Fashionista

November 1, 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

Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 1, 2022
Grades 2-5 This is an infectious celebration of fashion and individual style. Lyrical lines twist, twirl, and strut across pages, and collage figures in hues of black, brown, beige, and pink show off all kinds of creative hip-hop-inspired outfits. Be it ruffles or boots, homemade, hand-me-down, or brand new, readers are encouraged to "Put on your passion. Wear your heart on your sleeve . . . / Work it. Rock it. Believe." The androgynous models, who have full figures and lifelike shapes, are shown in dynamic stances, dancing, jumping, striking poses, preening. All figures have featureless faces, making it easier for readers to imagine themselves stepping out. There are references to hairstyles, shoes, socks, and makeup: "Low down loan Mama's lipstick. / Let it shimmery--shine; sparkly special, and delightfully divine." Of course, there's also recognition that "Some dozy days are who-cares-what-you-wear. / You stay lazy in pajamas and don't comb your hair." This happy message about being yourself goes down nice and easy, and the vibrant illustrations are sure to attract browsers.

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Starred review from October 15, 2022
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)

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June 6, 2019
The ever-versatile Maxine Beneba Clarke has worked within a number of genres (nonfiction, fiction, poetry, essays and children’s books) and now she is back with another picture book. The point of difference is that this is the first one she has both written and illustrated. Fashionista is for anyone who’s ever played around with clothes (so really, it’s for big and little kids). It’s about the beauty of self-expression: it’s not so much about what you wear but how you wear it. Clarke admits that there are days when we all just laze around in PJs with unbrushed hair (‘Can’t-be-bothered, comfy-careless’) but on other days, ‘Chic-a-bam! You’re the fashion KING!’ The pictures are a montage of textured cut-outs: of different colours, fabrics and patterns affixed to watercolour pencil drawings. There’s a joyous, frenzied effect in Fashionista; the young characters dance about in every which way, with their wardrobes a riot of styles (new, old and second-hand). It’s very much a celebratory song: telling kids it’s fine to wear whatever you feel like, to stand brave and to mix and match as your mood tells you. Raiding the dress-up box is almost guaranteed after a reading of this book.

Thuy On is a freelance arts journalist and reviewer, and the books editor of the Big Issue