When I came across Happy Birthday Madame Chapeau in a list of kids book suggestions in the Sydney Morning Herald late last year, I knew that I had to read it, so fishpond was soon delivering it to my door. Paris, hats, birthdays what could be better?
Madame Chapeau is the "worlds finest hatmaker". Naturally her atelier is in Paris.
She makes "brilliantly singular" hats for her customers.
But Madame Chapeau is lonely, despite her success. Each night she dines alone.
I love that Andrea Beaty has drawn her inspiration from the real world of fashion. Madame Chapeau is Isabella Blow reincarnated (who always reminded me of Louise Brooks), and her hats form a veritable history of hats. From design classics such as Elsa Schiaparelli's Shoe Hat, Charlie Chaplin's Derby to that rather disastrous toilet seat that Princess Beatrice wore to the most recent royal wedding.
Madame Chapeau is a sweet picture book for the fashionable young girl.
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5 comments:
Gosh, I think some little boys would find it funny as well. Sweeet! I love your interest in children's literature; do you know anything about the publication process? I've got a children's Halloween book manuscript mostly written but wonder what publishers to send it to:)
This looks utterly charming!
Some boys may enjoy it, but I know it would have been a hard sell with my son to get him interested in it. Sadly I have absolutely no knowledge of the publication process. How fabulous that you have nearly finished a book! Good luck to you with it. Actually do you have writers centres near you? I imagine you would- they often can help polish manuscripts and have advice on publication.
Louise, I love the drawings here and the story sound terrific too. I think when my kids were little they weren't so focused on boy books or girl books; they loved them all. Thanks for playing along.
Thanks for the tip, Louise. That's a good idea; there's a children's writers and illustrators association around here somewhere. I'll just have to work up my courage to make contact!
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