Dominique's Thrifted Treasures - by Margarett McBride (Hardcover)

About the Book

Celebrate thrifted treasures and the power of community and family.

Book Synopsis

Celebrate thrifted treasures and the power of community and family.

When Pawpaw moves in, he shows Dominique a whole new meaning of hand-me-down clothes. When Dominique and Pawpaw embark on a trip to the grocery store, Dominique meets the former owner of each quirky, thrifted find and hears a memory associated with the clothing. Their quick trip to the grocery store becomes much more as they also make stops at the barbershop and the local ice cream parlor and, along the way, meet community members who are surprised but pleased to see their previous belongings sported by Dominique.

Dominique's Thrifted Treasures was inspired by members of the author's family and by her friend and showcases the power of community and family. Featuring a nonbinary child who uses they/them pronouns and their grandfather, this warm and joyful story highlights the subtle and sometimes surprising threads that connect us to our neighbors while touching on economic issues faced by low-income and multi-generational households.

A section at the back of the book for children offers a starting point for further discussion and exploration of Dominique's story.

Review Quotes

"A heartwarming story about the memories we keep. Perfect for young and older readers alike, this intergenerational book seamlessly weaves together themes of connection, nostalgia, and the joy of using clues to?connect us to our pasts."--Tonya Abari, author of Locs, Not Dreads; My Hair, My Crown; and other books for children

"Layered with emotion, love, and self-expression, Dominique's Thrifted Treasures is sure to delight young readers as they follow Dominique on their thrifting journey. With a loving intergenerational family and tight-knit community, Dominique will help all children know they deserve to be seen, loved, and accepted for exactly who they are."--Kailei Pew, author of The Monster Above the Bed and other children's books

"Margarett McBride's rhythms and wordplay make Dominique's Thrifted Treasures?a book made to be read aloud, read aloud again, and then shared with others who will want to read it again, too. Genuine voice, lively dialogue, and musical intonations create an experience as rich as Dominique's. The uniqueness and love of the intergenerational characters are grounded in caring family and community, and nuanced messages of lost and found further animate the story."--Susie Wilde, M.Ed., Igniting Writing

"A heartwarming story that celebrates individual and communal identity through hand-me-down clothes, the memories they carry, and the opportunity they provide to make them our own. A beautiful and important book for young readers!"--Gabriella Aldeman, children's book author of Paula's Patches and Squawk of Spanish

"Dominique's Thrifted Treasures is a touching story that explores the beauty of community and shared experiences. Through a seamlessly inclusive narrative, Margarett highlights a kind of magic that exists in the real world--the kind that can only be discovered through true human connection--made even more relatable through the perspective of a child."--Leo Sheng, The L Word: Generation Q actor and advocate

"The love and appreciation for Dominique, shown not only by Pawpaw, but by neighbors and others in this tight-knit community, are palpable in this positive story of clothing, community, and connection."--Mélina Mangal, award-winning author of Jayden's Secret Ingredient and other children's books

About the Author

Margarett McBride, M.A., is a Developmental Psychology Ph.D. candidate who resides in the Dallas-Fort Worth area in Texas but is proudly from Saginaw, Michigan.

Margarett has had several family members impacted by the criminal legal system and uses her work to uplift the experiences of marginalized people. During her undergraduate experience, she cofacilitated arts-based workshops for formerly incarcerated people through the Prison Creative Arts Project in Michigan.

Currently, she is an instructor for an "Introduction to Psychology" college course where she teaches people who are incarcerated through the UNC Correctional Education Program. Through her research, she studies how neighborhood experiences influence Black youth and family well-being and development.

Margarett also loves creating art through her business, Made By Margarett, LLC, volunteering at community festivals, and working with organizations to help them increase a sense of belonging for the community members.

Ryan Middaugh grew up in Independence, Missouri, and now calls Oregon home. He received a BFA in Illustration from the University of Central Missouri and has experience illustrating and designing for the consumer packaging industry. He likes to enjoy the beauty of the Pacific Northwest by bicycling, hiking, camping, and sketching the amazing natural beauty he is surrounded by each day.