The Pre-Loved edit from Shopbop
To share your reaction on this item, open the Amazon app from the App Store or Google Play on your phone.
Add Prime to get Fast, Free delivery
Amazon prime logo
Buy new:
-20% $14.39
FREE delivery Tuesday, January 28 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Ships from: Amazon.com
Sold by: Amazon.com
$14.39 with 20 percent savings
List Price: $17.99
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
FREE delivery Tuesday, January 28 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Or fastest delivery Sunday, January 26. Order within 22 hrs 33 mins
Only 11 left in stock (more on the way).
$$14.39 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$14.39
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Ships from
Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Ships from
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Returns
30-day refund/replacement
30-day refund/replacement
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
$8.62
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
FREE delivery Tuesday, January 28 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Or Prime members get FREE delivery Saturday, January 25. Order within 16 hrs 33 mins.
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
$$14.39 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$14.39
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Bloom: A Story of Fashion Designer Elsa Schiaparelli Hardcover – Picture Book, February 6, 2018

4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 60 ratings

off. Enter code INSTAPAY10 at checkout. Discount by Amazon. Terms  off. Promo code INSTAPAY10 is saved to your account. Discount by Amazon. Terms  
{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$14.39","priceAmount":14.39,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"14","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"39","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"9nBFwXSrpOMhwFfdGRsfHe1To8%2BU2K%2F3SLM7KnROKxHXKnNq7WigZoo2mC59rGLNevvGWk4fhin4sdKQZoSdzqkt1JByBOaHGV4vjaE6yvmI9H4TiWLFF%2B7gp4QFNHkBtVSa86G1Sbln%2BeFIBanBNA%3D%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}, {"displayPrice":"$8.62","priceAmount":8.62,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"8","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"62","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"9nBFwXSrpOMhwFfdGRsfHe1To8%2BU2K%2F3KbvSvpCc9Du9dvXfM%2F3XGz%2FrOnREmoIRdO1ghipvcjDYwLd89gj2lSSjBGlatMBhrJBPVaJ84z8klCXW%2B1KaTobAJPchQfeTe5N%2BiH2d7PCL%2FdQjumJFjYyfkRbrR2D7OQI6i7bil38%2Fp3Rgkh1qyN25b%2BsPaGEA","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"USED","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":1}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

A dazzling picture book biography of one of the world's most influential designers, Elsa Schiaparelli.

Elsa dared to be different, and her story will not only dazzle, it will inspire the artist and fashionista in everyone who reads it. This nonfiction picture book is an excellent choice to share during homeschooling, in particular for children ages 4 to 6. It’s a fun way to learn to read and as a supplement for activity books for children.

By the 1930s Elsa Schiaparelli had captivated the fashion world in Paris, but before that, she was a little girl in Rome who didn’t feel pretty at all. Bloom: A Story of Fashion Designer Elsa Schiaparelli is the enchanting story for young readers of how a young girl used her imagination and emerged from plain to extraordinary.

As a young girl in Rome, Elsa Schiaparelli (1890–1973) felt “brutta” (ugly) and searched all around her for beauty. Seeing the colors of Rome’s flower market one day, young Elsa tried to plant seeds in her ears and nose, hoping to blossom like a flower. All she got was sick, but from that moment, she discovered her own wild imagination.

In the 1920 and '30s, influenced by her friends in the surrealist art movement, Schiaparelli created a vast collection of unique fashion designs—hats shaped like shoes, a dress adorned with lobsters, gloves with fingernails, a dress with drawers and so many more. She mixed her own bold colors and invented her own signature shades, including shocking pink.

Bloom: A Story of Fashion Designer Elsa Schiaparelli is a stunning and sophisticated picture book biography that follows Schiaparelli’s life from birth and childhood to height of success.

Kyo Maclear and Julie Morstad (creators of Julia, Child) have gorgeously interpreted Schiaparelli’s life. Maclear tells a lyrical story with moments both poignant and humorous and Morstad’s elegant imagery saturates the pages with Schiaparelli-inspired shapes and colors.

Informative backmatter and suggested further reading included.

Teachers%27%20picks%20%7C%20Explore%20children%27s%20books%20by%20grade

Frequently bought together

This item: Bloom: A Story of Fashion Designer Elsa Schiaparelli
$14.39
Get it as soon as Tuesday, Jan 28
Only 11 left in stock (more on the way).
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
$17.99
Get it as soon as Tuesday, Jan 28
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
Total price: $00
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Details
Added to Cart
spCSRF_Treatment
One of these items ships sooner than the other.
Choose items to buy together.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

