(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Merrilee Liddiard . Twelve-year-old Cove, lonesome after best friend Nina moves from Martha's Vineyard to NYC with her dads, makes three new friends. One, an elder-home resident, teaches Cove to sew. In hopes of visiting Nina, Cove determines to win a spot on a Project Runway–like show. Blecher's characters are well rounded, and her sense of place--including the vacation destination's socioeconomic disparities--effectively conveyed. Occasional sketches (ostensibly by Nina) are interspersed.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2019

(3) YA California girl Kimi is visiting her grandparents in Japan over spring break. On the trip, she learns more about her family, discovers a direction for her future--and finds romance with a guy who wears a mochi costume. Although readers will recognize Kimi's passion--fashion--long before she does, they'll be drawn in by the setting and Kimi's enthusiastic narration.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Lorian Tu-Dean. Common fashion maxims are spun into rhyming messages of empowerment emphasized by mixed-media illustrations of girls playing joyously while they explore different potential occupations. "You can be brave dressed in reds or in blues," reads the text while the pictured girls pretend to be a firefighter and a police officer. A clever and original take on the ubiquitous girls-can-be-anything picture book.

Reviewer: Erica Wetter

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Masha D'yans. "Pictures were his words, fashion his language." Blumenthal's quote-filled tribute to New York Times street-fashion photographer Bill Cunningham focuses on his approach. D'yans's vibrant watercolors catwalk across each page, emphasizing the patterns, palettes, and shapes of the clothing that so enamored Cunningham; the man himself is fittingly pictured where he most liked to be: behind the camera. An author's note provides more straightforward biographical information. Bib.

Reviewer: Erica Wetter

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Derek Desierto. When Juno looks for her own missing shoes, she finds a magical realm where she can wear the shoes of influential women such as Serena Williams, Jane Goodall, Lady Gaga, and Misty Copeland. This lighthearted story provides exuberant glimpses into the style and accomplishments of some famous women. Desierto's bold mixed-media illustrations offer fun and fashion in equal measure. Includes a guide to the women (and their shoes).

Reviewer: Mariko Turk

(2) YA In the fantastical courtly society of Orléans, everyone is born ugly--except for the innately lovely Belles, who also have the supernatural ability to manipulate others' appearance. Camille, the queen's Favorite Belle, moves into the palace to provide beauty services to royals and aristocrats. Clayton vividly describes her world's dazzling fashion and lavish galas in the midst of profound racism/colorism, indentured servitude, and distorted body image.

Reviewer: Katie Bircher | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2018

(3) YA From ancient cleanliness customs to corsets to Victoria's Secret, this well-documented survey takes a feminist look at the whys and hows of ladies' lingerie. The historical narrative investigates the development of corsets, bras, and other undergarments from the point of view of cultural phenomena and evolving attitudes toward the female figure, including current ideas about gender. Reading list, websites. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Julie Morstad. An imagined first-person voice, dotted with (sourced) quotations, introduces flamboyant Italian fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli. Beginning with her parents' harsh treatment of her, the narrative reveals a creative woman determined to leave a designing legacy with inventive, playful looks. The watercolor, gouache, and pencil-crayon illustrations depict how a dreary childhood "bloomed" into a color-filled life. An appended note says more about Schiaparelli's accomplishments. Reading list. Bib.

Reviewer: Christina Dorr

(3) 4-6 The trajectory of the French fashion designer's life and successful career is outlined in a well-researched, highly readable biography. Rubin addresses the darker parts of Chanel's history--her childhood in an orphanage, her relationship with a Nazi intelligence officer--as well as her iconic industry "firsts," including women's suits and the little black dress. The elegantly designed volume includes plenty of photographs. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(4) YA Frankie has gotten into trouble one too many times, and now her life has become a cliché: she's being sent to military school. The classes are challenging, the physical training is preposterous, and there's almost no time for her true passion of fashion blogging. Unsurprisingly, Frankie marches on and finds her inner strength (as well as a gorgeous guy) in this predictable yet entertaining chick-lit novel.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay

(1) YA Prince Sebastian hires young seamstress Frances as his personal clothier; some days he feels comfortable identifying as male, but others he prefers his dress-wearing alter ego, socialite Lady Crystallia. The teens struggle to keep Sebastian's secret, resist stifling expectations, and sort out their feelings for each other. The graphic novel's illustrations balance the finery of clothing and setting with relatable, endearing protagonists. Dynamic panel shapes and sizes accentuate the emotions of each scene.

