Fashionista: Fashion Your Feelings

by Maxine Beneba Clarke, Maxine Beneba Clarke (Illustrator)

Overview

Crackling with energy and flair, this stylish book from Maxine Beneba Clarke—author of The Patchwork Bike and creator of When We Say Black Lives Matter—is all about the power of self-expression.

Put on your PASSION.
Wear your HEART on your sleeve.

YOU’RE A FASHIONISTA!
Work it. Rock it. BELIEVE.

Sometimes you go for clothes that are comfy-careless or just-blend-in fine. Or maybe you’re in the mood for something more chic-a-bam! Lipstick that shimmers. Knee-high boots for steppin’ out on the town. Fancy-frolic in feathers. Whatever you wear, find something you love and fast-make it your thing. Wear your wardrobe however—chic-a-boom! You’re a fashionista! Alive with bold, vibrant, minimalist illustrations, Maxine Beneba Clarke’s freeform text celebrates the joy of expressing yourself through fashion.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781536223774
Publisher:	Candlewick Press
Publication date:	11/08/2022
Pages:	48
Product dimensions:	7.70(w) x 9.71(h) x 0.43(d)
Age Range:	6 - 9 Years

About the Author

Maxine Beneba Clarke is an award-winning Australian writer and slam poet champion of Afro-Caribbean descent. She is the author of The Patchwork Bike, illustrated by Van Thanh Rudd, which received a Boston Globe–Horn Book Award, and the author-illustrator of the critically acclaimed When We Say Black Lives Matter. Maxine Beneba Clarke’s poetry and short fiction have won several prizes, including an Australian Independent Bookseller Indie Book Award and a Victorian Premier’s Literary Award for Poetry. She lives in Australia.

Editorial Reviews

Clarke creates a runway of fashion-loving folks of various skin tones who rock their styles with verve and vitality, alongside verse that rolls off the tongue and delights the ear. . . . Although the bold-colored backgrounds change from page to page, their singular color makes Clarke’s amazing, unique mixed-media collage illustrations of people—“CHIC-A-BOOM! CHIC-A-BAM!”—pop and announce their presence. . . . . A luminous picture book that exudes joy as it celebrates the freedom to be the one and only you.
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Readers can explore the confidence and joy of fashion and self-expression in this empowering picture book. . . Spirited, enthusiastic text along with minimalist, striking illustrations make this an excellent choice for reading aloud. . . Upbeat and cheerful.
—School Library Journal

From the Publisher

11/01/2022

K-Gr 3—Readers can explore the confidence and joy of fashion and self-expression in this empowering picture book. Clarke defines "fashionista" as someone who "digs fashion" and believes that it's "great fun to dress up, step out, and show off looks they love." Bold, collage-style illustrations depict a variety of individuals donning unique clothing choices, eye-catching hair styles, and brilliant makeup looks. Energetic spreads describe the various moods and days that match each look, such as "dozy days" for pajamas, while "pretty-proud-prancing" calls for hot pink leggings. Clothes can be brand new, handmade, or handed down—whatever makes the wearers feel their best. Spirited, enthusiastic text along with minimalist, striking illustrations make this an excellent choice for reading aloud. Characters are diverse in skin color and age. This title would make an excellent companion to books such as Saadia Faruqi's Yasmin the Fashionista and Deborah Blumenthal's Fancy Party Gowns. VERDICT Upbeat and cheerful, this story is a welcome addition to most collections.—Olivia Gorecke

School Library Journal

★ 2022-09-28
A kaleidoscopic tribute to fashionistas of all colors, shapes, sizes, and ages.

Clarke creates a runway of fashion-loving folks of various skin tones who rock their styles with verve and vitality alongside verse that rolls off the tongue and delights the ear. The characters’ lack of facial features invites readers to imagine who might be wearing each outfit (and how they feel) and suggests that anyone of any background can embrace their bodies as a canvas on which to write their own artistic story. When the narrator chimes: “Be your / BOLD-BIG-SELF, / brave in bright brilliant blue hair: deliciously different, dramatic and daring,” a brown-faced individual with textured, electric blue hair appears in silhouette. Some of the images clearly represent children, like a skirt made of flowers above a pair of brown legs with feet shod in frilly socks and ruby sequined Mary Janes. Others portray more seasoned individuals, like the two elderly, dark-skinned people using canes and wearing neckties, dress shirts, and fedoras with colors that echo the patterns in their clothes. Although the bold-colored backgrounds change from page to page, their singular color makes Clarke’s amazing, unique mixed-media collage illustrations of people—“CHIC-A-BOOM! CHIC-A-BAM!”—pop and announce their presence. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A luminous picture book that exudes joy as it celebrates the freedom to be the one and only you. (Picture book. 4-10)

Kirkus Reviews