K-Gr 2—This stunningly illustrated picture book biography on fashion pioneer Elsa Schiaparelli opens on a melancholy tone that is carried through much of the story—her parents were disappointed that she was born a girl. The first-person narration adds tenderness and a sense of intimacy to the story, but holes exist in this telling, which focuses to a fault on Schiaparelli's childhood and development. When the adult Schiaparelli quits jobs, divorces, or moves locations quickly, these experiences are quickly passed over in the narrative. Likewise, the significant financial support she received from friends and from her mother is not mentioned. This might have been forgiven if the text had dedicated more space to Schiaparelli's design achievements and creative partnerships, but this information is primarily found in the helpful endnotes and in Morstad's dreamily expressive and colorful painted figures and clothing ensembles, not in the main text. If this biography has strength, it is that it does not eschew the value of beauty, but redefines it in new a context. Ultimately, Maclear's narrative does not keep pace with Morstad's delightful artwork. VERDICT Large picture book biography collections with an interest in fashion may want to consider.—Lauren Younger, New York Public Library

Review

“The duo behind Julia, Child offers a bold first-person biography of designer Elsa Schiaparelli.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Morstad’s vivid mixed-media have an imaginativeness to match Schiaparelli’s surrealistic designs (playing with a beloved uncle as a child, she soars amid the stars and planets of the cosmos) and feature splashes of Schiaparelli’s trademark shade of pink...[It’s] a dramatic tribute worthy of its audacious subject.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“With beautiful, richly colorful, and playful artwork nicely evoking the character of its subject, this lyrical biography of Elsa Schiaparelli offers picture-book readers an enlightening introduction to the wildly inventive and influential fashion designer.” — Booklist

“Morstad’s delicate watercolor illustrations do a great job of depicting Schiaparelli’s designs, but subtle hints—pink flowers composed of dresses, shoes, and gloves, for instance—emphasize how Schiaparelli’s view of the world shaped her artwork.” — Booklist

“Little ones who “dare to be different” will be inspired.” — Booklist

“In full scenes and vignettes, Morstad’s mixed-media paintings capture the lanky, classy panache of Schiap and her designs.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“Using Schiaparelli herself as narrator, this picture-book biography tells the story of her unsettled childhood and rise to premier couturier for a young audience.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“Together Maclear and Morstad have created a picture book that, like Elsa’s art, is “daring, different, and whole” and that reminds us that “together, we BLOOM and BLOOM.”” — Jennifer Oleinik, Shelf Awareness (blog)

“Morstad’s (When Green Becomes Tomatoes) lush illustrations match Maclear’s enlightening narrative... [her] illustrations rise and fall with Elsa’s emotional and artistic journey.” — Jennifer Oleinik, Shelf Awareness (blog)

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0062447610
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperCollins; Illustrated edition (February 6, 2018)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 40 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780062447616
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0062447616
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 4 - 8 years
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 670L
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ Preschool - 3
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 9.45 x 0.31 x 11.42 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 60 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Kyo Maclear
Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Kyo Maclear was born in London, England, and moved to Toronto at the age of four. Her most recent book is Unearthing: A Story of Tangled Love and Family Secrets (Scribner 2023). Her book Birds Art Life, was published in seven territories and became a Canadian #1 bestseller. Kyo received a PhD from York University in the environmental humanities. Her essays and art criticism have been published in Orion Magazine, Asia Art Pacific, LitHub, Brick, The Millions, The Guardian, Lion's Roar, The Globe and Mail, among other publications. She is also a children’s author, editor, and teacher.

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
60 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers

Customers say

Customers find the book enjoyable and informative. They appreciate the beautiful illustrations and nice message that teaches to reach for their goals.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more
4 customers mention "Enjoyment"4 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book. They find it engaging and informative.

"...This book is breathtaking and enjoyable as well as informative. My 7 year old daughter loves it and wants us to read it together every night." Read more

"Love this book! Beautiful illustrations and nice message. It's a favorite." Read more

"Great picture book biography on Elsa Schiaparelli. Thoroughly enjoyed it...." Read more

"Amazing!..." Read more

3 customers mention "Message"3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's message. They find it empowering and informative.

"...This book is breathtaking and enjoyable as well as informative. My 7 year old daughter loves it and wants us to read it together every night." Read more

"Love this book! Beautiful illustrations and nice message. It's a favorite." Read more

"We love this book! It is so empowering and teaches to reach for the stars!" Read more

