Miles of style Eunice W. Johnson and the Ebony Fashion Fair

Brathwaite's wonderfully researched picture-book biography introduces elementary audiences to the impressive life and achievements of Eunice W. Johnson, a pioneer of Black fashion and cofounder of EBONY magazine. Young Eunice grew up in a stately home with professional parents who fostered a love of art and beauty in the girl. She channeled this into a passion for sewing, designing clothes first for her dolls and then her family. After attending college, Eunice truly came into her own, creating magazines with her husband that celebrated Black life, culture, and achievements. EBONY magazine allowed Eunice to tap into her love of style through high-quality fashion photography and the EBONY Fashion Fair--cutting-edge, touring fashion shows featuring Black models. Eunice's patience and perseverance shine in her determination to change the face of fashion, even when racism did its best to stymie her. Gaines fills the pages from top to bottom with color, pattern, and texture--well suited to the topic at hand. Detailed back matter includes a lengthy author's note on Eunice Johnson, aptly identifying her as an influencer, and detailed source notes.

This fashion-forward chronicle of the life of entrepreneur Eunice W. Johnson (1916--2010) begins with her Selma, Ala., childhood in an elegant home, where "she grew up believing that beauty and dignity were things everyone should experience." Later, the gifted seamstress designed clothes for her father and won local sewing contests; eventually, alongside her husband, she published Ebony, a magazine "filled with articles... that celebrated Black life, culture, and achievements." In 1958, the Ebony Fashion Fair was established to raise money for a hospital by showing stylish clothing on Black models. Soon, Braithwaite writes, the event becomes a traveling fashion show that continues until 2009, crisscrossing an often inhospitable America and raising tens of millions to benefit varied causes, all under Johnson's direction. From fashion sketches to runway views, Gaines supplies digital illustrations with an elaborate fashion-plate feel. Back matter includes an author's note. Ages 6--11. (Feb.)

Gr 1--5--Eunice Walker Johnson loved fashion. When she was a little girl, she designed clothes for her dolls, and as she got older, she started making clothes for her father. After earning degrees in sociology and social work, she married. She and her husband John, observing that newspapers and magazines didn't show Black people in a favorable light, set out to change that by forming the Johnson Publishing Company. EBONY, named for the precious black-colored wood, was the company's second publication. Johnson shared her long-lasting love of fashion and design in a column called "Fashion Fair." When a friend approached the couple to help fundraise for a local hospital, they had the idea to organize a fashion show. Following that success, more Black organizations reached out, and so the Johnsons jointly created the EBONY Fashion Fair national tour to help raise money for various charities around the country. Readers will find Johnson's journey fascinating. The paragraphs of text make the book more suited for older readers or those who can sit for longer stories. Eye-catching illustrations on each page featuring Black women of various skin tones and body types showcase the many inspiring outfits that made the Fashion Fair tour famous. VERDICT This informative biography will be an excellent addition to Black history collections, the fashion shelves, or any celebration of innovators of the 20th century.--Myiesha Speight

An African American fashion pioneer turned her love of style into a way to help others. Born in 1916, Eunice Johnson (nee Walker), the daughter of a doctor and a school administrator, grew up in an elegant home that reflected her art teacher mother's sense of style. She loved fashion and sewing, but her parents wanted her to attend college. As a student at Loyola University in Chicago, she met a young businessman named John H. Johnson. Once married, they founded a magazine about Black Americans in order to counter negative media depictions of their people. First published in 1945, Ebony quickly became popular. When Eunice was asked to help raise funds for a local hospital by hosting a fashion show, she was able to employ models like those in the magazine. Soon the Ebony Fashion Fair grew, showcasing the work of Black designers, gaining the involvement of top fashion houses, raising millions of dollars for Black charities and scholarships, and promoting the beauty and elegance of African American communities. Brathwaite's account of Eunice Johnson's impact on Black culture is charming and straightforward, and her determination to help her community is palpable throughout. Gaines' digital illustrations are bright and colorful enhancements for the text. A compelling tale of an intriguing subject who left an indelible mark on fashion and culture. (author's note, photos, photo credits, quotation source, author's sources) (Picture-book biography. 8-11) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.