After a little break from making picture books, I’m back with Fred Gets Dressed, my most personal book to date. If you have a few minutes, I’d like to tell you about the story, and about the inspiration behind it.
One day, when I was five years old, I went into my parents’ bedroom and began looking through my mother’s makeup. I loved my mom, and I loved making art, so it was only natural that I was curious about the “paint” she put on her face. I didn’t know what to do with makeup, of course, and when my mother found me, her makeup was smeared across my cheek.
My mom’s reaction was simple, but amazing. She just smiled, cleaned my cheek, and then she showed me how to put on makeup. We had a terrific time trying on makeup, together.
Isn’t that wonderful? I love that I felt free to explore and experiment. I love that my mom joined me and encouraged my curiosity. That might be my favorite childhood memory, and I wanted to tell a version of that story in a picture book.
At first, I thought I’d simply retell the actual story of what happened with my mom, but as I worked through my ideas, the story changed in several important ways. To begin with, I decided not to name the main character after me. Giving him a different name helped me let go of my real-life experience so the story could develop in its own, natural way. After considering many names for the boy in my story, I finally settled on Fred. It’s a good name. It’s friendly and familiar, and I love the quick, punchy rhythm of Fred Gets Dressed. It’s the perfect title for this book, and it’s fun to say, which is a nice bonus.
When making picture books, I find that the art comes more easily once I’ve figured out the design of my main character. So, early on, I began experimenting with different drawing styles and designs for Fred. I thought about Fred’s age and personality, and about the tone I wanted to set for this story, and he gradually came to life.
Early experimental sketches for Fred
I already mentioned the time I put on my mom’s makeup, but on other occasions I played with her jewelry, tried walking in her high-heeled shoes, and explored her colorful clothing. I combined all of those moments into Fred’s story, and we see him looking through his parents’ closet, and then dressing up in his mom’s blouse, scarf, shoes, jewelry, and makeup. Fred is smaller than his mom, of course, so her blouse fits him like a dress. And just as I did, Fred accidentally smears makeup across his cheek.
Early sketch from Fred Gets Dressed
Since the story is about Fred getting dressed, it made sense for him to start off undressed. Fred spends the first part of the story au naturel, but I made sure to always pose him in such a way that we never see his private parts. Scenes of a boy gleefully romping naked through his house add a nice touch of silliness to this sweet story.
Sketches of Fred romping
Fred’s mom, with her pinkish skin and red hair, is based on my own mother. But the story isn’t only about Fred and his mom. I thought it was really important to show both of his parents supporting and encouraging him, so I included his dad in a small but significant role. Unlike my dad, Fred’s dad has dark hair and an olive skin tone. And since Fred is a combination of his parents, his skin tones include both pink and olive green.
Finished art of Fred’s parents
I wanted Fred’s home to embody the nurturing people who live in it, so I filled it with a variety of houseplants, as evidence of the family’s nurturing spirit. After all, it takes love and attention to properly care for plants. With all that love to give, Fred’s family also needed a dog. Oh, and I thought their home should have plenty of books, art, curtains, rugs, and wooden floors. Those familiar, tactile details help make Fred’s home seem like the kind of cozy place where a child would feel free to explore.
Sketch dummy page with cozy details
Fred Gets Dressed is a simple story, and I wanted the art to have simple compositions which would focus the reader’s eye on the characters. But I also wanted the art to be interesting. Simple but interesting is a tricky balance to achieve, so I started small, by making dozens of tiny thumbnail sketches depicting scenes from all around the house. Then I made bigger, more refined sketches based on my favorite thumbnails.
A page of thumbnail sketches
Another page of thumbnail sketches
Until now, my books have all been written in the past tense. But when I started writing this book in the past tense, something felt off. I really wanted readers to care about Fred, to feel connected with him, and I was ready to use every tool at my disposal to make that happen. So I tried writing in the present tense, and I quickly realized it was the perfect fit for this story. Present tense makes everything seem spontaneous. It’s almost like we’re sitting with the narrator, watching the story unfold, together. We want to see what Fred does next. He seems real, and we’re cheering him on.
