Molly and the Magic Dress

William Norris makes his picture book debut.

M. Scott Miller studied at Pratt Institute. This is his first picture book.
From the Hardcover edition.

Whereas Eloise hoists high society on its own petard even while it preserves the Plaza's allure, this upscale fairy tale vacillates between irony and ingenuous optimism. Molly and her slinky calico cat share an elegant Manhattan apartment with Molly's platinum-coifed mother and a prim, plump housekeeper. Although she wears a frock from Paris to her cousin's wedding, Molly prefers her "magic" dress, an off-pink relic with an unraveling lace hem: "It turned Molly into anyone she wished. All she needed to say was `Perfect dress in a perfect world, take me into another whirl.' " During the ritzy reception at the Knickerbilt Club, Molly escapes to a quiet room to put on her shabby garment. To her surprise, she finds a homeless woman. Molly convinces her to put on the magic dress, the party guests walk in and suddenly, "They were all staring at the Queen of England!" Depending on the reader, the magic-dress conceit might be whimsical or satirical; the florid narration and prodigally happy ending make it hard to tell. Norwich, entertainment editor of the New York Times Magazine, relies heavily on stereotypes and the pretentiousness of the delivery undercuts the social critique. Likewise, debut illustrator Miller skewers the elite without evoking any warmth for the title character; his caricatures of the monied class have a dry-cleaned artificiality. All ages.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.