Get Dressed!

by Seymour Chwast

Seymour Chwast celebrates the daily routine of getting dressed in this fittingly whimsical and satisfyingly unique novelty book. Unlike more traditional books on this topic that deal with the how of getting dressed, Get Dressed! instead tackles the why . The text “Get dressed to read about dragons” accompanies an illustration of a boy dressed in a makeshift knight costume. A girl in full floral garb stands in a garden alongside the text “Get dressed to hide.” The book features half and full gatefolds, which foreshadow the items of clothing to be seen and provide surprise reveals on each spread. With a die-cut magnetic closure, even the cover invites readers to peek inside!

Praise for Get Dressed!
“Chwast’s wacky combinations are sure to encourage young fashionistas to be comfortable with their own personal style. Even the cover, designed as a suit jacket that fastens with a magnetic snap, invites readers to open a world of possibilities. A clever, dapper package.”
– Kirkus Reviews

"Young children will delight in pointing out which objects don’t necessarily belong with the others."
– The New York Times Book Review

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Juvenile, Fiction

18 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2012

Reviews

[Terresa Wellborn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pages naming different items of clothing unfold, inviting the reader into a world of imagination and discovery, all from a child's point of view.

Ages: toddler, PreK
Themes: clothes

[Drew Graham · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are all sorts of occasions that require you to get dressed in many different ways.

I'm a little torn about this book because I like the concept and the kids love the cover style and flaps but I'm just not crazy about the artwork. But I can endure some (to me) so-so illustrations for a fun little interactive dressing-up book.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a clever book that would appeal to young children learning to dress themselves (and also talk about it and other experiences in their lives). While a board book, it has an unusual format of a shirt on the front that opens down the middle (like doors), thus, revealing the "predictable" storyline (good for young language learners) which has some sturdy fold-out pages at predictable intervals. It begins with "Get up and ... get dressed!" followed by a page of clothes (with written labels--good for building vocabulary) on the left and a picture (e.g., a dragon) on the right. Inside are wordless pictures with captions, e.g., "Get dressed to read about dragons... to hide ... to keep warm ... to build a castle ... to make believe ... to sing ..." to "Get undressed to take a bath" and then, finally, "And at the end of the day ... to go to sleep." Lots of opportunities for children to talk about what is going on in the pictures with humor in each of them. Additionally, there is a penguin, Seymour Chwast, who appears on each page (like Where's Waldo for older children). It might be a good bed book with a review of the day (and its clothing), ending in bed. Finally, I'm giving this book to Molly, my almost-two-year old grand-daughter, and the book itself is coincidentally dedicated to a Molly!

[Heidi-Marie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not quite my book. Perfect choice for kids who love to dress up. Interesting format for the book will grab kids attention and interest. Hopefully lasts in a library setting.

Love the penguin on every page spread.

Anyone else get a paper doll kind of feel to this? Hope the kids don't think that's how it's meant to be!

[Darshana Khiani · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a Look & Find book encouraging kids to find their own style. Kids will see a bunch of clothing and other items. When they open the fold it will reveal a picture, a knight, a singer, etc. Kids will enjoy trying to "find" the items in the full spread. A creative layout to an tried topic of playing dress-up.

[Margaret Chind · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not terribly impressed with this book although the format of a magnet cover that closes like a coat and the open flap pages is neat and keeps my daughter's attention. While I'm not crazy about it, my preschool seems to love it and has asked for it several times and reads to herself a variation from the illustrations as well.

thanks to Abrams.
typed on Kindle Fire

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book would be good to read in a one-on-one setting with a young child who is learning about all of the different articles of clothing. Each page has the clothes one might wear in various activities, and it is up to the reader to guess what those activities might be. Great for encouraging dialogic reading!

[Kendra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super fun book with everything kids love: fold out pages, guessing, imaginative play, and awesome illustrations. Plus the cover has a magnetic opening so it's like your opening the shirt and the book at the same time. Sure to be a major kid pleaser!

[Shelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book to read and make predictions about what is going too happen next in the story. Some of my predictions were way off base. Getting dressed up to play is something all kids enjoy, and grown ups too if they make room for silly in their lives.

[Shanshad Whelan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute idea. No sure the overall presentation works for me. Don't find the pics overall inspiring or the clues of what they're dressing up for particularly useful towards guessing the answer.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Michelle Nero · Rating 3 out of 5]

The many reasons why we get dressed -- allows for predicting and inferring.

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice interactive book

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved that the book didn't just have the predictable clothing items. When would you wear a soup pot? Or a feather duster? Great encouragement of imaginative play through costumes.

[Tabi A · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cool book jacket!

[Laurie]

Another session of "lift-a-flap" happiness