Pockets for Two: A Collection of Girlhood – A Sweet and Empowering Story About Friends and Dresses

by Lindsay Ward, Brizida Magro (Illustrator)

A triumphant celebration of girlhood, friendship, and the best part of any outfit—POCKETS—in this sweet picture book perfect for fans of Mary Wears What She Wants  and  Princesses Wear Pants !  A sweet friendship begins between two young girls on the first day of school. Throughout the year, they fill their pockets with everything from cookies to wiggly worms, to wonders, memories, and more as their friendship blooms. With gorgeous illustrations by Brizida Magro and lyrical text by Lindsay Ward, this empowering friendship story is a must-have for everyone who picks that dress just because it has pockets!

Genres: Picture Books, Friendship, Childrens, Nature

32 pages, Hardcover

Published January 16, 2024

About the author

Lindsay Ward has a BFA in Illustration from Syracuse University. Her most recent books include It’s Show and Tell, Dexter! and Don’t Forget Dexter!, books 1 and 2 in the Dexter T. Rexter Series with Two Lions. She is also the author and illustrator of Brobarians (Two Lions, 2017), The Importance of Being 3 (Dial 2016), Rosco vs. the Baby (S&S, 2016), Henry Finds His Word (Dial, 2015), a Choose to Read Ohio Book, When Blue Met Egg (Dial, 2012), and Please Bring Balloons (Dial, 2013), which was produced into a play by the New York City Children’s Theater in 2017. Her work has been reviewed in Kirkus Reviews, Publisher’s Weekly, and the New York Times. Lindsay is currently working on a new board book series, I Go!, with HarperCollins, due Summer 2019 and This Book Is Gray, a new picture book with Two Lions. She is the founder of Critter Lit (www.critterlit.com), a free picture book manuscript and illustration critique service for up-and-coming authors and illustrators. Lindsay lives in Peninsula, Ohio with her husband, two sons, and dog. Visit her online at www.lindsaymward.com or follow her on Twitter @lindsaymward.

Reviews

[Stephanie Bange · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ward's poetic text comes to life in this lovely picture book about girls, friendships, and pockets!

Two girls meet on the first day of school and beome better friends through the activities they share at schoool. They find that though the school year has ended, their adventures together continue.

This may be some of Ward's best writing. It is light, whimsical, and and lilting - almost poetry. Full of friendship and love, it shows much emotion, as well. A note from the author explains her inspiration for the story - her three sons!

Artwork by Brizida Magro has a very European feel to it. I think my favorite illustration is the first one - of the girl peeking into her classroom on the first day of school. It is emotional without being over the top. Magro created the illustrations by using rolled printmaking pins, cut paper, pastels color pencils, ad acrylic paint, then assembling them digitally to create each image. They are light and girlish - but not too girly. The girls skip around on the page as the text describes.

Perfect for the beginning or end of school year, include it in units on school, friendship, imagination, and collections.

Highly Recommended for Preschool-grade 2.

[Jared White · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is why all girls' (and women's and boys') clothes should have pockets!... so you can collect treasures and little bits of friendship.

The illustrations in this are adorable and those, combined with the text, offer a wonderful glimpse into a lovely friendship filled with pocketfuls of treasure (snacks, toys, cards, feathers... and maybe worms? though I'm not totally sure if it's talking about "pockets" of mud having worms or those worms ending up in pockets).

Overall, just a great book about two girl friends noticing and experiencing the simple wonders of the world and friendship.

Some of the pictures are small, so I would probably only use this for a small-group read-aloud. Also, it has quite a few words, so probably best with elementary school students, rather than anyone younger.

[Gabrielle Stoller · Rating 4 out of 5]

A BOOK ABOUT GIRLS HAVING POCKETS!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm all about this and it should not be as earth shattering as it is. Girls can and should have pockets in our clothing!

This book celebrates friendship, exploration, and wonder and thing magic our pockets can hold. Oh I want this one for my daughter

[Chrissy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Storytime: Pockets, Friends

I did like this book, though there's nothing specific to "girlhood" about kids collecting objects in their pockets. I'm a bit baffled by that subtitle, especially since there are boys in the illustrations as well. Still, it'll be a fun addition to the Pockets-themed Storytime I'm planning.

[Caroline · Rating 2 out of 5]

As promised, this story of things that kids keep in their pockets is sweet and reminiscent of childhood. The illustrations are cute and vintage. But the text is so hard to read, that this would be a hard book to share.

[Elaine Fultz, Teacher Librarian, MLS · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice, but nothing earth shattering. Author's note about women's clothes lacking pockets will hit with adult women, but hopefully modern girls will not have to feel the pain of pocketless existence like we have.

[Johannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love love love the illustrations on this one! I feel like it’s such a perfect encapsulation of the wonder that is collecting little things and sneaking them in your pocket. Would make a really good gift for a friend or new baby!

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

These illustrations are right up my alley. Gorgeous. And what does every girl need? Pockets!

[Rebekah Children's books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who doesn't love pockets.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found in L4L Volume 122.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clothes need pockets.

[wildct2003 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok book, not my cup of tea

[Ophelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

i loved learning about different things that can go in pockets! i want to explore the world too!

[Pinky · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book on the special moments and memories that childhood can hold.