Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 1-4-The Three Little Pigs (2010) was a vehicle for Guarnaccia to explore architectural styles; in Goldilocks and the Three Bears (2010, both Abrams), he decorated a split-level with famous pieces of modern furniture. Here, the subject is haute couture. A Twiggylike heroine is attended by a miniature fairy godfather-Karl Lagerfeld's doppelganger. The drama reaches its zenith when Cinderella tries on different options for the ball. She chooses a Vivienne Westwood: the "Statue of Liberty Dress" (England, 1988). Part of the fun is looking at the labeled designs on the endpapers and matching them to their appearance within the story (or on the pages of Guarnaccia's other titles). A large, vertical trim size and white backgrounds throughout allow the fashions to pop. Visual humor, found in the appearance of the three stepsisters, especially a spread featuring one enormous foot, lightens the mood. The text is bare bones; it concludes with the brief mention of Cinderella's marriage. The author chooses not to depict a designer wedding dress, much less decide on the fate of Cinderella's horrible family. Thus, other renditions of the story would be more satisfying for connecting to archetypal characters and a more fully realized romance. This title will be appreciated by children and adults who are captivated by the world of fashion and who will find inspiration for creating their own designs.-Wendy Lukehart, District of Columbia Public Library (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Here is a textually straightforward retelling whose stylish pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations somewhat make good on the promise of a "fashion-forward twist." The art contains nods to groundbreaking twentieth- and twenty-first-century designs by the likes of Yves Saint Laurent and Vivienne Westwood, vaguely identified in the endpapers; a picture-book audience is unlikely to appreciate these references, but they'll dig the groovy garb. (c) Copyright 2014. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A crisp, modern take on the oft-told tale: deliciously subversive and visually captivating. Electrolux vacuum in hand, this Twiggy-esque Cinderella is fresh, bright and absolutely unexpected in her patchwork shift (of designer patterns). Here, the confines of fairy-tale dress are shed, and the Perrault story becomes the perfect vehicle to celebrate fashionand the real-life mavericks who redefined beauty in the 20th and 21st centuries. Done in an Art Deco style with pencil, pen and watercolor, the artwork is reminiscent of fashion illustrations, with its exaggerated proportions and use of color and pattern. And Guarnaccia's simple, sophisticated drawings imply a luxuriousness brought to life. Young fashionistas will delight in the fabulous, ponytailed fairy godfather who offers up haute couture designs, as well as the gorgeous endpapers that denote the famous designs found within: Yves St. Laurent, Bally, Christian Dior and more. Chic and sophisticated, a delectable homage to fashion. (Picture book/fairy tale. 4-8)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
