Dress-Up Mess-Up

by Kelly DiPucchio, Heather Ross (Illustrator)

Overview

Get out your craft supplies, because the queen of DIY is back! It’s up to Chloe to create the perfect costume—and save the day—in this delightful follow-up to Crafty Chloe.

The Parade of Books has arrived, and it’s Chloe’s chance to showcase her crafty costume talents. Leo wants Chloe to be the Frankenstein to his Dracula, and Chloe can’t wait to dress like a monster. But when Emma wants to wear Fairy Club costumes instead, Chloe is torn like a scrap of fabric. She doesn’t want to disappoint her friends—but how can she possibly please them both? Luckily, a little glitter and a lot of imagination just might give Chloe the answer!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781442443914
Publisher:	Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	08/13/2013
Series:	Crafty Chloe
Sold by:	SIMON & SCHUSTER
Format:	eBook
Pages:	40
Lexile:	AD570L (what's this?)
File size:	8 MB
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Kelly DiPucchio is the award-winning and New York Times bestselling author of Grace for President and numerous other books for kids, including Super Manny Stands Up!; Crafty Chloe, Zombie in Love, Gaston, and Antoinette. She lives with her husband and three children in Michigan. You can find out more about Kelly and her books at KellyDiPucchio.com.

Heather Ross is an illustrator and fabric designer whose crafty creations have found commercial success and a massive online following. She has illustrated the Crafty Chloe books Crafty Chloe and Dress-Up Mess-Up and is also the author of the craft book Weekend Sewing. She grew up in the Vermont countryside and has a tremendous appreciation for nature, which continues to influence her work now that she lives with her husband in New York City. Visit her at HeatherRoss.squarespace.com.

Editorial Reviews

"Get out your craft supplies—the queen of DIY is back! It's up to Chloe to create the perfect costume—and save the day—in this delightful follow-up to Crafty Chloe."

Summer 2014 Craft & Home Projects

"This [book pictures]...the world of an active, creative young girl and [describes]...friendships and expectations, which aren’t always neat and tidy. As the day of the big Parade of Books approaches, Chloe discovers that her two best friends, Leo and Emma, each expect her costume to reflect their favorite theme (monsters for Leo, fairies for Emma). Not wanting to disappoint either, Chloe imagines all kinds of alternatives, including a hoped-for snow day in summer. But ultimately she creates a wonderful compromise that pleases everyone, especially herself. Readers will grin at Ross’ depictions of Leo as a fairy king and Emma as a monster, Chloe’s dreams of possible alternatives for her friends. Their expressions are as lively as their potential outfits. And the wordless viewpoints of Bert the dog and Chloe’s baby brother (who hides some vampire teeth in his diaper) add to the fun. Lots of costume possibilities here—for all kinds of pretending."

September 2013 Booklist Online

Readers can’t help but be charmed by this spunky heroine’s enthusiasm and her desire to please two friends with opposite tastes. Ross’s spirited drawings, rendered in pencil and colored digitally, keep the action bouncing along.

August 2013 School Library Journal

DiPucchio’s story is filled with entertaining drama and deadpan hilarity…. The text provides painful insight into the creative process, and Ross’ digitally colored pencil drawings capture this charismatic spirit…. Share this lively tale of bighearted friendship and originality with young readers needing a little zest for life.

Kirkus Reviews

Chloe finds herself once again with a cliffhanger of a problem (Crafty Chloe, 2012). And it involves her two best friends. Can her creative powers get her out of this pickle? DiPucchio's story is filled with entertaining drama and deadpan hilarity. The Parade of Books is a costumed event at school, and Chloe is torn between the ideas of two very best but very different friends. Leo and Chloe are planning to go as Frankenstein and Dracula. But Emma, at their weekly spa day, says they should be Fairy Club fairies and is horrified at Chloe's plan. " ‘You're going to be a MONSTER?' Emma's oatmeal mask cracked." Chloe begins the herculean task of finding a solution to this predicament. The text provides painful insight into the creative process, and Ross' digitally colored pencil drawings capture this charismatic spirit. Chloe's frustration is palpable as she dons her winter coat and hat on a beautiful sunny day, hoping a snow day might cancel the impending festivities. With pacing that mimics the first installment, the book gives Chloe a down-to-the-wire moment of inspiration; she begins fussing and fixing through the night. The last page shows Chloe's creative genius, reflecting it in the adoration of her best friends' eyes. Share this lively tale of bighearted friendship and originality with young readers needing a little zest for life. A corresponding website provides crafting ideas and instructions. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews