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Mr. Frank

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By DeeDee
Cover image for Mr. Frank
by Irene Luxbacher
Groundwood Books, 2014. Picture Book
 
Mr. Frank is an elderly tailor. In the 1940's he repaired military uniforms. In the 50's, 60's and 70's he sewed a variety of stylish and important clothes. He sewed tutu's for ballerinas, and jeans for cowboys.  But now he gets to sew the most important and exciting project of his long career. This is a sweet story of a grandfather's love. The illustrations are delightfully eclectic and follow the course of fashion through the recent decades. Luxbacher skillfully suggests age progression as Frank goes from being a new young tailor, to an experienced master tailor, to a wizened, kindly grandfather.  If the author/illustrator were an American instead of Canadian, I would have put this on my Caldecott contender list.
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