Matchy Matchy

PreS-Gr 1–Maria’s mom loves everything to match, but Maria longs to mix things up. The living room is a study in chintz. The bathroom is coated with sunflowers, even down to the kitschy toilet paper. Worst of all, Maria matches. On her way to school, her rainbow-themed barrettes match her dress, lunch box, and backpack. Heading to the pool, her whale-themed flippers match her arm floats. Her fluffy white dog even wears coordinating bandannas and bows! Maria finally hits her breaking point and stages a protest (including a manifesto). Seeking to convince her mom that clothes don’t always need to match, Maria creates a wonderful collage showcasing the brilliant variety of styles, silhouettes, colors, and textures found in apparel. Putting on a fashion show featuring everything from a feathered-hat to a vintage crocheted cape, Maria soon has her mother abandoning themes and embracing unexpected combinations. Maria has a big, funny personality that pops off the page. The illustrations cleverly integrate textile patterns into line drawings, adding lovely texture and depth. The text avoids tropes indicating that interest in fashion is somehow girly or frivolous, instead celebrating fashion, fabrics, and patterns as wonderfully creative and visionary.