Horn Book (Thu Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2021)

Patrick loves his purple polka-dot tights. They provide extra warmth under snow pants, add flair to dress-up outfits, and make great teddy-bear lifesaving equipment. The only problem: technically, the tights belong to his sister, even though "Penelope didn't care about the tights...most of the time." The cartoonlike illustrations, featuring an energetic boy with curly orange hair, amplify emotions in the child-centered text. "It wasn't fair," the narrator comments when Penelope takes back the tights to wear during her piano recital. The accompanying illustration shows a visibly displeased Patrick sitting amidst smiling, oblivious audience members, including his parents. "Disaster" strikes during a post-recital ice-cream outing (Penelope spills hot fudge on the tights), and Patrick's body language clearly conveys his dejected feelings. When his dad presents him with new tights -- a three pack! -- a double-page spread celebrates along with Patrick. Featuring realistic sibling dynamics and parents who model nonchalant support without editorializing, this book affirms kids' creative expression and imaginative play. Kitty Flynn

Kirkus Reviews

A child plays with his favorite piece of clothing.Patrick, a White boy with curly orange hair, includes a pair of purple polka-dot tights in most of his games. They're endlessly versatile-useful as a dog's leash or a prop in dramatic play or for dress-up-and also add a layer of warmth. They actually belong to Patrick's older sister, Penelope, who gets possessive only on piano-recital nights. After one recital, Patrick is upset when an ice-cream incident stains them, but the happy resolution comes when his father (finally) decides to buy Patrick his own box of multicolored tights. This book succeeds in showing a White family accepting a child who freely explores clothes and games despite gender stereotypes, without bullying or conflict. The pacing and plot, however, including a three-page scene at a superstore to pick up some light bulbs and toilet paper, keep this from being a particularly engaging or entertaining story. The illustrations are similarly functional and bright, depicting the action described on each page without elevating or illuminating the story. This book works as positive representation of a gender-nonconforming boy without violence and is also a realistic look at a sibling relationship.A useful story with an unusually light touch on the topics explored. (Picture book. 4-7)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Patrick, a round-headed kid with orange curls, freckles, and pale skin, loves a particular pair of -perfect and purple- polka-dotted tights. He finds myriad uses for the hosiery-wearing them as insulation under snow pants, transforming them into a leash to walk the dog, complementing a dress as he struts down the catwalk-which causes sibling tension because the tights in question belong to his older sister, Penelope. When Penelope wears the tights and ruins them with an extensive hot fudge sundae stain, Patrick is crushed-until his parents surprise him with a treat from the local superstore. Haley-s expressive digital illustrations emphasize different textures and patterns throughout, making Patrick-s emotions, and love of colorful stockings, immediate for young readers. McCurry joyfully celebrates one child-s carefree clothing creativity while modeling a supportive family alongside realistic sibling interactions. Ages 5-7. (Jan.)

School Library Journal (Mon Feb 01 00:00:00 CST 2021)

PreS-Gr 2 Patrick, who is white, loves his polka dot tights. With his imagination the possibilities for their use go from the mundane (keeping his toes warm) to the highly creative (his strut down the catwalk/dining room table). Unfortunately, Patrick's tights are actually his sister Penelope's and when they go to the piano recital followed by a disastrous trip to the ice cream parlor, Patrick ends up in a desolate state. All works out well for the young boy who finds a plethora of new opportunities for imaginative play. There is prancing, dancing, strutting, and confidence in every colorful page that accompanies the engaging text. VERDICT A solidly positive purchase. While not focusing on gender or identity issues specifically, this affirming story embraces many forms of self-expression and play. John Scott, Friends Sch. of Baltimore