Fancy Party Gowns: The Story of Fashion Designer Ann Cole Lowe

The twin themes of injustice and hard work are woven into Blumenthal’s (The Blue House Dog) vivid biography of African-American designer Ann Cole Lowe, who learned to sew at a young age, took over her late mother’s business, and went on to design gowns that included dresses for Jacqueline Bouvier and John F. Kennedy’s wedding. Accented with buttons and lace, Freeman’s (the Nikki and Deja series) illustrations are attentive to the shape and design of the clothing worn and designed by Lowe, and they glow with a honeyed light that underscores the designer’s persistence in the face of racial prejudice. Ages 4–8. [em]Author’s agent: Abigail Samoun, Red Fox Literary. (Jan.) [/em]