The illustrations were phenomenal! All of the colors and patterns were perfect for the story. The story itself was sweet and informative at the same time. I enjoyed it.

This is a fun book for children of all ages to learn about the designs and origins of different patterns. I am clueless when it comes to patterns, so I just say I learned quite a bit myself. This book is perfect for little girls. They will relate to Pepper and her journey to find the perfect pattern for her perfect dress. I received this as a free ARC from Tundra Books, Penguin Random House Canada, on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

What a unique idea--a children's storybook that explains fabric patterns to kids! My son was intrigued and attentive the entire time we read it and has requested to hear the story several more times.

Premise: Pepper needs a special dress for a special occasion, so she goes with her mother to their family's favorite local tailor. He introduces her to a variety of different fabric patterns: Dotted Swiss, Houndstooth, Pinstripe, and more. But not only does he show her the patterns in context, he tells her all about where the pattern comes from and what it represents! Pepper turns each pattern down for her own reasons--too plain, not enough color, too glum--until the tailor finds the perfect pattern for her, and they design her very special dress together!

This is one of the most unique children's books I've seen for a while. Fabric patterns are not a typical topic for a picture book, and the illustrations are whimsical and fun. Designing and making our own clothing is also not something that we're likely to do. So, this book was a really good introduction to something creative and fun that my son won't get to do in person. His attention usually wavers at some point while reading, but he was glued to this one. We read it several nights in a row and will be buying it when it comes out!

I love this book. The illustrations are absolutely adorable and I love that it tells the stories of all kinds of patterns from around the world and shows the process of making clothes from scratch. It would be perfect to read at school to inspire a project on patterns, design or dressmaking.

This book was cute and wonderfully illustrated, I just feel that a few of the patterns missed the mark. The illustrations didn't completely express the nuances of patterns like seer sucker as they could have. All in all though, it was cute.

A Pattern for Pepper was a lovely glimpse into the world of textiles. There was a bit of information about different patterns that one might see quite often, but not know much about. I recognized the patterns myself, but I didn't know some of the history that was shared about them. It was a nice learning experience.

The artwork was very pretty. I'm not sure of the style exactly, but I think that it was watercolor. I think it was a good match for the story and it flowed well with the narrative.

The reason I am not giving this a full five stars is because while this book will, I think, be entertaining for children, the adults that read it to them might notice a few things about Pepper and her behavior that bother them. For me, it was that she was mentioned as lying on the floor, having her shoes off (she shows off her socks, so I'm assuming this part), and generally being quite picky. Considering this is a business, I would've thought that her mother (shown only in one panel and never mentioned again) would've made sure she acted like a good customer. It was a family business, I understand, and one they're quite familiar with, but it still rubbed me the wrong way.

I would recommend this to read together as it's a good experience, but it would be good for a child to read by themselves, though I think some of the pronunciations might be difficult.

Pepper is a beautiful girl looking for the right pattern fabric for a dress she wishes to wear for an important event. It is her grandmother’s birthday, and she is invited for cake and tea. Pepper’s mother takes her to the tailor in hopes of Pepper finding her favorite pattern.

The book gets really interesting as the tailor introduces Pepper to a different kind of fabric, color, and design. Each design and fabric have a story, background, origin and explanation. They aren’t just pieces of thread put together. I found this absolutely fantastic!

Introducing a child to a world of fabric and textures where color and design combined with history and ethnic origins bring life to an occasion and a dress.

Pepper is very particular; she knew exactly how she wanted to feel and what she was looking for. She finally agreed on a particular fabric which becomes the dress that she wears for her special occasion.

I highly recommend this book to parents looking for something unique, different and educational.

Written by Jeyran Main

This is an adorable story for kids of any age. It teaches textiles and patterns in a way that will interest kids and adults alike, and is a sweet story about a young girl finding her own identity. The allegory is light enough to entertain without being saccharine, but still gets the point across well.

A cute book circling a girl with a vision and an abundance of patterns. Pepper has a special occasion coming up and gets to get a new dress. A little girl turned fashion designer. This book was nice in that there's learning along the way from what a certain pattern is to where it's even from. Pictures on each page giving you insight into what pattern she's looking at. Does a pinstripe fit the fun she is trying to convey? This book will encourage kids to pay attention to detail and maybe even consider making something for their self.

Pepper is totally adorable and very particular, as you will learn when you read the book. This book while taking through the ritual of a little girl picking out fabrics and patterns for her first custom made dress for a special occasion, also teaches you a lot. Who knew paisley was actually a pattern named after a place in Switzerland? I didn’t and I learned that from here along with facts about many more interesting patterns. As Pepper works with Mr.Taylor (the tailor!) to find the perfect pattern for herself, we are treated to learning the patterns, the process of dressmaking (in the simplest terms), and of how kids might make choices (which is pure fun!).
While this book might not be for everyone, it is a book that will be enjoyed by many. The illustrations complement the book perfectly!
Rating: B
Reading Level: 5 – 9 years (though my 10 year old who loves to craft/sew/knit also enjoyed it – mainly for the information)

A delightful book that teaches children about the names of patterns in fabric. Both my mother and grandmother were gifted seamstresses so I appreciate the idea of teaching children the names, and origins of the names, of fabrics. The illustrations are lovely and the story is charming.

