Little Miss Stoneybrook...and Dawn
by Ann M. Martin · · 1988
When Stoneybrook hosts a local children's beauty contest, Dawn Schafer and her fellow babysitters find themselves helping manage excited young contestants and strained family dynamics. As jealousy and vanity surface among the children preparing for the event, Dawn begins to question whether judging young girls on their outward appearance causes more harm than good. Ultimately, the experience leads the sitters and their charges to recognize that inner character and kindness matter far more than winning a crown.
- Age range
- Ages 10–14
- Category
- Middle Grade Reads
- ISBN
worldview score
Content ratings
0 means absent, 5 means heavy and central.
Parent notes
This middle-grade story uses a town children's pageant to explore how focus on appearance can spark sibling comparison and personal envy. While presented from a secular worldview, the narrative aligns well with conversations about finding personal worth in inner character rather than external recognition.
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Discussion questions
- 1How were the jealous actions or tantrums of the young pageant contestants handled by Dawn and the sitters, and did the resolutions feel fair to everyone involved?
- 2What assumptions does the story make about what gives a person real worth, and how does that contrast with how God values individuals in Scripture?
- 3Which contestant or sibling seemed the most overlooked during the event preparations, and what helped you understand their loneliness?
- 4When Dawn grew tired of the frantic contest environment, what kept her focused on caring well for the children through the end of the event?
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