The Boy in the Dress (novel) facts for kids
First hardback edition
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| Author | David Walliams |
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| Illustrator | Quentin Blake |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's fiction (8-12) |
| Publisher | HarperCollins |
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Publication date
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1 October 2008 |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 288 |
| ISBN | 0-00-727903-5 |
| OCLC | 233262822 |
The Boy in the Dress is a popular children's book written by David Walliams and illustrated by Quentin Blake. This was Walliams' first book. He is a well-known comedian from the BBC show Little Britain. The story is about a 12-year-old boy who enjoys wearing dresses. It shows how his family and friends react to this. The book helps teach young readers that it's okay to be different. It also shows that liking different things, like wearing different clothes, is nothing to be ashamed of. This book has also been made into a TV film and a musical.
Contents
What is The Boy in the Dress About?
Dennis's Secret Love for Dresses
The story follows Dennis, a 12-year-old boy, and his 14-year-old brother, John. Their parents divorced when Dennis was seven. The boys live with their dad. After his wife left, their dad started eating a lot for comfort. Dennis is a great football player and one of the best on his team.
However, Dennis really misses his mom, who left about five years ago. He finds comfort in remembering his mom's yellow dress from an old photo. One day, Dennis sees the same dress on the cover of a Vogue magazine. He buys a copy from Raj, the friendly local shop owner. But when his dad finds the magazine, he gets very angry. John, Dennis's brother, teases him by calling him "Denise."
A New Friend and a Daring Plan
At school, Dennis gets into trouble for kicking a football through a window. While in detention, he talks to Lisa James. Lisa is the prettiest and most fashionable girl in the school. Lisa invites Dennis to her house. There, she helps him try on girls' clothes.
They decide to go out in public. Dennis wears a bright blue dress and pretends to be "Denise." "Denise" is a French exchange student who doesn't speak much English. They visit Raj's corner shop. Raj doesn't recognize Dennis at all, believing he is "Denise." After successfully fooling Raj, Dennis and Lisa decide to go to school together the next day – with Dennis dressed as "Denise."
Trouble at School and a Big Reveal
At school, Dennis, as "Denise," upsets his French teacher by saying her French accent isn't good. During break time, Dennis kicks a football. He slips, and his secret is revealed: he is a boy! Mr. Hawtrey, the headmaster, is very strict. He expels Dennis from school just for wearing a dress.
Dennis's dad is furious and sends Dennis to his room. Darvesh, Dennis's best friend, comes over to visit. But Dennis's dad sends him home. Darvesh encourages Dennis to go to an important football match on Saturday. At the match, Dennis's whole team supports him. They encourage him to play in a dress. The team wins against Maudlin Street, their rival team!
Standing Up for What's Right
Dennis's dad comes to the match. He forgives Dennis and stands up for him against Mr. Hawtrey. Early Sunday morning, Raj tells Dennis that Mr. Hawtrey's sister, Doris, now buys the Telegraph from him. Raj adds that there's "something funny about her."
Lisa and Dennis go to Raj's shop. They discover that "Doris" is actually Mr. Hawtrey himself, dressed in a skirt! Dennis and Lisa tell Mr. Hawtrey that if Dennis isn't allowed back in school, they will tell everyone his secret. Mr. Hawtrey agrees to let Dennis return to school.
A Happy Ending
By the end of the story, Dennis, his dad, and his brother start to heal from the sadness of losing Dennis's mother. Dennis and Lisa remain good friends. John, Dennis's older brother, also starts to look out for his younger brother more.
Who Are the Main Characters?
- Dennis Sims - A 12-year-old boy who lives with his brother, John, and his dad. He is a student at Elm Forest School. Dennis is great at football but also loves wearing girls' clothes. With Lisa's help, he creates "Denise," a French exchange student. Billy Kennedy plays Dennis in the TV movie.
- John Sims – Dennis's 14-year-old brother. He also goes to Elm Forest School. Oliver Barry-Brooke plays him in the TV show.
- Lisa James – A 14-year-old girl at Elm Forest School. She is very popular and loves fashion, dresses, and shoes. Temi Orelaja plays Lisa in the TV version.
- Miss Windsor – The French teacher at Elm Forest School. Jennifer Saunders plays her in the TV movie.
- Raj – The kind owner of the local newspaper shop. He is friendly and good with children. Harish Patel plays Raj in the TV show.
- Mr Hawtrey – The very strict headteacher of Elm Forest School. He expels Dennis for wearing a dress, but he has his own secret. Tim McInnerny plays him in the TV version.
- Darvesh Singh – Dennis's best friend. He is a polite student at Elm Forest School and also plays on Dennis's football team. Aaron Chawla plays Darvesh in the TV show.
- Dad (called Peter Simms in the TV show) – Dennis and John's father. He is a lorry driver who struggles after his wife leaves. Steve Speirs plays him in the TV version.
Where Else Has the Story Appeared?
TV Film Adaptation
A TV film based on the book was made for BBC One. It was shown on Boxing Day 2014. Filming started on October 19, 2014. The actors for the film were announced a few days later.
Stage Musical Adaptation
The Royal Shakespeare Company created a stage musical version of the book. It was performed in Stratford-upon-Avon for Christmas 2019. There are plans for it to move to London's West End in 2020. The musical was written by Mark Ravenhill. The music and songs were created by Guy Chambers and Robbie Williams. It was directed by Gregory Doran.