Pepper needs the perfect dress for a special occassion. She goes to the dressmaker with her mother and learns about various different patterns and finally finds the one that fits her perfectly.

The illustrations in this book are beautiful. The book is also a wonderful resource for young children and adults who want to know about fabric patterns. It also shows how if you stay true to yourself you will find a perfect fit, because we all have our perfect pattern.

This is a lovely book about a little girl named Pepper in search of her perfect dress for a very special occasion. Mr. Taylor's shop is just the right place for her and there begins her journey into the tailoring aspect of it and the beauty of picking her own patterns and helping to design it.

There are some parts of this where smaller children might not comprehend the tailors speak of styles and patterns that are mentioned, but even with that they will really enjoy this tale, as did my little girl. She really enjoyed finding out where all these designs came from and seeing the delightful pictures that were shown.

"What pattern is your suit?' Pepper asks. 'Ah! This is tartan. It comes from Scotland and is woven with wool in checked patterns. Tartan is used for clothing, hats and even bagpipes."

Just like my daughter, Pepper has her own style and preferences, fascinated with all the many choices she has available to her. The whole process of taking her measurements, choosing what is best suited for her likes, and seeing it all put together, is a great and satisfying experience.

"The dress if finally ready! 'Your perfect pattern is paisley,' Mr. Taylor says."

A Pattern for Pepper is cute and very descriptive, love when the emphasis is in learning something different. I will be reading this again to my little one, per her request, and more than likely several more times after that.

******I received this copy from Tundra Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.***

What a delightfully fun book! I absolutely love fabric and I think this is a wonderful and educational way to share that love with children. The illustrations were so colorful and clever and I really enjoyed the background information that was shared on all the different fabric Mr. Taylor showed with Pepper. And what a surprise when Pepper chooses my favorite pattern of all for her dress. You can’t go wrong with paisley!!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. I highly recommend this!

Pepper is in search of a new dress for a special occasion. What pattern will she choose? There are many different fabrics and patterns and some fabric patterns are explained. Cute story for girls and pretty illustrations!

Pepper needs a wonderful dress for a special occasion, and after taking her measurements, Mr. Taylor tells her about different patters around the world, and what they mean.

The illustrations are gorgeous, and in beautiful colors. While the story is interesting, and I enjoyed reading it, it won't attracts every kid. The sequential explanations about patterns make the plot get stuck, since not too much is going on. On the other hand, the topic is original, and taking a look on how a dress is made is definitively interesting, specially considering how kids rarely have the chance to see a tailor's work anymore.

My seven year old daughter enjoyed this book. I do not sew, so it was something new for her which kept her interested. It was a fairly quick read for her, as she is like me and reads like a starving person would eat. I think this is a great book with a lot of fascinating details. I would recommend this to my friends for their daughters!

Pepper is shopping for a dress for a very special occasion. Her mother takes her to the family tailor for a one of a kind dress made by Mr. Taylor, the owner of the tailor shop. After meeting with Pepper her and Mr. Taylor set off through bolts of patterns rich in colors and history.

Julie gives the reader a wonderful insight to the different pattern names and their history. It was very educational. This story gives reader a new outlook on the patterns of everyday life. "Patterns are everywhere" according to Mr. Taylor and the pattern of this book is quite astounding. Julie's illustrations are adorably fun. Many children would want to follow Mr. Taylor and Pepper through the dress creation process. I predict quite a few children inspiring to be dress makers and designers after reading. They will also be inspired to have their own opinion and be themselves but in a polite manner as portrayed by Pepper.

The one and only issue I have with the storyline is the reasons Pepper give for turning down particular fabrics. It is difficult for me to believe someone turning down a herringbone pattern, for example, for the simple reason of it being too cold underwater and therefore would not choose that one.

I gave this book 4.5 out of 5 stars. I highly recommend A Pattern for Pepper to the young population, especially if they show an interest in fashion. As I mentioned earlier I can see this book inspiring many children to be creative and design their own clothing and textiles.

Pepper is in need of a new dress for a special occasion so she and her mother ask Mr. Taylor to make one just right for her.
Mr. Taylor takes her measurements and then explains that “fabrics are textiles and textiles come in all sorts of patterns.” He explains there are patterns in all things and begins to compare the floor to herringbone, and tells Pepper that design was inspired by the skeleton of a fish. He then goes on to explain plaids and houndstooth, argyle and ikat, dotted swiss and toile, until he has gone through the history and origins of most of the patterns in his shop. And then, when it seemed like Pepper wasn’t going to agree to any of them, Mr. Taylor finds exactly the right pattern for her special occasion.
If you sew, even if you don’t sew, this book is a charm from beginning to end. The drawings are perfect, soft and vibrant and simple. The history of the patterns is informative for anyone, but if you have a young person in your life who is showing an interest in sewing, this book should be required.

This ARC was given to me for an honest review.

What didn't I like about the book?
1. The ending could have been a little stronger.

What did I like about this book?
1. The beautiful illustrations.
2. The writing.
3. I love how it explains material.
4. Good for the fashion-minded.
5. It explains where each material gets its name.

Personal thoughts:
My daughter loves this book. She is always mixing her clothes and she wears something different each day. She enjoyed the pictures and how everything is explained to her. So yes, my daughter is big into fashion. I hope she keeps up with it in the future. We enjoyed this book and plan on buying the hardcover edition, when it comes out.