Mr. Frank

PreS-K—Mr. Frank has been a tailor for many years, and he has made lots of stylish and playful, dazzling, comfortable, and special outfits for a variety of people. But today he has received an order for "an outfit that made all the others seem rather dull." As he thinks back some 60 years and recalls some of the clothing he has created and repaired—soldiers' uniforms, tailored men's suits, miniskirts, gauzy tutus, and more—he realizes that none of them will ever be as special as the outfit he is making this day. When it is finished, he will pack up his shop and retire—almost—for there is someone very important for whom he wants to continue to create special outfits. Luxbacher's warm, mixed-media illustrations combine pencil, cloth, collage, drawings, photos, clothing patterns, magazine clippings, and more. They are filled with color, pattern, texture, history, reminiscence, and love. Beautifully written and filled with visual details of days gone by, this small treasure is waiting to be shared again and again with a young grandchild…or with any young child.—Susan Scheps, formerly at Shaker Public Library, OH