Playing Wicked

February 15, 2020
Dante delights in gender-bending dress-up--will his new friend play along? Dante, a peach-skinned child with short brown hair, is passionate about "playing make-believe." With his friends, Dante enjoys dressing up in heroic costumes, sometimes being "a wizened wizard" or "regal royalty." But Dante isn't always interested in being one of the good guys: "Sometimes, he wanted to be... / wicked." By himself, Dante revels in deliciously villainous roles, complete with wigs, makeup, and gowns. Though he obviously loves his "devilish dresses," Dante doesn't feel they are "ready for the eyes of others" until he creates a dress (and a character) he is particularly proud of: "a water witch in her gossamer gown." Unable to resist keeping this outfit to himself, Dante decides to share his wicked character with his parents in their backyard. Their doting smiles indicate clear support of Dante's gender nonconforming play, but Dante fears rejection when a passing child spots his feminine outfit over the garden fence. Luckily, the child, who appears black, proves to be an accepting new friend, who celebrates Dante's multigendered dress-up without judgment. In this straightforward story, author Kahler models how fun and simple it can be to accept one another. However, the juxtaposition of wicked versus heroic and feminine versus masculine is a bit clunky. A valiant message but not a terribly satisfying one. (Picture book. 4-8)

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April 1, 2020
Grades K-2 Little Dante loves playing make-believe and has a closet full of costumes to enable him to become anyone he imagines, be it a wizened wizard or a brave bard; however, what he really wants to be is wicked?a wicked queen, in fact. But there's a wrinkle: he doesn't have a costume fit for a queen. Undaunted, he creates one himself, and it's a doozy. All sapphire silk and silver satin, it sets his imagination on fire and emboldens him to brave wearing it into the backyard. There his imagination kicks into high gear as he rides his diving dragon, plunders the titan's treasures, vanquishes the pesky . . . prince? Yes, there's another little boy watching him from across the fence who gleefully joins the game, and together they ride their splendid steeds across the sky. Kahler's clever text is awash in alliteration that garners grins, while Whitehouse's cartoon illustrations capture the story's sprightly spirit nicely. The takeaway? Dante is not a wicked boy; he is a fabulously wicked queen instead.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)