​​I Love My Purse

​​I Love My Purse

Belle Demont

Illustrator

Sonja Wimmer

Publisher

Annick Press

Publication Year

2017

ISBN

9781554519545

Pages

32 pages

Genre

realism

Format

picturebook

Item Type

Fiction

Annotation

Charlie loves the bright red purse that his grandmother let him have. One day, he decides to take it to school. First his father, then his friends, and even the crossing guard question him about his "strange" choice. After all, boys don't carry purses. They point out that they, too, have things they like, but that doesn't mean they go out in public wearing them. But Charlie isn't deterred. Before long, his unselfconscious determination to carry a purse starts to affect those around him. His father puts on his favorite, though unconventional, Hawaiian shirt to go to work; his friend Charlotte paints her face, and the crossing guard wears a pair of sparkly shoes. Thanks to Charlie, everyone around him realizes that it isn't always necessary to conform to societal norms. It's more important to be true to yourself. With its humorous, energetic illustrations, this book is ideal as a read-aloud or as a story for emerging readers. It can also be used as a starting point for a discussion about gender roles.

Grade Level

PK-1

Diversity Topics

Family Relationships; LGBTQ (Gender and Sexuality); Single parent; Gender nonconformity; single father; gender roles; gender expression

Main Character

boy

Race/Ethnicities

Black

Family Formation

single father

Awards

INDIEFAB Book of the Year Awards, 2017, Silver, Picture Book
First and Best, 2017
Notable Books for a Global Society, 2018

Keywords

individuality; handbags; self acceptance; societal norms; crossing guard; Hawaiian shirt; peer pressure

Diversity Impact

direct

​​I Love My Purse

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