Rose's Dress of Dreams

by Katherine Woodfine, Kate Pankhurst (Illustrator)

Young Rose dreams of sewing beautiful dresses for the women of Paris. But when a chance encounter with royalty changes her life, Rose must draw on all her skills to create the most breathtaking dress of them all Based on the life of Rose Bertin, the woman credited with creating haute-couture, this is a story to inspire bold girls and boys everywhere.

Genres: Childrens, Fiction

96 pages, Paperback

First published April 15, 2018

About the author

Katherine Woodfine is the author of more than 15 books for children, including the Sinclair’s Mysteries and Taylor & Rose Secret Agents series. Her first published novel, The Clockwork Sparrow, was a Sunday Times bestseller and was nominated for numerous awards. A champion of children’s literature, she has previously worked on projects including the Children’s Laureate, YALC (the UK’s first young adult literature convention) and children’s books podcast Down the Rabbit Hole. She now combines writing with reviewing children’s books. She lives in Lancashire, UK in an old house near a castle, with her family and two black cats. Find out more at katherinewoodfine.co.uk

Reviews

[Steph]

Brilliantly written, based on a woman in history. I really enjoyed this! The illustrations were beautiful too!

[Amy (Golden Books Girl)]

This is part of Barrington Stoke`s Little Gems series, which are short, young MG stories with full colour illustrations, and this was a lovely first one to read. It`s a delightful story, and I think it`ll appeal to a lot of people. Kate Pankhurst`s illustrations are gorgeous, and my personal favourites were the one at the opening of chapter 3, and that on page 43. The descriptions of Rose`s designs were divine, and I was able to picture them vividly even without an accompanying illustration. Lastly, I really liked Rose as a character because she was so determined to achieve her dream, and it was interesting to learn that she was based on real historical figure Rose Bertin. 4/5.

[Justine Laismith]

This chapter book is a story inspired by Marie Jeanne Rose Bertin, who was Marie Antoinette's seamstress and considered as the world's first fashion designer.

Our main character is so determined to have a career in dressmaking she bids farewell to her family and travels to Paris. She faces rejection in every shop, until finally one takes her in. But working in a dress-making shop was not what Rose expected.

The pacing is good, the illustrations lovely and the story inspirational. I would recommend it for early readers.

[Nicola]

Inspired by a real woman in history, Miss 6 enjoyed this Parisian adventure about fashion and pursuing your dreams. She also liked that it had illustrations.

Miss 6 and I like to explore different books and authors at the library, sometimes around particular topics or themes. We try to get different ones out every week or so; it's fun for both of us to have the variety and to look at a mix of new & favourite authors.

[Eve L-A Witherington]

Rose is a girl dreaming of designing clothes and all kinds of fancy dresses. So she ups and leaves to Paris where she helps to design clothes for the princess in a short but based on a true story book.



It was short and sweet and great for kids as it has an edge of historical fact within it too.

[Grace]

Full review (and author interview!) here: http://www.almostamazinggrace.co.uk/2...

[Lindsay]

A lovely little story of a real person, and delightful, lovely illustrations.

[Chelsea]

Inspiring based on a true story

[Kassie R.]

The girls asked me to read this aloud for school. A cute story based on a true story about a dressmaker in Paris.

[Gabby]

Cute! I love that this is based on a real person in history. Messages of determination and perseverance, taking risks, never giving up on your dreams, and dreaming big!

[Bev]

Based on the true life story of Marie-Jeanne Rose Bertin who moved to Paris when she was just 16 and became dressmaker for Marie Antoinette. Lovely tale of a humble dressmakers assistant with high aspirations who becomes friends with a princess and is commissioned to make her a beautiful dress. i loved this onomatopoeia ; 'She recognised the bright 'shirr' sound the scissors made as they cut silk and the soft 'whumph' of unfolding velvet'. Fun illustrations enhance the text and the front cover with its silver accents is very eye catching. This Little Gems series of books are great for youngsters just starting to read chapter books and their small size makes them easy to hold. Inside the front cover you are asked to help Rose design a dress and inside the back cover there is an informative, fun true or false quiz. The story encourages children to dream big and to hold on to those dreams, always a good sentiment!