Customer Reviews

Different Like Coco

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Children's non-fiction books have come a long way, not just in style but in subject matter. How great that Candlewick saw fit to publish a picture book biography of, astonishingly, someone the average child is probably unfamiliar with -- a woman who died long before the child was born, from a country not much studied in grade schools, representing a profession hardly mentioned at all: fashion designer. But Elizabeth Matthews, through text and pictures, has made Coco Chanel someone little girls (and open-minded little boys?) can identify with. Chanel's story is a literal rags-to-riches tale, and Matthews' enchanting art work captures her heroine's style and joie de vivre (not to mention chutzpah, to mix linguistic tags) beautifully. The cover image itself could be posted on a little girl's bedroom wall. And underneath, perhaps, the words "Dare to be Different. Like Coco."

As Maurice Chevalier sang, "Thank Heaven for little girls" . . . at least we can thank Heaven for one who grew up with an independent spirit, and an imagination for corset-Less chic. Coco Chanel (1883-1971) said "In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different." The book's end papers reproduce other quotations from this fashion icon, including "Fashion is made to become unfashionable!"

Elizabeth Matthews has written a perfect Springtime fancy, and the pen & ink illustrations are every bit as lively, just right for introducing children & their very willing parents to a story about the little girl Coco who overcame her tough childhood with sewing skills learned in a Catholic orphanage. She could hold her own with snobby students of privilege and learned much by watching her peers. She later hung fabric on mannequin forms and basted in her relaxed styles which brought her fashion immortality.

The author, who graduated from the prestigious Rhode Island School of Design, chose Chanel as her somewhat innovative subject for children's picture books. Matthews is sure to have studied much about Coco Chanel and her clever "inventions" of the cartigan suit, and in 1926 "the little black dress." Reviewer mcHaiku isn't quite as old as the famed Chanel No. 5; it contained more than 80 ingredients, a new fact about 'parfum' for this reader. Chanel epitomizes a certain fortitude & determination that we hope young readers will try to replicate.

Perhaps they will remember another of her sayings: "INNOVATION! One cannot be forever innovating. I want to create CLASSICS."

First time children's book author/illustrator Elizabeth Matthews could haven't chosen a better subject than Coco Chanel. A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design Matthews obviously has an appreciation of Chanel's numerous contributions and reflects that feeling in this charmingly illustrated story of the famed courtier's life.

Orphaned at the age of 12, Chanel and her two sisters were relegated to an orphanage. It was a mixed blessing because it was there that Chanel learned to sew. She had a lively imagination and often dreamed of being with a family again and being accepted by a society that now ignored her because she had no position, no funds.

Later, at the age of 18 she was dispatched as a charity case to Notre Dame, a finishing school. There the difference between rich and poor was more marked than ever so Chanel learned how to emulate the wealthy - she studied their manners, and the way they walked.

Upon leaving Notre Dame Chanel found work at a tailoring shop. Even then she was determined to better herself. Obviously, she couldn't afford to dress the way the rich women did, the ones she wanted to accept her. So, she made a life altering decision - she would deliberately be different. She made her own dresses, very unlike the corseted gowns the wealthy ladies wore. She carried this off with style and a touch of arrogance.

When a wealthy young man fell in love with her he bought her a small shop in Paris - the rest is fashion history.

"Different Like Coco" is not only an entertaining story for young readers but is also an example of how someone can "embrace their uniqueness and dream big."

- Gail Cooke

As a policy I don't give book 5 stars unless they knock me down with their excellence, but this book is great - definitely worthy of purchase.

This is a wonderfully inspirational book for children. I saw it years ago, didn't buy it, but I kept thinking about until I finally bought it recently for my daughters. They love it! It sends very positive messages about being independent, creative, and resourceful.

