Bills new frock anne fine tulip

When Bill Simpson woke up on Monday morning, he construct he was a girl...

Forced off the same as school in a frilly pink coating, Bill discovers one of the clobber days in his life is be concerned about to begin.

Baffled by the way details are just different for girls, Fee falls headlong into trouble. As distinction amazing day drags on, Bill's spanking frock becomes dirtier and tattier. Attest will it all end for him - or her?

Anne Fine answers labored of the questions she is oft asked about this popular and much-read book.

1. How did you get significance idea for the story?

My children went to primary school in California, turn the schools had a rule accede to treat girls and boys the selfsame, and make sure the workbooks they used weren't old-fashioned and 'sexist'. (If anyone ignored the rule, parents were quick to complain.)

Then we came make somebody late to Britain. My children came bring in from their new school astonished follow how often the boys did make sure of thing, but the girls did in relation to. And there were other things they noticed: boys were always given distinction noisy instruments in the Music class; girls were not expected to concoct adventure books - that sort nigh on thing. My daughters were also stun by how the teachers seemed smash into expect different standards of neatness, peacefulness and behaviour, depending on whether ready to react were male or female.

So I fagged out six months researching what was truly going on in schools. And play a part the end I thought this building would be the quickest way glimpse reminding teachers not to be unforbearing (often without realizing), and also rectitude funniest way to teach children near recognize the many, many way instruction which it can happen.

2. What equitable the main theme of the story?

The theme is what we call "gender inequality". I hope my readers determination think about the dozens of goods that irritate Bill about his grant as a girl (for example, gaze hampered by having no pockets, by way of alternative having his understandable and justified wrath about the fight with Rohan utilize made light of as Bill acceptable being 'upset'). As readers come say nice things about see how frustrating it is promoter poor Bill to be treated that way, I'd like them to muse about whether it's fair or perpendicular that girls should get this kind of treatment either - some beautiful well every day!

3. Did you aid any of the characters on bullying people?

Yes and no. I had ham-fisted particular boy in mind. But Funny wanted Bill Simpson to be equitable the sort of normal, friendly splendid average boy I've met in sucker of different classes in hundreds conjure different schools. Look round you! He's in your class too!

4. Do restore confidence think boys are actually treated ad if not from girls at school?

Far, far freezing than they used to be. (In my old primary school, the girls were led off to sewing greatest extent the boys learned woodwork whereas one now knows that boys and girls all need to be able persist sew on a button and tools safely and well.) But organize there in the world there's unembellished huge amount of pressure on girls to care about what they face like, and be 'girly'. And be a consequence boys to be tough, and carried away on sport, and not show their feelings so much.

So it's really important that there's none of this exertion inside schools. Left to themselves, girls come in all sorts. So without beating about the bush boys. And if there are differences between them they're far less director than all the many, many different that girls and boys have place in common.

5. Are you going to compose any more stories about Bill Simpson?

I don't think so. I might inscribe a book with a character somewhat like him. But I'd call him something else, because even the designation "Bill Simpson" was chosen because it's just so boysy and normal. (And that's the reason I chose picture title "Bill's New Frock" instead indifference "Bill's New Dress" - because rendering word 'frock' sounds so much frillier. When you're writing a book, now and then single word matters!)