Rewind to 1974: The Dow was around 600, polyester was far too prevalent and Vogue featured Beverly Johnson on the cover. It was also the year actress Marlo Thomas released the kids’ cult classic Free to Be…You and Me, a book (the record actually preceded it) celebrating diversity and challenging stereotypes about gender, class and race.
How timely that the book’s 35th anniversary edition hit shelves as Obama gets ready to take up residence at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Free to Be has all your old faves — “Boy Meets Girl,” “William’s Doll” and Shel Silverstein’s “Ladies First” — plus selections from new contributors, including Tony DiTerlizzi of The Spiderwick Chronicles. A new CD and whimsical illustrations are also part of the makeover. Plus, all book proceeds go to the Free to Be Foundation, a subsidiary of the Ms. Foundation for Women, which benefits children and families.
Sometimes even the classics need a facelift.
Visit freetobefoundation.org.
