wider, just taller, so let's start with what we have and add to it."

The new (modified) dress is perfect and especially comfortable when worn with pink leggins.

Another year goes by.

"Now I am eight. Grandma offers to make me a new dress, but I don't really want one. I like my old dress ... and I live helping the environment."

Grandma is a skilled seamstress. She pulls the dress apart and changes it again.

This time she also knits a sweater from wool purchased a "long long time" ago. The new outfit is perfect for her ninth birthday party (it's the one on the front cover) but:

"Now I am early ten. My shape is changing. I am growing all around. I ask Grandma to measure me for a new dress."  Her old dress with not go to waste, though. She offers it to her little cousin.

Here is a video of the whole book although sadly they did not include the glorious end papers. My forever Dress was published in 2009 so it is now out of print. I really love the art in this book but I haven't found many other books illustrated by Liz Murphy.

You could use My forever Dress as a focus for Earth Day or any unit of work on the environment. Here are some other books about recycling clothing.