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Marlo Thomas is an actress and a feminist who helped to establish the Ms. Foundation in the early 70s. This organization believes in equality regardless gender and sexual orientation (OFSA emphasis added). Thomas wrote this book as radical feminism carried over from the 1960’s into the 1970’s. Shortly thereafter, during the women’s conservative movement in the 1980’s, Thomas wrote another Free to Be book listed on our site – Free to Be a Family – which is a book for “everyone,” including gays.

“It is a book of humor – but the laugh is on old constraints and worn-out conventions …several pieces in this book challenge stereotypes that have imprisoned children’s imaginations, stunted their emotional development and restricted the games, toys and people they play with (12).”

“Williams Doll” (78-79)

When my friend William was five years old He wanted a doll to hug and hold.
“A doll,” said William, “is what I need to wash and clean and dress and feed;
A doll to give a bottle to And put to bed when day is through;
And any time my doll gets ill, I’ll take good care of it,” said my friend Bill.
“A doll! A doll! William wants a doll!”

So William’s grandma as I’ve been told, bought William a doll to hug and hold. And William’s father began to frown
But grandma smiled and calmed him down, explaining:
“William wants a doll…”
William has a doll! William has a doll!
‘cause some day he may want to be a father too.

“The Field” (96-98)

The field lay just between the Kingdoms of Aura and Ghent. Both kings claimed the field…the people of both countries began to say ugly things about each other…two armies gathered…the battle began…there was the sound of screaming when soldiers were hurt or frightened…soldiers were starting to shoot at each other again…[fired a cannon and hit a bird’s nest]…soldier put his shotgun down…took off his iron gray helmet…filled it with grass…commanding officer came by and saw one of his soldiers sitting down.

‘Come on soldier, let’s go…’ The young man, carrying his helmet, reached for his gun and started forward… ‘Put your helmet on,’ the officer shouted…the soldier looked down at the eggs. ‘I can’t sir’… ‘There’s no such thing as can’t in this man’s army,’ yelled the officer…The soldier put down his gun. ‘I think,’ [the soldier said], ‘I think I’m going home now sir.’ …holding his helmet…[he] turned around and walked off the field…[3 eggs hatch]…the soldier smiled.