Nancy Bess Had a Dress

Winner of the Children's Book Council's 2025 Librarians' Favorite Award
A 2024 Foreward INDIES Finalist for Picture Book of the Year

Waste not, want not! A patterned flour sack becomes a clever creation in this story set in the late 1930's featuring a crafty girl with a gift for repurposing her favorite daisy print.

When the family flour sack is emptied, Nancy Bess remakes it into a dress. But little girls grow as little girls do, and soon that dress is too small. Bit by bit, Nancy Bess fashions the material into new creations, until finally, all that is left of the flour sack are a few tattered pieces. Peering into the family scrap basket, Nancy Bess comes up with a plan to use the material once more, sewing something special to last for generations.

With carefully crafted and richly detailed illustrations, Nancy Bess Had a Dress will appeal to curious young historians and recycling enthusiasts, as well as like-minded teachers, librarians and caregivers.

Author: Claire Noland
Publisher: Gnome Road Publishing
Published: 03/19/2024
Pages: 32
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.85lbs
Size: 9.70h x 9.90w x 0.40d
ISBN: 9781957655239
Audience: Ages 4-8


Review Citation(s):
Foreword 02/13/2024
School Library Journal 09/20/2024 pg. 1

About the Author
Claire Annette Noland is an award-winning author of books for young children. As a children's librarian, reading specialist, and author, her life's goal is to excite kids about books and reading. Claire lives with her husband in a book-filled home in Kingsburg, California and finds inspiration from the children in her life, family stories, and her very large poodle-mix, Mr. Ernie. When not writing, you can find Claire stocking her Little Free Library, playing bocce ball on the beach, and taking field trips using kidlit as her travel guide. Connect with Claire at www.claireannettenoland.com.

The Arts are embedded in Angela Hawkins' DNA: Not only has she wielded pencils, crayons, and markers from when she was as small as her book characters, she's also studied violin, piano, voice, and ballet (her heart won't let go!). Much to her teenage sons' chagrin, she is often found - and heard! - singing, humming, whistling, and dancing to the music swirling through her neurons. Angela has won a number of illustration awards, including the 2021 SW-Texas SCBWI Portfolio Award, the 2020 Summer SCBWI Bulletin Art Spot, the 2017 SCBWI Don Freeman Grant Winner, and the 2017 RMC-SCBWI Portfolio Showcase. She's illustrated for several clients, including Babybug, Ladybug, and Spider Magazines. Cute kids and charismatic animals are her specialty. Above all else, she aims to delight, educate, and inspire love while attempting to capture the wonder of our world and the beauty within each human soul. She lives in Denver, Colorado. Connect with Angela at www.angelachawkins.com.