Unfinished manuscript
My favorite color is pink. I usually use it as an accent color in illustrations, but I decided to feature pink more prominently in the palette of Fred Gets Dressed. I painted the illustrations digitally, using only four colors: pink, green, black and white. By overlapping those colors and changing their transparency, I was able to get a surprising variety of color and texture that creates a sense of warmth throughout the book.
Detail from the printed book
At one point I told my editor that I didn’t want this story to have any tension at all. Fred’s experience is so sweet and innocent that I just wanted him to have this moment without any problems. As it turns out, Fred never encounters any real problems, but there is a moment when readers might feel some tension. And that’s the moment when Fred’s parents first find him dressed up like his mom.
Early sketch of Fred facing his parents
Sketch dummy page
To heighten this scene, I used the book gutter to create separation between Fred and his parents. The physical distance is tangible, but is there any emotional distance? I wasn’t going to tell readers what to think, so I made this a wordless spread, and readers can only wonder what’s going on inside each of the characters. However, the characters don’t give much away because I illustrated them with no expressions or body language. This scene is like a blank canvas upon which readers can project their own feelings. Some readers might see nothing unusual here and feel no tension, whatsoever. Others might feel slightly uncomfortable with this scene. There’s no right or wrong way to feel, I just want readers to feel something. And then, when they’re ready, they can turn the page to see what happens next.
Finished spread from the printed book
I could say plenty more about Fred Gets Dressed, but I think I’ll stop here. Yes, this is a book about a boy who dresses up like his mom, but it isn’t only for boys and moms; it’s for everyone. Through her words and actions, my mother let me know that she would always love and accept me, no matter what. With Fred Gets Dressed, I simply wanted to tell a sweet, fun story that depicts the kind of unconditional love everyone deserves. My dream is that, in some small way, this story might help readers love and support the people in their lives, too. But that’s a lot to ask of a book. If Fred Gets Dressed can get readers to smile and think and feel a connection with the characters, I’ll consider it to be wildly successful.
Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoy Fred Gets Dressed.
Fred Gets Dressed was published on May 4, 2021.
Click HERE to order Fred Gets Dressed from an independent bookstore near you.
Wow!! This is amazing! Can’t wait to get this! You’re awesome!
Awesome book… awesome art… thanks for sharing. I remember as a child the time when I decided to ‘organize’ my top drawer… so I got a magic marker and drew the outline of all the socks, underpants and tee shirts right on the wooden drawer. Lol!
It was interesting to hear the thought process that went into depicting Fred’s home. Now when I read a picture book, I’m going to pay more attention to the message that’s conveyed through the settings.
Peter, your mom was my cousin and one of my first childhood friends. I love your tender description of her. Her sweet spirit and accepting nature come through your writing and drawing.
We have recently discovered you as an author and have loved your books. This one we were able to read last night and honestly it was a disappointment. In a culture of chaos we need boys to be boys and girls to be girls. Gender exploration shouldn’t be encouraged especially amongst little people. It isn’t a fad like being emo or eating tidepods. This is serious stuff that shakes them and makes them doubt themselves mentally. I think your childhood memory was funny, but my children will be sure of what they were created to be and this book is not going to stay in my house.
Apryl, I’m sorry you were disappointed with Fred Gets Dressed. My goal for this story was to show a child following his natural curiosity, and to show his parents loving him, unconditionally. Unconditional love seems like such a simple concept, and yet watching it play out in a book is rather striking, if you ask me. I’d like to think Fred Gets Dressed has some valuable lessons for everyone, so it saddens me to think you’ll be removing this book from your home. However, I know this book is perfect for other families; families that are a little different, or families that value curiosity and individuality and self-expression. I’m so glad I made a book that reflects the real-life experiences of those families. And although you disapprove of my children’s book, I hope we can agree that we should be teaching our children to show kindness and compassion to all people, including people like Fred and his family.
Peter Brown, thanks for creating a story about love and acceptance within a family. There’s always room on my school library shelf for another title that helps kids and adults understand that creativity and joy are linked, and that both should be celebrated.
i hate and love u
That’s what children do…explore..whether it’s forests, books, friendships, space, closets…Some choose linear lives…others do not…and isn’t that what makes each of us unique and wonderous? I think as a child, it is pretty impossible “to be sure of what [you] were created to be…”
These all look fantastic. And thank you for sharing the Peter Brown article. I love learning the thought process behind books.
