Different Like Coco

by Elizabeth Matthews

The rags-to-riches story of Coco Chanel plays out in a wonderful picture-book biography as full of style and spirit as its heroine.

Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel was always different. And she vowed to prove that being different was an advantage! Poor, skinny, and orphaned, Coco stubbornly believed that she was as good as the wealthier girls of Paris. Tapping into her creativity and her sewing skills, she began making clothes that suited her (and her pocketbook) — and soon a new generation of independent working women craved her sleek, comfortable, and practical designs. Now an icon of fashion and culture, Coco Chanel continues to inspire young readers, showing just how far a person can come with spunk, determination, and flair.
Back matter includes a fashion time line and a bibliography.

Genres: Picture Books, Biography, Fashion, France, Nonfiction, Childrens, Womens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published February 13, 2007

Reviews

[Calista · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read several stories of Coco Channel now and seen the TV movie and she is a fascinating person. This book did a nice job getting to what made her so unique. It had a lovely art style. She wanted to stand out and be noticed. She didn't try and blend in, but she made her very own style. She also acted as if she were equals with all those around her. She was a poor girl from the poor class and that never put her in her place. She acted as if she were equals with all the rich women in society and demanded to be treated as such.

I love that about her most. I love that she saw herself as equal and she changed all the rules and expected people to come to her and they did. She is amazing.

Another interesting fact I learned is that her Channel No. 5 had 81 ingredients in it and was the most expensive perfume in the world in 1931. Interesting. She was not worried about asking people to pay for products worth their money.

It was the world that changed fashion. Women had to work during the war and their clothes had to change. They also had less textiles. Women were actually told to lose weight because they couldn't use as much fabrice for bigger ladies. Coco took off at that time and became a world brand. Who knows if Coco would have been as big without the war, that's WWI. She changed the fashions of the day completely. She didn't believe in corsets.

I recommend this book.

[Abigail · Rating 1 out of 5]

Author/illustrator Elizabeth Matthews, a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, explores the life of groundbreaking fashion designer Coco Chanel in this picture-book biography. From Chanel's early years at a convent orphanage, where she learned to sew, to her time as a seamstress, and the launch of her own independent career in hat and dressmaking, Matthews focuses on the ways in which her subject was different from those around her, and how she made that difference a point of pride, rather than a weakness...

I sought out Different Like Coco after reading Annemarie van Haeringen's Coco and the Little Black Dress and finding it woefully inadequate in its treatment (or non-treatment) of Chanel's actions as a spy for the Nazis during World War II. I was curious to see if this far less inspirational aspect of the subject's life was similarly omitted in this work, and sure enough, it was. In Elizabeth Matthews' defense, although Chanel's love affair with a Nazi officer was common knowledge from the end of the war, more solid evidence of her role as an agent - apparently she had an agent number (F-7124) and a code name (Westminster) of her own - doesn't seem to have reached the popular consciousness until 2011, when Hal Vaughan’s Sleeping with the Enemy: Coco Chanel's Secret War was published. Unlike van Haeringen, who published the original Dutch-language version of her Coco and the Little Black Dress in 2013, after these revelations became public, Different Like Coco was published in 2007, so it's quite possible Matthews didn't have access to this information, which would make her own omission more forgivable.

Whatever the case may be, I still find it difficult to swallow an adulatory book about Chanel being presented to young readers, given what we now know about her life, and I simply couldn't take this one to heart. Chanel was an influential figure, and I wouldn't argue that her story should not be told, but being a Nazi is not a small foible or a personality quirk, and that part of her story should also be included, even if only in the back matter. Leaving this aside, I was also made somewhat uncomfortable by the treatment of weight in Matthews' text and artwork. I think the intent was to show that Coco, considered unfashionably thin in her youth, turned her difference into a strength, designing clothing more suited to her own body type, but the end product left a sour taste in my mouth. There was a feeling, perhaps accentuated by some of the artwork, which depicted the fashionably plump ladies in question in almost a porcine way, that not only had fashion left heavier-set women behind, but that said women had it coming, because Coco herself was body-shamed. Perhaps this too was unintentional, but that was the impression I took away, and I didn't care for its (forgive the pun) smallness.

In sum, I don't recommend this one. I think that I will give up on Coco biographies for now, rather than continue to hunt, as is my usual way.

[Kathryn]

Seemed a bit overlong and I wasn't a huge fan of the illustrations, but I think this story does a wonderful job of showing that, while sometimes our differences may make life challenging, they can also be a wonderful pathway into opportunity and making us outstanding individuals. It would also be a great book for kids interested in fashion design.

