Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers: TCBR AWARENESS TOUR: Dressing Up the Stars by Jeanne Walker Harvey

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Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we're bringing you the latest AWARENESS TOUR making its way through the blogosphere with The Children's Book Review. It features a Children's Nonfiction Picture Book that takes us into the life and times of a Hollywood Costume Designer icon. Don't know much about the subject? That's okay, neither did I....however, when I started reading this one, I was struck with a case of deja vu. But how? I'd never read anything about someone in this field before, let alone about the person its about...and yet, that tingling awareness wouldn't go away...at least, until I solved the mystery, and solve it I did! Ladies and gents, let's get between the pages of today's blog tour guest and book of choice...

Dressing Up the Stars:

The Story of Movie Costume Designer Edith Head

Jeanne Walker Harvey

Illustrated by

Diana Toledano

9781534451056

Beach Lane Books

About the book...

Discover the true story of how a shy miner’s daughter became one of the most legendary costume designers in Hollywood in this inspiring nonfiction picture book biography.

As a child in the small mining town of Searchlight, Nevada, Edith Head had few friends and spent most of her time dressing up her toys and pets and even wild animals using fabric scraps. She always knew she wanted to move somewhere full of people and excitement. She set her sights on Hollywood and talked her way into a job sketching costumes for a movie studio.

Did she know how to draw or sew costumes? No. But that didn’t stop her!

Edith taught herself and tirelessly worked her way up until she was dressing some of the biggest stars of the day, from Audrey Hepburn to Grace Kelly to Ginger Rogers. She became the first woman to head a major Hollywood movie studio costume department and went on to win eight Academy Awards for best costume design—and she defined the style of an era.

Amazon | Bookshop.org | Barnes and Noble

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Okay, so back to the REALIZATION that I had. I was reading right along, and kept thinking...this girl, this woman looks SO FAMILIAR...and then I stopped. It couldn't be, and yet it CLEARLY was. Anyone remember the movie The Incredibles? Remember the character Edna Mode? Yeah. See the pictures above? TELL ME that Edna wasn't based on our icon here. I mean, you can't! They are both incredibly stylish, take nothing from no one, and that signature look can't simply be a coincidence. My curiosity assuaged, I was then able to focus on the story at hand.

Edith Head's tale takes us from humble upbringing filled with childhood dreams and imaginings, along a life path filled with pitfalls and second guesses, and straight on til mornings spent in Hollywood. She wasn't the best at her craft when she first started, but time, and determination, combined with her creativity, were the key ingredients to giving her wings. Once her pencil took flight, you'd think everything would have fallen into place...and yet, that certainly wasn't the case here. Edith practiced, toiled away at, and otherwise made her own path to movie world glory. It wasn't easy, but most things worth having rarely are. It wasn't promised, which simply made her desire for it that much stronger. It was never a certainty, but it was certain in her mind that THIS was her heart's desire. THIS was what she was born to do...and do it she did, right into Hollywood legend status.

So come for the interest, enjoy the gorgeous imagery page after page, and stay for the fascinating look behind the life and times of a star you may have never even realized you already "knew". Whether it be the woman or her works, she left her impression on Hollywood, and lived her dreams to the fullest...something we should all be lucky enough to do.

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About the author....

Jeanne Walker Harvey studied literature and psychology at Stanford University and has worn many job hats, ranging from being a roller coaster ride operator to an attorney, a middle school language arts teacher, and a long-time docent for school groups at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. She is the author of several books for young readers, including the picture book biographies Dressing up the Stars: The Story of Movie Costume Designer Edith Head, Ablaze with Color: A Story of Painter Alma Thomas, and Maya Lin: Artist-Architect of Light and Lines. Jeanne lives in Northern California.

Visit her online at www.jeanneharvey.com.

About the illustrator...

Diana Toledano is an illustrator, writer, and educator. She is also a Pisces who loves children’s books, patterns, and dancing her heart out. Originally from Spain, Diana (pronounced the Spanish way: dee-ah-na) grew up in Madrid where she studied art history and illustration. Now she lives in San Francisco with her husband and two fluffy cats. Her mixed media art seeks to capture the magic of the ordinary. Diana’s product designs, picture books, board books, and chapter books have been published and sold all over the world. Diana also teaches workshops for kids and adults. She enjoys doing school visits and speaking at conferences.

Learn more at Diana-Toledano.com.

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Enter for a chance to win a set of five copies of Dressing Up the Stars: The Story of Movie Costume Designer Edith Head!

Five (5) winners receive:

A set of five copies of Dressing Up the Stars: The Story of Movie Costume Designer Edith Head

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Special thanks to Bianca at The Children's Book Review for the chance to bring this tour to you and as well as the book for review. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, the publisher, this tour, or those on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above. Be sure to check out the rest of the stops on the tour for more bookish fun!

TOUR SCHEDULE

Monday, August 15, 2022

The Children’s Book Review

A book review of Dressing Up the Stars

Tuesday, August 16, 2022

Bookoholicmom

A book review of Dressing Up the Stars

Wednesday, August 17, 2022

The Fairview Review

A book review of Dressing Up the Stars

Thursday, August 18, 2022

The Review Wire