What you say you want to accomplish with the story, the free exploration by young children, is endearing. But choosing to have Fred dress like his mother is not endearing. It is a backdoor way of suggesting gender exploration in very young children instead of allowing them to develop their sexually naturally as they grow older. It also suggests that parents who do not allow gender exploration in young children are somehow not allowing their child free expression. Children need stability, more than ever, and pushing this on them so early is just another source of personal confusion, doubt. I agree with the comment above by Aprylsays. Pushing gender exploration on very young children is concerning. The intent, perhaps well meaning, seems not to benefit the child to feel free to be himself, but to benefit the adults who are pushing this, and a lot of adults are pushing this.
Your art work is very beautiful and I enjoyed Mr. Tiger Goes Wild, which touches on a similar theme of feeling free to be ourselves. But our culture is now pretty much “anything goes”, which I think is partly why there is now a “lostness” among many people, esp. young people. Let’s not mess with gender roles in young children.
Why would you care if a boy dresses like his mom, or if a girl dresses like her dad? I just don’t see why that matters to anyone. But it matters very much to the children who are trying to discover they’re true selves. Most children fall neatly into your traditional gender categories…and aren’t they lucky not to have to grapple with these issues. But there are children who just don’t fit into those categories, and I think those children deserve to feel loved and supported, too. Don’t you? I also think they should see themselves in books, so that they know they’re not alone. Not only that, I think other children should see them in books, so that everyone knows that being different is actually pretty normal. What you’re suggesting is that we reject any child who doesn’t abide by your set of social norms, and I absolutely refuse to do that. You say it’s for their own good…like you’re doing the square peg a favor by cramming it into a round hole. I think each child should be free to discover who they are, in their own time, in their own way, and the rest of us should simply support them on that journey. I truly believe that every child will thrive if they’re surrounded by unconditional love. This book is one way that I can contribute to that love.
Thank you for another beautiful and deeply thoughtful book. Your books are all very much loved in our home!
Thank you, I love this book, and all of your illustrations so much!
I’m so impressed by your calm, thoughtful responses to the critics here who are somehow taking a negative stance on this story’s message…I would be struggling to remain polite! The story is certainly not pushing an agenda onto children, but as you stated in your response to MFedysyzn, helping any curious children feel seen and comfortable in their curiosity. In fact, I have a student in my class who I believe would benefit greatly from some Fred, and I can’t wait to get a copy for my classroom library! My son and I are obsessed with Chowder and The Wild Robot, by the way!
Thanks for the kind message, Becky! I knew Fred Gets Dressed wouldn’t be for everyone, but it can be pretty frustrating when people judge the book, and the character, so harshly. I mean, if those critics ever meet a boy like Fred, will they ignore him? Will they ban him from their school? Will they be mean to him if he insists on being different? I’d like to think that when confronted with an actual person like Fred, they’d see his humanity and treat him with respect. All that being said, I also think this book can just be about a curious, creative boy playing with his family. I’m hoping all kinds of readers can appreciate the joy and love on display in this story.
Dear Mr. Brown,
Thank you for taking the time to explain your amazing process and details. I can’t wait to order this book for both of my school libraries. I am currently reading The Wild Robot with 3 of my classes (and rereading it with my son). I love your detailed prose and how simply you are able to present love and complex ideas. Bravo sir. Also, haters gonna hate, keep doing what you’re doing.
Thank you for sharing how this story came about. It’s wonderful to read!
In a society where so many people (from family to media) try and often manage to force others into boxes for their own comfort, this is a refreshing story about making space for young people to be themselves. The world will be a better place when people are allowed to be themselves.
Thank you so much for this book, and being a champion for children! It is so important for children to see that it is okay to express themselves in many different ways! I am a Children’s Librarian, and was happy to order this book for our library this spring. I FINALLY had the chance to “read” the book when it was presented live this morning by the literacy educator at the Eric Carle museum. He did a lovely job with the reading. You can see it here: https://fb.watch/8TPAawKwep/ Take care! And thank you for being an awesome person and author! 🙂
As always, your artwork and message bring light to the world. Thank you for your thoughtful responses to the critics above. With gratitude for you and your books.
