The Purple Coat

A lighthearted story of a little girl's desire for something different, with comical illustrations by the creator of Her Majesty, Aunt Essie. Every fall Gabby and her mother travel into New York City to have a new navy blue coat made by Gabby's grandfather, a tailor. This year Gabby wants a purple coat, but ""navy blue coats are what you always get,'' her mother says. Alone with her grandfather, Gabby asks again for a special coat. Remembering a tangerine dress he once made for Gabby's mother, he comes up with the perfect solutiona reversible coat. The story is nicely told, and the illustrations capture the warmth between Gabby, her mother and her grandfather. (5-8)