From brutta to bella, the life story of Elsa Schiaparelli
5 out of 5 stars
From brutta to bella, the life story of Elsa Schiaparelli
An ugly duckling story within the fashion world. Kyo Maclear's Bloom is a story of fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli. This biographical picture book is told in first person narrative, as Maclear shares the story of Ella Schiaparelli. The illustrations, by Julie Morstad are absolutely stunning, adding to the beauty of the words written upon the page.The book begins with the birth of Ella, September 10,1890 in Roma, Italy. Her parents wanted a boy; leaving Ella to feel indifferent, alone, and unwanted. Her older sister, mama's favorite was bella and Ella was just brutta (ugly). Yet, at a very young age she sought out the beauty that surrounded her; color and joy.At the age of seven she asked, "What makes something beautiful?" This question led to her life's mission to create beauty in the world and planted a seed of wild imagination. Ella's motto was, Dare to Be Different and that she was. Throughout the remainder of the story, Maclear shares how her uniqueness and imagination caused her to become one of the world's influential fashion designers and left the idea that she was brutta; seeing the beauty of the art reflected in her work.I was delighted to read this book of Ella Schiaparelli and learn about her life before and after becoming a famous person of fashion and fame. This is a great read aloud to share with students to show them of a person who lived out their childhood dreams and dared to be different. An inspiration to let go of what others think of you and choose to BLOOM!This book was read as a part of my #BookaDay Summer Reading Challenge, you can learn more about this here. Please feel free to subscribe to my blog or follow me on social media to follow my journey through the books I read. Until next time .....
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2019
    As a former student of fashion and now a working designer, I have always admired Schiaparelli. This book is breathtaking and enjoyable as well as informative. My 7 year old daughter loves it and wants us to read it together every night.
  • Reviewed in the United States on February 17, 2020
    Love this book! Beautiful illustrations and nice message. It's a favorite.
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 2, 2018
    I bought this book for my daughter who has an unusual taste in fashion. I thought Bloom would encourage her to keep it up! My daughter LOVED Bloom. It's beautifully illustrated and wonderfully written.
  • Reviewed in the United States on December 22, 2019
    Beautiful book!
  • Reviewed in the United States on September 14, 2019
    We love this book! It is so empowering and teaches to reach for the stars!
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 23, 2019
    Great picture book biography on Elsa Schiaparelli. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Recommend it if you or your kiddos are the least bit interested in fashion.
  • Reviewed in the United States on March 20, 2019
    recipient delighted to receive this gift
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 6, 2018
    An ugly duckling story within the fashion world. Kyo Maclear's Bloom is a story of fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli. This biographical picture book is told in first person narrative, as Maclear shares the story of Ella Schiaparelli. The illustrations, by Julie Morstad are absolutely stunning, adding to the beauty of the words written upon the page.

    The book begins with the birth of Ella, September 10,1890 in Roma, Italy. Her parents wanted a boy; leaving Ella to feel indifferent, alone, and unwanted. Her older sister, mama's favorite was bella and Ella was just brutta (ugly). Yet, at a very young age she sought out the beauty that surrounded her; color and joy.

    At the age of seven she asked, "What makes something beautiful?" This question led to her life's mission to create beauty in the world and planted a seed of wild imagination. Ella's motto was, Dare to Be Different and that she was. Throughout the remainder of the story, Maclear shares how her uniqueness and imagination caused her to become one of the world's influential fashion designers and left the idea that she was brutta; seeing the beauty of the art reflected in her work.

    I was delighted to read this book of Ella Schiaparelli and learn about her life before and after becoming a famous person of fashion and fame. This is a great read aloud to share with students to show them of a person who lived out their childhood dreams and dared to be different. An inspiration to let go of what others think of you and choose to BLOOM!

    This book was read as a part of my #BookaDay Summer Reading Challenge, you can learn more about this here. Please feel free to subscribe to my blog or follow me on social media to follow my journey through the books I read. Until next time .....
    Customer image
    5.0 out of 5 stars From brutta to bella, the life story of Elsa Schiaparelli
    Reviewed in the United States on June 6, 2018
    An ugly duckling story within the fashion world. Kyo Maclear's Bloom is a story of fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli. This biographical picture book is told in first person narrative, as Maclear shares the story of Ella Schiaparelli. The illustrations, by Julie Morstad are absolutely stunning, adding to the beauty of the words written upon the page.

    The book begins with the birth of Ella, September 10,1890 in Roma, Italy. Her parents wanted a boy; leaving Ella to feel indifferent, alone, and unwanted. Her older sister, mama's favorite was bella and Ella was just brutta (ugly). Yet, at a very young age she sought out the beauty that surrounded her; color and joy.

    At the age of seven she asked, "What makes something beautiful?" This question led to her life's mission to create beauty in the world and planted a seed of wild imagination. Ella's motto was, Dare to Be Different and that she was. Throughout the remainder of the story, Maclear shares how her uniqueness and imagination caused her to become one of the world's influential fashion designers and left the idea that she was brutta; seeing the beauty of the art reflected in her work.

    I was delighted to read this book of Ella Schiaparelli and learn about her life before and after becoming a famous person of fashion and fame. This is a great read aloud to share with students to show them of a person who lived out their childhood dreams and dared to be different. An inspiration to let go of what others think of you and choose to BLOOM!

    This book was read as a part of my #BookaDay Summer Reading Challenge, you can learn more about this here. Please feel free to subscribe to my blog or follow me on social media to follow my journey through the books I read. Until next time .....
    Images in this review
    Customer image
    Customer image
    4 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • schane
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
    Reviewed in Canada on March 19, 2022
    Beautiful book, love it!
  • Victoria Murgante
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book
    Reviewed in Canada on January 14, 2019
    Beautiful book and genuinely excellent illustrations—I love biographical picture books and this is a very, very nice one. I recommend it!
  • K.B.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in Canada on April 6, 2018
    Sweet inspiring story for everyone.