Hello Peter,
Thank you for creating this book. My daughter used to raid my son’s dresser to dress up like her big brother and called it playing “little Joe”. Her twin sister went along with it as well. If I had reacted negatively to this I feel it could have had very damaging effects, instead I looked at it like it was part of the everyday pretend play that the kids engaged in.
I am a big fan and a children’s librarian and an illustrator as well. I have ordered many of your books and will be ordering this one. Keep up the amazing work!
I’m actually pisssed off I dont think this book is appropriate for my six year old Grandson!!!!
I’m sorry Fred Gets Dressed is upsetting to you, Nicole. I don’t know your grandson, but I bet he’d get a kick out of it. It’s a sweet little story with quite a few laughs!
I’m so excited for this book! As a parent of a “Fred”, we have encountered people who understand his creative exploration and others who do not. Your responses to the latter have been full of grace, and they demonstrate your commitment to your message. It’s hard knowing our child may/will be rejected by others for who he is, and to have a book that reflects this spirit of unconditional love is a gift to families like ours. Thank you!
I enjoyed reading this book and I am in the process of creating a lesson plan for kindergarten-first grade. I thought your responses to the negative and harsh critiques were professional. I hope that these critics will be more open minded if they should ever come across a child like Fred. Children are who they are going to be and they all deserve to be loved and treated well. Reading the book had me remembering a child I used to teach many years ago. He was 4 at the time and he is a grown man now, though I haven’t seen him since he was a child. He used to enjoy dressing up in the ‘girl’ clothes. He would put the heels on his feet and a purse on his shoulder and prance around. I gave the him opportunity to explore even though the other teachers thought I should stop him. I’m sure my preventing him wouldn’t stop him from wanting to dress like a girl but would have made him feel bad for himself if I’d had. I’m hoping I can create a lesson with this them of love and acceptance that other teachers can be inspired by.
Hi Evelyn, thanks for this comment. I’m so glad you enjoyed Fred Gets Dressed. This book is really about innocence and play and about unconditional love, which are subjects I thought we could all get behind. But you know how the world is, these days. Luckily, I’ve gotten far more positive responses than negative ones. Best of luck with your lesson plan, I’d love to check it out if/when you finish it.
HI. Here is a link to the book companion. You can copy and past into your browser or just search Fred Gets Dressed on TeachersPayTeachers and my plan will come up. It’s the only one for now. You can see the plan by clicking the preview. Let me know what you think. I look forward to your hearing your thoughts.
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Fred-Gets-Dressed-Book-Companion-Activities-and-Graphic-Organizers-7556674?st=e65cbdcb3e2f989c22c53f8b2b65e9e4
Just discovered your website (my class is reading The Wild Robot right now) and your thoughts on the creative process for Fred Gets Dressed. I’ve been teaching now for almost 35 years, much of it in church schools. Back in the day when our classrooms still had dress up boxes and also when putting on mini plays were still part of our reading curriculums, we often saw both boys and girls try on all the costumes. Sometimes it was to play act something they were doing, sometimes, it was just for curiosity, it really didn’t matter in the long run, as long as they had a chance to have fun . I love that Fred’s parents respond the way I would hope most parents would (so many of us recognize that moment when we find our child got into the makeup drawer and has “decorated” themselves, right?). Thank you for another creative book that can delight a child and on another level, make us adults think about how we react to our little ones.
Thank you for the thoughtful comment, Mrs. C.! I couldn’t agree with you more. Also, you sound like an excellent teacher.
I am sad to see so many negative comments. I just don’t get people. Do they not actually know what children are like? Children are curious beings and explore and play. It does not mean the negative views these adults are trying to impose on the natural innocent curiosity that children have. You are a lot nicer than I would be in response. I looked through your book and thought it was great. What kind of loon gets “pissed” about a book that is talking about love and acceptance. There are all kinds of families in the world and their family dynamics have no more worth and validity than any other kind of family.
