Pistes d'exploration

Look at the drawing on the inside cover and discuss the title. What might ensemble mean? Use this information to make predictions about the story.

Identify the plot’s problem and solution. Tell a friend what you think is the moral of the story. Share your thinking with the class.

Why do you think Edie cares about being noticed in her outfits? Is it important to have fancy clothes?

As a class, write a friendly letter of advice to Edie. Help her understand how to get along with her peers and be a good friend.

Identify pieces of clothing in Edie’s gigantic wardrobe. Add a few details about colour, pattern, style or fabric.

What do you like to wear to school? Discuss the qualities you like in school clothing (comfortable, soft, good for playing soccer, not too warm, not itchy).

Discuss Edie and Andrew’s friendship. Make a class anchor chart outlining aspects of a good versus a not-so-good friendship. Think of ways that Edie can make up to Andrew for not being such a good friend.

Discuss the role of clothing in school. Keep in mind aspects such as brand name, price, uniforms and social acceptance. Bring forward examples of friendships or feuds based on clothing.

Red Is Best, I Like Old Clothes, Mo's Mustache, My New Shirt, What We Wear: Dressing Up Around the World

Mots-clés

Picture book , clothing , consumption , creativity , fashion , friendship , self-confidence , selfishness

Commentaire descriptif

In this lovely fable about friendship, Edie is a little woodland animal with a flair for fashion. She and her best friend Andrew love to play dress-up and test their best outfits at school: “The hall ... was her runway.” One day, no one notices the “swish of her silk scarf” or her cashmere sweater (except to tell her there is mustard on it). So Edie decides to focus on outfits that will really “knock everyone’s socks off.” She forgets all about Andrew. When she ends up stuck in a school doorway, wearing a particularly absurd and bulky outfit, she must do some rethinking. Charming animation-style illustrations are digitally rendered, with plenty of white space around them highlighting Edie’s colourful outfits. Text is conversational and witty. When Edie focuses entirely on experimenting with her outfits—ripping cloth, making crazy accessories (one is a birdcage hat with a bow on top)—the reactions of her animal classmates appear in speech bubbles: “I’m scared.” “She’s bonkers.” As Edie finally trudges home in her underclothes, she realizes that what really matters is on the inside, not the outside.