Oliver Button Is a Sissy: Celebrating Individuality in Children's Books

Introduction

Tomie dePaola's children's picture book Oliver Button Is a Sissy is an immensely important work that should be read by as many people as possible, primarily because it celebrates the inherent differences that exist among people. It demonstrates a number of key aspects of diversity that are increasingly relevant in today's ever-stratified society. What is even more important, however, is that it does so in a manner relatively unique among common diversity narratives, which generally address ageism, sexism, classism, racism, or other typically marginalized social groups. Instead, this book celebrates difference at an individual level — one still highly relatable to countless readers — and in doing so, obliterates conventional stereotypes.

Oliver's Individuality and the Rejection of Stereotypes

There are several different ways in which dePaola's tale reveres difference and individuality. Oliver Button is not like other little boys in many respects, most of which concern his conception of enjoyment. He does not like to play ball (dePaola 8). In fact, he does not like to play or socialize with other boys at all (dePaola 8). He prefers to dance rather than roughhouse or engage in activities traditionally considered befitting a young male (dePaola 6–7). He also has a propensity for playing with dolls, a characteristic more commonly associated with girls than boys (dePaola 4), and he is more studious than conventional boys, preferring to draw and read (dePaola 3) rather than play outside or engage in physical activities.

This story is especially significant because the author depicts this atypical boy without having him display any homosexual tendencies. In fact, there are no references to sexuality at all in the manuscript, despite the title of the work. As such, the book shatters stereotypes on multiple fronts. It shows that boys can be different from other boys and still be boys — simply proficient in different areas of life. Oliver shatters the traditional stereotype of what a boy is supposed to act and think like. Despite being routinely teased — even by his own father — and called a sissy, he demonstrates that he is very much not one by forging his own definition of boyhood and achieving proficiency in a relatively unexplored area for little boys: tap dancing.

Oliver eschews many of the conventional trappings of boyhood, such as playing sports, and what the author does with his character is essentially provide a new model of boyhood — one based on individuality and a sensitivity to art and expression that could genuinely assist many young readers. In that respect, dePaola's narrative is worth sharing with younger audiences precisely because it avoids stereotypes and expands the boundaries of what childhood can look like. As a resource on children's literature and gender norms, it remains remarkably relevant.

Early childhood learners should read this book because it will help change traditional conceptions and stereotypes of young male children. When young people grow up encountering such ideas, greater potential exists for the tolerance and inclusion the world needs. This is underscored throughout dePaola's narrative in several ways, ultimately revealing that people of common heritage can be both different and alike. Oliver seems worlds apart from other males in the story; his father and peers all call him a sissy and mock him for not displaying more traditionally masculine qualities. Yet at the end of the story, when everyone sees how well Oliver performs tap dancing at the neighborhood talent show, his father is immensely proud. At school the next day, the sign the other boys had posted calling Oliver a sissy is changed — those same children now celebrate his talent, altering the sign to declare that Oliver is a star.

The Anti-Bullying Message and Its Impact on Young Readers

One of the most important aspects of this story is the message it sends to young readers regarding the consequences of bullying. It is quite clear that bullying is viewed negatively within this tale. The numerous instances of name-calling and other forms of teasing — such as when Oliver's schoolmates take his tap shoes and refuse to return them — clearly depict the little boy's unhappiness as a result. Elizabeth Kennedy's book review on the subject agrees with this point, regarding the anti-bullying message as one of the tale's most valuable: "Children…begin to understand how important it is not to bully others for being different" (Kennedy). The remainder of Kennedy's review focuses on summarizing the plot and commending Oliver for persevering in his own way despite the obstacles he faces.

There are some touchingly poignant moments in this tale related to Oliver's differences that unequivocally reveal what life is like for people branded as something other than ordinary. When Oliver tries not to cry after not winning the talent show, the moment is deeply moving. His reluctance to return to school is highly understandable and painful to witness. His stunning triumph — seeing how his performance changed his peers' perception of him — is therefore all the more powerful. By presenting readers with both sides of Oliver's ordeal, his trials as well as his triumph, the author allows readers to understand what it is truly like to be judged as different from others.

Conclusion

This story certainly encourages children to tolerate one another and to not judge others so harshly for differences that exist between them. The numerous pages in which Oliver is sad and struggles not to cry provide palpable demonstrations of the hardships others must face. It is virtually impossible for a child to read this account and not recognize the ramifications of thoughtless actions directed toward someone simply because they are not the same as everyone else. As scholars of multicultural literature have noted, books that center on individual difference rather than group identity can be among the most effective tools for building empathy in young readers. DePaola deserves the highest praise for composing this charmingly didactic tale, which proves as valuable to children as it does to adults.

Works Cited

dePaola, Tomie. Oliver Button Is a Sissy. New York: Harcourt Books, 1979. Print.

Kennedy, Elizabeth. "Oliver Button Is a Sissy: Overcoming Bullying." About.com. No date. Web.