I just came across your book and this blog post. . . It took me back to my childhood and a memory of my brother wearing one of my mom’s bikini tops, putting his hair into pigtails and insisting I take a picture of him as a “female body builder”. We laughed so much that day, and now I think I must go find that picture.
Also I love seeing your creative process! So fascinating. Thank you.
My six year old picked up this book at the library and we read it together. I was mortified that I didn’t read it in advance. What a subtle way to make this the norm. Boys being girls, girls being boys. This is not the norm. I hate that I can’t just pick up a picture book in the children’s section in the library and read it without screening it for things that may confuse her. What a world we live in where we are writing books about toddlers and gender confusion.
Whether you like it or not, some boys don’t feel like “typical” boys, and some girls don’t feel like “typical” girls. It sounds like you want to force those kids to be “typical,” but I really don’t think that’s going to help. Rather than shame these young people, I think we should let them know that they’re loved, just as they are. Feeling loved and supported will help them develop into their best selves. That’s why I made Fred Gets Dressed. I’m sorry you had such a negative reaction to this book. Clearly, it isn’t meant for you. But I’m sure your library has plenty of other books that will be more in line with your particular belief system. Libraries have something for everyone, even for kids who are a little different.
Dear Peter,
I loved reading about how Fred Gets Dressed came about. Thank you for sharing that.
I am reaching out because I am so grateful for this book. It is my favourite childrens book to date. My family loves reading and it. Our favourite parts are the pages you spoke about where Fred and his parents are expressionless and then when you turn the page they are smiling. I honestly felt tears of joy because I feel like I’ve had that same expression toward my son many times.
Thanks again, Peter!
Thanks a million for the kind words, Kate! I’m so glad you Fred Gets Dressed resonated with you!
As an Early Childhood Educator for 37+ years, I can attest to the fact that both the boys and girls explore ALL of the dress-up clothes. I’ve taught toddlers through pre-k. The boys wear tutus and heels, the girls wear construction hats and firefighter jackets (traditionally sold as “boys” dress up clothes if you look through the catalogs). The kids don’t equate the clothes with gender, although some adults sadly do. Years ago (1990s) all the girls and boys fought over the white Mary Jane shoes and the candy striper dress in my classroom. There isn’t any new agenda to confuse kids. Like I said, I’ve been teaching for 37+ years. It’s fun to dress up! Kids just want to have fun, and I think Fred Gets Dressed is a wonderful representation of that.
We have just discovered your robot series and THRILLED that a third book is out! My 4th grader was going to write to you to please write more robot stories. As for the negative reviews on Fred, the comments say more about the insecurities the writers have. Hopefully, having read the book in order to have formed an opinion, they will be able to respond gracefully when/if a similar situation develops in their own family…
Your Books are a great basis for a book project , Thank You!
My 8 year old daughter Rosaline (Rosie or Roz) doesn’t like reading, so we go to great lengths to find material that she will actually want to read. We recently discovers the Wild Robot series and now she is begging to read every single night! Thank you so much for sharing your amazing stories and art work with the world. We are completely captivated by Roz and Brightbill, and can’t wait for the 3rd book to come out! Thank you for inspiring my youngest to read! This means everything to us!
P.S. We just finished the second book this evening and we were all in tears. You really know how to tug at our heart strings.
Oh and thanks for writing the wild robot!
Why is is that when a girl dresses up like a boy we smile and affectionately call her a “tomboy,” but when a boy dresses up like a girl we cringe and turn away, or sternly tell him to “take that stuff off” and dress appropriately? I’m so glad you made this book! And I’m sorry for the negative reactions to it. I think it’s just a sign that, as a society, we are still grappling with our fear of the different and unknown. I hope that one day boys will feel the freedom to dress in a more feminine way if they want, just like girls feel free to dress in a more masculine way if they like. I think we’ve already taken great strides in this direction, and I think that books like this will continue to help push us in a direction that is more living and accepting of everyone! Thanks so much for your beautiful book. My 4 year old daughter loves it, by the way. And I hope it will help her to treat everyone with love and acceptance, and not judge them by what they choose to wear.