Hannah and the Seven Dresses [Hardcover]

Marthe Jocelyn (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up

This sparkling picture-book debut for author-illustrator Marthe Jocelyn features a likable five-year-old heroine with a daily problem that troubles readers of all ages: She can't decide what to wear. Hannah's mother loves to sew, so Hannah has seven of the most beautiful dresses in the world. It's just so hard to choose! With her faithful elephantine companion at her side, Hannah cleverly works out a system-one dress for each day of the week. But when her birthday comes along, she's stuck again. Is any one dress special enough? How about all seven at once?

Readers will love learning colors, days of the week, and problem-solving skills with Hannah and her candy-bright wardrobe. Each tiny button, flouncing petticoat, and miniature wire hanger of the irresistibly detailed collage illustrations will be appreciated by young girls and their mothers. And the silly surprise ending-when Hannah permanently opts for black pants-will bring giggles as well as smiles of recognition and approval!

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Jocelyn's (The Invisible Day) slim story serves primarily as a vehicle to display her simple yet cheerful cloth collage art in a medley of palettes and patterns. Hannah, with her closet full of dresses handmade by her mother, breaks out in a sweat when she has to decide which to wear: "Her face got hot. She shivered all over. Her knees went jiggly and her toes curled under." She decides to assign a specific day of the week to each dress, then models them, one at a time; Jocelyn coordinates wall and floor coverings with each outfit. But readers never see where she goes or what she does in her dresses. At the climax, Hannah's shivers and jiggly knees return when she must choose a dress for her birthday party. When putting all the dresses on at once doesn't work, she finally decides to don pants instead. "And from that minute until now, Hannah has never worn a dress again." With these words, Jocelyn's rather flat tale ends on a puzzling note: The book won't hold much appeal for youngsters who have no interest in wearing dresses, and its conclusion will disappoint those who do. This volume might be all dressed up with nowhere to go. Ages 3-7. (June)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-K-To overcome her difficulty in choosing which of her seven beautiful dresses to wear on a given day, Hannah decides to put on the same dress every Monday, another every Tuesday, etc. When her birthday comes, however, none of them seem quite special enough so she dons them all. Finding it impossible to enjoy her own party in so many layers of clothing, she puts on pants...and never wears a dress again. This book is a mixed effort at best. It might work, in a limited way, as a concept book identifying colors and days of the week. The fabric collages are attractive, and the little toy elephant that is dressed like Hannah is appealing. However, the slight story becomes strained when it veers from the constraints of a straightforward concept book. Hannah's behavior verges on OCD when she must make a decision about what to wear: "...her face got hot. She shivered all over. Her knees went jiggly and her toes curled under." She also has a disconcerting habit of pressing her fists against her eyes until she sees fireworks. Although clothing might be an emotional issue for some children, it seems superficial here. Even though the book has a pleasant decorative verve, it is an unflattering portrait of excess in the '90s. Maybe Hannah would benefit from a reality check and a copy of Eleanor Estes's classic The Hundred Dresses (Harcourt, 1944).
Kate McClelland, Perrot Memorial Library, Greenwich, CT
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Juvenile; 1st edition (June 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0525461132
• ISBN-13: 978-0525461135
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #427,601 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Perfectly charming illustrations, August 11, 2002

By 

Catherine S. Vodrey (East Liverpool, Ohio United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hannah and the Seven Dresses (Hardcover)

Marthe Jocelyn's "Hannah and the Seven Dresses" has perfectly charming illustrations! Hannah is a young girl who has difficulty figuring out what to wear--mostly because her mother, an accomplished seamstress, has made her so many pretty dresses. Hannah soon figures out how to get dressed each morning without having to dither over her dresses, but when her birthday comes along, the problem presents itself anew. Which of her splendid outfits is most fitting for a birthday party?

The story is not nearly as strong as the illustrations, which are superb. Jocelyn has employed all manner of fabrics, beading, trim, and more to create utterly captivating and colorful illustrations which present each dress with loving care and detail. No wonder Hannah has difficulty choosing--each dress is a marvel!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful fun!, February 9, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Hannah and the Seven Dresses (Hardcover)

Along with a delightful story, the reader will find every page a wonder to explore. Collages of fabrics in various textures and designs, with bits and pieces pulled from the sewing basket to accompany them, add enormously to the pleasure of this book. An added treat is the stuffed elephant (not mentioned in the text) that accompanies Hannah throughout the book.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Delightful and Sweet Story for Younger Readers, March 1, 2000

By 

Annie Crowley (Montreal, QC Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hannah and the Seven Dresses (Hardcover)

I was fortunate enough to meet and take a workshop with Ms. Joselyn at the Young Authors Confrence in Montreal in 1998. It was then that I read "Hannah and the Seven Dresses". I found it to be an adorable and lovable story for younger children. I enjoyed it very much even being 12 years old.