Award-winning author Maxine Beneba Clarke has already given us such great books as ThePatchwork Bike, Wide Big World and The Hate Race, among others, and now we have the gorgeous Fashionista: Fashion Your Feelings. It’s a vibrant book that encourages everyone to embrace their individuality, and it’s the kind of book I wish I had seen more of when I was growing up.

The illustrations are made from hand-cut magazine collage on textured paper with watercolourpencil. They are fun and fabulous, and bring the fashion and people, including some global icons, such as Beyoncé and her evocative Vogue flower-crown, and Prince in his purple jacket, to life as they dance across the page in Matisse-like style.

As Maxine states herself: ‘Clothes can speak for us, when we cannot … fashion can be defiant, revolutionary, wild, compliant, challenging, or camouflaging.’ It’s a must for any fashion-lover or creative mind aged 3+.

Claire Atherfold is the children’s book buyer at Readings State Library.