Book Review - The Boy in the Dress
Little Britain Creator’s Charming Debut Novel for Children
Feb 12, 2009
The Boy in the Dress (Harper Collins, 2008) tells the story of twelve-year-old Dennis. On the surface Dennis looks like an ordinary boy; he lives in an ordinary house, plays football, goes to school and fights with his older brother. But Dennis feels different. His thoughts are “full of colour and poetry”.
After his wife leaves, Dennis’ truck-driver father distances himself from his two boys. Dennis feels his mother’s absence keenly, and struggles with the lack of tenderness he receives from his family. His only outlets are playing football with his best friend Darvesh and reading Vogue magazine.
When Dennis meets Lisa everything begins to change. She encourages Dennis to explore who he really is, which leads to a prank which changes everything – and not just for Dennis.
Renowned Illustrator Quentin Blake
Quentin Blake’s witty black and white drawings are familiar to anyone who has read the books of iconic children’s writer Roald Dahl. As always his sketches give the story a colour and life beyond that of the words alone. Blake has been involved in the illustration and writing of over 300 books. In 1999 he was announced as the United Kingdom’s first Children’s Laureate.
The illustrations by Blake will naturally invite comparisons with the books of Dahl. Fortunately The Boy in the Dress holds up to the comparison. Walliams’ writing style is simple, full of gentle humour and accessible to young readers. The lessons are woven into the story in such a way that the reader is aware of them but doesn’t feel they are being lectured to.
David Walliams and Little Britain
Walliams has an extensive background in stage and television. He first teamed with good friend Matt Lucas in 1995 when they created the Sir Bernard Chumley and Friends show. Together they are best known for their involvement in the popular sketch show Little Britain. Indeed Walliams makes a tongue-in-cheek reference to the often-outrageous show in The Boy in the Dress.
It is important to note that while The Boy in the Dress may lightly touch on gender themes, it bears little resemblance to Little Britain in its humour or style. Walliams never forgets that he is writing exclusively for children, and there is nothing in the book that a parent should find offensive or inappropriate for young readers.
The acceptance and embracing of diversity is a central theme to The Boy in the Dress. Walliams successfully explores the complexity of family relationships as well as the attitudes of society to those who are different, while still maintaining a charming story that will appeal to readers in late primary school.
The Boy in the Dress (ISBN: 9780007279036, 232 pages)
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