KNOW-HOW

It’s amazing what kids can do. Take, for example, this story of a young woman named Victoria who turns discarded, unwanted clothing into lovely, lively, fashionable pieces that are sold to fund a hospice program (Thrift Shop Buried Under 'Rags' Gets Helping Hand). Victoria’s sewing skills and her savvy abilities to transform thrift shop items took root when she was only 10 years old. 
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We see similar know-how in this month’s spotlighted book, NANCY BESS HAD A DRESS.

This lovely book won the Children’s Book Council’s 2025 Librarians' Favorite Award. It also
was a 2024 Foreward INDIES Finalist for Picture Book of the Year. Splendid reviews recommend it as a window into American history and a model for encouraging sustainability and conservation.
 
But here, we’ll look at how this story highlights certain competencies in the social-emotional areas of Self-Awareness, Self-Management, and Responsible Decision-Making.
 
During the Great Depression and World War II, staples such as flour and grain were sold in cotton sacks. When the sacks were empty, women used the fabric to make dresses and other household items. Companies began making the sacks in attractive prints.
 
Nancy’s story starts when she and her mother are purchasing a sack of flour. Nancy chooses a sack with a daisy print. She helps her mother measure out flour and bake. When the sack finally is empty, she helps measure, cut the fabric, and stitch her new dress. Plus, she saves the unused bits of fabric.
 
From this point on, Nancy measures, cuts, stitches, and saves the unused bits each time there is a reason to repurpose the fabric. Additional refrains, “Waste not, want not” and “Nancy Bess knew how to make do” further highlight her initiative, industry and thriftiness.
 
When Nancy outgrows the dress, she makes herself an apron. When the apron tears, she makes herself a satchel. When the satchel’s strap rips, she sews herself a scarf. When the scarf gets stained, she makes herself a belt. When the belt gets tattered, she makes herself a hairbow. When her hair is cut short for the summer, she turns the hairbow into a collar for her puppy.
 
At each step, we see Nancy actively crafting and then using the repurposed items she made. A dress for school and social outings, an apron to protect her clothes while doing chores, a bag for carrying her schoolbooks, and so on.
 
Eventually, all that is left of the flour sack is “the unused bits,” which Nancy has kept in a basket, along with other scraps of fabric. She still can make something useful!
 
Nancy sews the remaining squares into a pretty patchwork quilt to tuck around her new, baby sibling.
 
What social-emotional competencies can we pull from these threads?
 

• Self-Awareness:

Nancy demonstrates self-efficacy, confidence, and purpose.

• Self-Management:

“Self-management” is about much more than managing frustration, stress, and strong emotions. Nancy exemplifies self-motivation, using planning skills, and taking initiative to achieve a goal.

• Responsible Decision-Making:

Nancy makes caring and constructive choices that benefit her family. She promotes family well-being by extending their resources and by crafting a loving gift for her new sibling.
 
Let’s not limit children to shining only through progress in academics, sports, and other such realms. Kids can develop and demonstrate practical know-how. Like Nancy, like Victoria, a child whose know-how is nurtured can reap – and provide - boundless benefits.