With no notes or sources of any kind, the book is unsuitable as biography, but as a picture book, it is utterly endearing.
A picture-book look at one of fashion’s most iconic designers.
First published in the Netherlands in 2013, this playful sketch of Coco Chanel treats pre-readers to a revealing glimpse of the designer’s early life. Born to humble origins, Coco grows up in an orphanage, sent there by her father when her mother died prematurely. There, under the strict tutelage of nuns, Coco learns needlework even before reaching her teens. Young Coco soon finds that her talents as a seamstress and singer gain her entree into high society, where, van Haeringen suggests, observing the rich inspires her. “So this is what rich people do!” Coco notes: “They go to parties, to the races, and to the beach. But look at their clothes…those hats!” Coco’s response is to create jodhpurs for women, and she makes her first splash into fashion by designing hats. As her passion for creating fine clothing turns into a vocation, Chanel loosens the stays of the Edwardian corset and aims for more practical designs, like crushable hats and the eponymous—now ubiquitous—little black dress. Van Haeringen’s spare mixed-media illustrations throughout this tiny tribute are as alluring as her subject’s timeless designs, capturing the eye with fine pen and ink detail, stark colors, warm watercolor shading, and Bemelmans-like playfulness.
With no notes or sources of any kind, the book is unsuitable as biography, but as a picture book, it is utterly endearing. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-7358-4239-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: NorthSouth
Review Posted Online: July 14, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2015
Nice enough but not worth repeat reads.
Emma deals with jitters before playing the guitar in the school talent show.
Pop musician Kevin Jonas and his wife, Danielle, put performance at the center of their picture-book debut. When Emma is intimidated by her very talented friends, the encouragement of her younger sister, Bella, and the support of her family help her to shine her own light. The story is straightforward and the moral familiar: Draw strength from your family and within to overcome your fears. Employing the performance-anxiety trope that’s been written many times over, the book plods along predictably—there’s nothing really new or surprising here. Dawson’s full-color digital illustrations center a White-presenting family along with Emma’s three friends of color: Jamila has tanned skin and wears a hijab; Wendy has dark brown skin and Afro puffs; and Luis has medium brown skin. Emma’s expressive eyes and face are the real draw of the artwork—from worry to embarrassment to joy, it’s clear what she’s feeling. A standout double-page spread depicts Emma’s talent show performance, with a rainbow swirl of music erupting from an amp and Emma rocking a glam outfit and electric guitar. Overall, the book reads pretty plainly, buoyed largely by the artwork. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Nice enough but not worth repeat reads. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: March 29, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-593-35207-6
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Razorbill/Penguin
Review Posted Online: Feb. 8, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
A good bet for the youngest bird-watchers.
Echoing the meter of “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” Ward uses catchy original rhymes to describe the variety of nests birds create.
Each sweet stanza is complemented by a factual, engaging description of the nesting habits of each bird. Some of the notes are intriguing, such as the fact that the hummingbird uses flexible spider web to construct its cup-shaped nest so the nest will stretch as the chicks grow. An especially endearing nesting behavior is that of the emperor penguin, who, with unbelievable patience, incubates the egg between his tummy and his feet for up to 60 days. The author clearly feels a mission to impart her extensive knowledge of birds and bird behavior to the very young, and she’s found an appealing and attractive way to accomplish this. The simple rhymes on the left page of each spread, written from the young bird’s perspective, will appeal to younger children, and the notes on the right-hand page of each spread provide more complex factual information that will help parents answer further questions and satisfy the curiosity of older children. Jenkins’ accomplished collage illustrations of common bird species—woodpecker, hummingbird, cowbird, emperor penguin, eagle, owl, wren—as well as exotics, such as flamingoes and hornbills, are characteristically naturalistic and accurate in detail.
A good bet for the youngest bird-watchers. (author’s note, further resources) (Informational picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 18, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-4424-2116-5
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Jan. 3, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2014
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