Coco and the Little Black Dress

Originally published in the Netherlands, this portrait of Coco Chanel isn’t short on style, but it’s sadly absent of substance. Van Haeringen’s breezy illustrations are just right for capturing the “loosely fitted knit dresses and cardigans” that Chanel become known for; in one of the book’s best moments, over a dozen women of all shapes, sizes, and ages flaunt their little black dresses. Unfortunately, Chanel’s life—from an orphanage upbringing to the allure of the upper-class and her career as a designer—is glossed over so quickly that while readers will get a hint of her influence on fashion, there is little sense of who she was. No citations are provided for the details mentioned, and a great deal about Chanel’s life is ignored outright—readers won’t even learn her real name. Ages 4–8. (Oct.)