Mad About Plaid [Hardcover]

Jill McElmurry (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 5, 2000 | Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

Madison Pratt is delighted to find a lonely plaid purse in the park one afternoon. Then the purse's mad curse causes Madison--and her whole neighborhood--to turn plaid! Will Madison's spunk and optimism help to reverse the curse before it's too late? Filled with vivid colors and rich textures that enhance the story's humor, Jill McElmurry's first picture book is just as bright and creative as her irresistible heroine.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2-A madcap romp through a textile-filled landscape. Young Madison Pratt's adventure begins when she finds a lonely plaid purse left in the park. After picking it up, she is infected with a kind of plaid virus comparable to the heroine's dilemma in David Shannon's A Bad Case of Stripes (Blue Sky, 1998). Even after she drops the purse, the bold red plaid spreads everywhere on her body until she is even shedding plaid tears. Her mother, who is a nurse, diagnoses the "Plaid Curse" and attempts futilely to control the contagion. Soon the entire town is covered in all types of plaid. This catastrophe spurs Madison to action and she retrieves the purse in the park where she promptly turns it inside out. The sad, blue shade of its lining alters the protagonist and her surroundings from plaid to the expected melancholy tone. However, the situation is soon made right when the resourceful girl sings a silly tune sure to "cure the blues." Reminiscent of the work of Maira Kalman, the illustrations reflect the humor and whimsy of the playful rhyming text. The slightly retro-looking characters, buildings, and artifacts are placed against plaid and other colorful backgrounds. Innovative and delightful, this tale may just cause a new fashion sensation.
Rosalyn Pierini, San Luis Obispo City-County Library, CA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Madison Pratt finds a little plaid purse in the park, a discovery she is happy about until the purse's plaid pattern germ begins to spread--to Madison's coat and hat and underpants, then changing everything it touches. When Madison guesses the "antidote" (the purse's lining is "a sad shade of blue"), the town turns blue. Happily, Madison is an expert at getting rid of the blues. In the end, the purse coordinates with Madison, who acknowledges that colors--even plaids--sometimes fit her mood. The text frequently but inconsistently rhymes, which is confusing. Observant children may also spot some lapses in logic--for the most part, people's skins don't change color, though Madison can be seen trying to scrub off her plaid. Yet even with such problems, the book might fit nicely into a story hour centered on color and mood that also includes David Shannon's A Bad Case of Stripes (1998) and Dr. Seuss' My Many-Colored Days (1996). Catherine Andronik

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins; 1st edition (April 5, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688169511
• ISBN-13: 978-0688169510
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 9.1 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,326,941 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jill McElmurry was born in Los Angeles, CA into a family of artists and musicians. She grew up in Taos, NM and went to art school in New York. She has lived in the mountains, by the sea, in the desert, in cities, and in the country. Once upon a time, Jill and her partner fixed up and ran an old hotel/cafe/bar. It was a lot of work but also a lot of fun. Now, they live with their dogs on Higglety Pigglety Farm in Albuquerque where they have five apple trees, four peach trees, two pear trees, one fig tree, and a whole lot of cacti.
Find out more at jillmcelmurry.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Kids Will Love It!, June 17, 2000

By 

Frank Murphy - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mad About Plaid (Hardcover)

My second grade class loved this one! Super illustrations and great text (rhyming). Fun fun fun! You'll be reading and rereading this to your kids!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars fantastic!, April 10, 2000

By 

Tiffany R. (San Francisco, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mad About Plaid (Hardcover)

I thoughly enjoyed reading this book. It is a whimsical tale, perfect for a young child. The illistrations are charming and full of meticulous detail. This would be a perfect choice to read with a young child on a rainy, or as a bedtime story. This would be a wonderful choice for grandmothers and great-grandmothers to read or give to their grand children! I give it five stars :-)

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Glad About Plaid!, August 18, 2000

By 

A Fan With A Plaid Thermos (Los Angeles, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mad About Plaid (Hardcover)

I have always been a big fan of the funny little details in children's books. Ms.McElmurry has definately satisfied this for me.I love the part when Madison is sitting on her "sterilized" couch after the assault and has her little "sterile" booties and mittens on and eating lo-plaid snacks! It's so adorable to look at over and over. And needless to say, her story is so imaginative with a mix of light and dark that I like too. Oh, and be sure to read all the signs on the stores when the town catches the germ they are very funny too. Great work Jill!