  | Book Details Title: Mrs. Paddington and the Silver Mousetraps: A Hair-Raising History of Women’s Hairstyles in 18th-century London |
Book DescriptionReview “The lengths that high-society women in the 1700s would go to for their hairstyles… Mrs. Muriel Paddington would like to win an award at the Moonlight Ball. After some back and forth with her hairdresser, she decides upon a windmill theme. The next spreads detail the elaborate 3-foot-tall hairpiece’s construction. It includes a wire frame, pillow, and hair extensions ‘donated’ (read: demanded) from her maid. Then there’s the beef-marrow and wax pomade, the pound of flour per week that dusts the creation, and the mixture of sugar water that solidifies the whole thing―no wonder Mrs. Paddington has a problem with mice when she finally gets into bed and tries to sleep (sitting mostly upright with a special pillow). A visit to the Silver Mousetrap Shoppe takes care of the problem, and a pewter headscratcher gives some relief from the insects infesting her hairdo. Readers will likely either be laughing like the commoners on the street or shaking their heads in disbelief that rich grown-ups would actually crawl in and out of a store because they couldn’t fit through the door upright. Cox’s illustrations ably capture the whimsy and creativity of the hairstyles while poking gentle fun at the same time. Mrs. Paddington’s surroundings are suitably opulent, all the people are pale, and the dialogue is aptly stuffy. Occasional sidebars attest to the historicity that underlies the ridiculousness, but there is no explicit parsing of fact from fancy. Readers will goggle at the very notion.”―Kirkus Reviews (Journal)”This picture book tells the story of Mrs. Paddington and her elaborate hairstyle in 18th-century London. Mrs. Paddington needs a new ‘do for the Moonlight Ball. Once she has decided on a design, it is up to her hairdresser to use sugar, beef marrow, and powder to make the style come to life. Mrs. Paddington must then maintain her over-the-top, towering coiffure until the ball. This includes crawling through doors, setting traps to keep the mice away from the sugar and marrow, and sleeping on a special pillow. Facts supporting the story are included throughout the pages. The humorous illustrations enhance the ridiculous lengths women went to in order to maintain their hairstyles. Students will be amused by the image of the fancy ladies crawling through the shop doors. VERDICT This is a fun book about a little-known topic. Purchase for students who will enjoy learning about what women went through to look beautiful in the 1700s.”―School Library Journal (Journal) Read more About the Author Gail Skroback Hennessey taught social studies for more than 33 years. She has authored eight books for teachers and more than 35 books for children.Steve Cox lives in London, England. He first designed toys and packaging before turning full-time to illustrating. Read more Customers Review:Mrs. Muriel Paddington was sitting on her throne looking at herself in the mirror. Well, maybe not a throne, but a Fancy Nancy kind of chair. That mirror was as fancy as the chair, which was as fancy as the poofy poodle, Sassafras, sitting in front of it. The Saturday Moonlight Ball was coming right up and she really had to do something with that hair! What other to do than call on Mrs. Blinkhorn, her hairdresser, to find out what to do do do with her hairdo? Yes, that was it, call in a professional for advice. That meant that someone who knows what they are doing could help out Mrs. Paddington.Last year’s hairdo would never, ever do do do, but Mrs. Blinkhorn had a suggestion. Hairbrush in the one hand and a solution in the other, she declared, “Let’s try a bird cage in your hair!” Alas and alack, Mrs. Paddington remembered the disaster a bird cage hairdo was at the Summer Solstice Ball. Nope, that hairdo would never do do do. Both of the ladies had to think really hard, but finally came up with a solution to Mrs. Paddington’s hairdo dilemma. Mrs. Blinkhorn would create the best hairdo ever … she would create a windmill hairdo! It most certainly would be the best hairdo anyone ever saw at the Saturday Moonlight ball.Mrs. Blinkhorn began to create her do do do hairdo, a masterpiece that would make Mrs. Paddington the envy of the everyone at that ball! Hair extensions, a wire frame, a pillow, and even some dog hair. Yes, even some of Sassafras’s dog hair, if you can believe that. The “hair would be used to help create the towering three-foot-tall hairdo, so popular for wealthy women in the 18th century.” After everything was done, Mrs. Muriel Paddington was absolutely beauteous. What could possibly go wrong with her fabulous hairdo? Plenty, that’s what! Do do do do do you want to know what happened? You’ll just have to read this book to find out!This is a fabulously fun history of women’s hairstyles young readers will love. It’s the type of book that makes history come alive in a fun, engaging manner. Presented in the picture book format, this tale is sure to attract even the most reluctant reader. Steve Cox’s whimsical artwork is loads of fun and humorous. There are several high interest sidebars that add some historical tidbits that will pique the interest of readers. For example, one discusses the variety of headscratchers to attack lice and other critters that would take up residence in those elaborate hairdos (ewww!). A fun, engaging tale that will make history a subject young readers will gravitate to.Age Range: 8 to 12 YearsGrade Level: 3 to 6GAIL SKROBACK HENNESSEY:Reader’s Theater Scripts: Improve Fluency, Vocabulary, and Comprehensionof Columbus: Early America (Building Fluency Through Reader’s Theater)Patriots in Boston: Early America (Building Fluency Through Reader’s Theater)This book courtesy of the publisher (to the library). | |
1 reviews