Pink.

Britta Santowski is a freelance writer in Victoria, B.C.

This is the story of Vivi, a young girl who is less privileged than her peers. Her father drives a truck and her mother cleans hallways to make ends meet. When Vivi tries to speak to her mother of the things missing in her life—specifically the beautiful pink things that her snooty peers own—her mother cannot listen, busy tending to the need of baby Gabriel. When Vivi tries to speak to her father, he cannot understand why she wants pink things when she already has pink cheeks.

One day, Vivi sees a perfect Pink Doll on display at a very expensive store, My Little Darling, Gifts for the Fortunate Child. Vivi saves and works and saves, all to no avail. In the end, the doll is bought by one of her peers. After the long heartbreaking walk home, her father plays his harmonica, and Vivi dances. He tells her that people can’t have everything they want in life, yet Vivi feels that in that moment, she does. The illustrations throughout the story brilliantly capture the Vivi’s emotions.

This book covers many themes, including peer pressure, wanting the unattainable, and undertaking new actions to reach that goal.

There is a bit of a defeatist tone to this book. More emphasis on problem solving may have borne different results: Vivi uncovers her entrepreneurial spirit in her desire to obtain the doll, and becomes businesslike in her quest. This is good. Now for the range of solutions: Could Vivi have talked with storekeeper directly? Could she have worked at that store? Could she buy the doll elsewhere? Why do Vivi’s entrepreneurial spirit fail her here?

I suppose there is some merit in a child recognizing the wealth of what is, in appreciating the magic of her father’s music, the beauty in her own dance, and the radiance of a pink sky sunset. But to me, that is didactic, coming from an adult who want the child to accept poverty, play with the dust bunnies at her feet, and call them her pets.

This book sets out the following framework: Dream, pursue the dream, and, should you fail, quit. Not recommended.