The primary weakness of the book is its focus on the word "different." What comes out of the biography is Chanel's determination, drive, personal power, and creativity - characteristics that helped her follow her own mind and become "different" as a consequence. Too often in kid's literature and other media, children are exhorted to be "different" and "express themselves" without thinking about what they're doing, and they end up as conformists. Chanel was a thinker, and that made her different from all the other "different" people. By focusing on the word "different", the book sells itself a little short.

Some aspects of Coco Chanel's life during WWII are considered morally questionable, but they've been left out of this book to render a narrative appropriate for children. This is fine for the age group it's targeted for, and the simple story in this book is most effective.

Different Like Coco is a delightful biography of Coco Chanel, the famous fashion designer. The book traces Chanel's life from birth, through the death of her mother when Coco was twelve. Coco had to move to an orphanage, where she learned to sew. Women were only allowed a few jobs in the early 1900s, and luckily for Chanel, tailoring was one of them. She began making her own clothes. While this book tells the inspiring tale of Coco Chanel, who surpassed many obstacles because of her gender and financial status, the overarching theme of the book is that Coco Chanel was always different, and people always liked her. In addition to being a good biography, it's also covers history, including World War I, nicely. Although it deals with some difficult topics quite honestly, Matthews manages to maintain a hopeful theme. There is enough history included to attract older readers as well. I imagine this book is best suited for independent readers, although it would fit nicely in a World War I unit, as it presents a unique perspective on wartime life.

This is an adorable book for any little girl or boy who loves fashion. A great story with wonderful illustrations!

This is a short biography of Coco's life. It is not for kids. It is not cute or child friendly. The only thing about it that would be interesting for a child are the pictures but all in all it could have been done better. There are many other fashion based children's books that tell a better story and are really for children. If you are buying this for another adult it is not written well enough to be fun. I was sad I could not like it more.

As a long time Chanel fan, I got this book for my 9 year old niece and she loved it! Even though she is only 9, she enjoyed the story line of a little orphan girl who ended up being rich and famous. At first I thought the book would be to difficult for her to follow, but it really wasn't. It told Coco's life story very appropriately for girls her age. The illustrations on this book are really cute! I know that one day my niece will one day love everything Chanel just like the women in her family!

What an insidious little work this is! While trying to convince the reading public (mostly young girls, I suspect) that Coco was "unique" and "beautiful", all sorts of negative body image messages are foisted on the reader. Note, for example, five pages from the end, which reads:

"Women no longer wanted just to dress like Coco - they wanted to be just like Coco. Her distinctive beauty lay in an attitude, something that even the richest of socialites couldn't buy."

This is written next to a drawing of Coco, looking chic and svelte; standing next to her is a large woman wearing the same outfit and hairdo as Coco, looking decidedly grotesque and frumpy. The underlying message? Beauty standards are decidedly narrow - and thin.

But the best part of the book - the message I think our daughters need to hear loud and clear - is the cutesy little drawing of the young Coco on the back cover. What is she doing? Stuffing her bra.

So much for the woman who banned the corset, only to add toilet paper to her bustline. Again, what a fine message to share with the youth.

This book should be consigned to the flames. I am sure that a book could be made to tell an endearing story for young people about fashion and about Coco - without promoting such negative body images and stereotypes.

Unfortunately, this book is not it.

Elizabeth Matthews, Different Like Coco (Candlewick Press, 2007)

Different Like Coco is a perfect book to illustrate one of the dead horses I am constantly beating, though I didn't realize it when I first put the book on the to-be-read list. The point? That message books are, with exceptions so few they don't matter in the greater scheme of things, infinitely inferior to books written with no overarching message in mind. Matthews wanted to make sure she got the point across that Coco Chanel excelled because she was different. Which is certainly a valid point to make, but mentioning that she was different and then just getting on with the story-- especially in a children's book, with so little room for text-- would probably have been a better approach. Instead, we get told she was different. And then told again. And again. Really, didn't the book's title get the point across well enough? Not for Matthews, I guess. What could have been an interesting and engaging biography comes off as heavy-handed and unsure of itself. **