Reviewer: Katie Bircher | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2018

(3) 4-6 Create with Duct Tape series. Each volume begins with a cursory overview of the habitat and its respective food chain. The following six related modeling and craft projects explore habitat features such as the rainforest water cycle (by making a "self-watering" terrarium). Not all the projects are especially informative (e.g., "chimp tools" made from pretzel rods), but overall the books could provide good fun for nature lovers. Glos. Review covers these Awesome Super Simple Habitat Projects titles: Super Simple Backyard Projects, Super Simple Farm Projects, Super Simple Grassland Projects, Super Simple Ocean Projects, Super Simple Rain Forest Projects, and Super Simple Wetland Projects.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Laura Freeman. African American designer Ann Cole Lowe learned dressmaking from her mother and grandmother. She eventually designed for some of America's most powerful families (including making Jacqueline Bouvier's now-famous wedding dress). Freeman fills the pages with vivacious patterns and saturated colors. Audiences will take pleasure both in the vibrancy of the dresses and in the dedication of the couture artist who created them. Reading list.

Reviewer: Eboni Njoku | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2017

(4) YA This coffee-table theme book covers the fashion, art, and culture of sneakers through the eyes of dozens of fashion professionals, athletes, and more, many of whom are not widely known to the general public. Abundant color photos and graphics accompany the narratives in a chaotic but stylish scrapbook-like design. For a niche group of teen readers, here's everything one would want to know about sneaks.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) K-3 With unrelenting fidelity to its gimmick and a determined deadpan, this field guide catalogs animals in assorted attire. The delightful illustrations are ostensibly from the public domain, though the text does not reveal its sources, instead maintaining that these animals occur in nature. Typos and grammatical errors mar the effect, but the book is well made, and its quirkiness will likely appeal to someone.

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin

(4) 4-6 Gateway Biographies series. While staying politically neutral, this adulatory look at the current first daughter's life, upbringing, views, and ambitions under the shadow of her father (before, during, and after his presidential campaign) will leave readers with a positive personal impression of the real-estate and fashion businesswoman. Photographs accompany a wordy text on bland page layouts. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(3) 4-6 Checkerboard Library: 1st in Fashion series. Using a conversational tone, this engaging biography series discusses the life of each designer, his or her creative contribution within social history, and the evolution of the style to modern day. Additional facts appear at the bottom of pages as well as in "Fashion Factoid" sidebars throughout. Captioned photographs, a large font, and bright colors add appeal to the layouts. Timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard Library: 1st in Fashion titles: Chuck Taylor: Sneaker Sensation, Eddie Bauer: Down Jacket Developer, Louis Réard: Bikini Designer, Mary Quant: Miniskirt Maker, Sam Foster: Sunglasses Success, and Levi Strauss: Blue Jean Genius.

Reviewer: Christina Dorr

(3) 4-6 Checkerboard Library: 1st in Fashion series. Using a conversational tone, this engaging biography series discusses the life of each designer, his or her creative contribution within social history, and the evolution of the style to modern day. Additional facts appear at the bottom of pages as well as in "Fashion Factoid" sidebars throughout. Captioned photographs, a large font, and bright colors add appeal to the layouts. Timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard Library: 1st in Fashion titles: Chuck Taylor: Sneaker Sensation, Eddie Bauer: Down Jacket Developer, Louis Réard: Bikini Designer, Mary Quant: Miniskirt Maker, Sam Foster: Sunglasses Success, and Levi Strauss: Blue Jean Genius.

Reviewer: Christina Dorr

(3) 4-6 Checkerboard Library: 1st in Fashion series. Using a conversational tone, this engaging biography series discusses the life of each designer, his or her creative contribution within social history, and the evolution of the style to modern day. Additional facts appear at the bottom of pages as well as in "Fashion Factoid" sidebars throughout. Captioned photographs, a large font, and bright colors add appeal to the layouts. Timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard Library: 1st in Fashion titles: Chuck Taylor: Sneaker Sensation, Eddie Bauer: Down Jacket Developer, Louis Réard: Bikini Designer, Mary Quant: Miniskirt Maker, Sam Foster: Sunglasses Success, and Levi Strauss: Blue Jean Genius.

Reviewer: Christina Dorr

(3) 4-6 Checkerboard Library: 1st in Fashion series. Using a conversational tone, this engaging biography series discusses the life of each designer, his or her creative contribution within social history, and the evolution of the style to modern day. Additional facts appear at the bottom of pages as well as in "Fashion Factoid" sidebars throughout. Captioned photographs, a large font, and bright colors add appeal to the layouts. Timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard Library: 1st in Fashion titles: Chuck Taylor: Sneaker Sensation, Eddie Bauer: Down Jacket Developer, Louis Réard: Bikini Designer, Mary Quant: Miniskirt Maker, Sam Foster: Sunglasses Success, and Levi Strauss: Blue Jean Genius.

Reviewer: Christina Dorr