ETA 1/21: I read this book over ten years ago and had no idea until I read Abigail's review today that Coco Chanel was a Nazi. (In fact, Matthews may have been unaware of this information herself at the time the book was published.) You might want to check out Abigail's review before you consider sharing this book with children as Matthews does not address that aspect of Chanel's life and presents her as an icon to be admired.

[Manybooks · Rating 1 out of 5]

With her 2007 picture book biography Different Like Coco author/illustrator Elizabeth Matthews presents to and for younger readers, to and for the so-called picture book crowd the life (or more to the point the personally and carefully chosen biographical parts) of groundbreaking French fashion designer and icon Coco Chanel (from Coco's early years at a strict convent orphanage, where she learned to sew, to her time as a seamstress, and the launch of her own independent career in hat and dressmaking), and with Matthews primarily focusing in Different Like Coco on the ways in which Coco Chanel supposedly was "different" and if one reads between the lines of Elizabeth Matthew's featured text also seemingly "better" than those around her (and in particular how Chanel always made being "different" a point of personal pride, rather than considering it to be a problem, a to be fought against weakness).

But honestly, for me in Different Like Coco to rather constantly be encountering Coco Chanel being shown by Elizabeth Matthews as possessing a rather obvious and overt snobby arrogance of demeanour and of thought (and that this is also in my opinion very much lauded and totally celebrated by Matthews in both her text and also with her accompanying artwork), it does make me at best feel more than somewhat uncomfortable and not at all in the mood to consider Coco Chanel in any way a role model for in particular young girls. Because indeed, a successful but not so generally quite holier than thou and opinionated Coco Chanel would definitely make me more positively inclined towards Chanel as a person (and yes, Elizabeth Matthews in Different Like Coco not either textually or visually finding it worthy of criticism that Coco Chanel seems to often have been quite dismissive and verbally abusive towards the employees of her dress shops, this definitely makes me massively angry and frustrated, as there in my opinion is definitely a textual enabling and condoning of arrogance and nastiness happening with Elizabeth Matthews' printed words in Different Like Coco, and Matthews also kind of insinuating that Coco Chanel could really do no wrong, and that as a famous and innovative fashion icon she is obviously for the author also somehow above criticism and should thus only be celebrated and feted).

Furthermore and hugely importantly, considering that for one, the persistent and universally known rumours of Coco Chanel allegedly collaborating with the Nazis in WWII and even acting as a spy for them (and which have now been pretty well proven to have indeed been true) are completely and utterly ignored by Elizabeth Matthews in Different Like Coco and that there is for two also a palpable and nastily negative attitude towards those of us who are not skinny like proverbial bean poles constantly being (in my opinion) made with and by Matthews's featured narrative (and also with her pictures), yes, my reading time with Different Like Coco has been at best annoying and at worst massively infuriating and thus only worth a one star rating. For even though the absolute proof of Coco Chanel basically being a traitor to France and spying for the Nazis in WWII only occurred in 2011 (and that Different Like Coco was published in 2007), there still had been very many and very strong rumours regarding all of this for decades, and for Elizabeth Matthews not to even with one word acknowledge and to point these rumours and speculations out in Different Like Coco, that is not only ridiculous, it also makes me wonder if Matthews with her clearly uncritical and total admiration of and for Coco Chanel would rather believe and have her young readers believe with Different Like Coco that there were supposedly never any French citizens collaborating with and spying for the Nazis, that as some critical voices have sarcastically claimed in Nazi occupied France every individual not only actively despised the German occupiers but was also secretly supporting and being a member of La Resistance.

And honestly, this kind of an attitude, this horrible sense of whitewashing is definitely not AT ALL acceptable for a non fiction picture book biography published in 2007, as by that time, most of the rumours regarding Coco Chanel being "in bed with the Nazis" were quite universally considered as having massively major grains of truth in them (and that at the very least, even if Elizabeth Matthews might not want to present these rumours within the text proper of Different Like Coco, she should definitely be featuring and mentioning them in her back materials).

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I hear Coco Chanel, I think of the LBD (Little Black Dress.) But what I learned reading this book to my girls was much more impressive than her influence within the fashion industry and the world. Coco was orphaned early in her life, raised with the poor, and could not marry the man she loved because of her social standing (or lack thereof). And yet, regardless of all these differences, she rose above the ordinary and became an icon for women everywhere.

And if the story does not intrigue you, then pick up this book to see the illustrations - my favorite is on the back of the book!

[Thomasin Propson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Coco Chanel's rag-to-riches story, for the young. Queries/statements that arose during our reading:

-Why didn't her father take care of her and her siblings after their mother died?

-She refused corsets, but she fell into the high heels trap. Not truly free...

-Fat women couldn't wear her designs. Is that fair?

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

A woman of questionable character is portrayed as someone who liberated women from restrictive corsets, as well as the social restrictions preventing mixing of the classes. Matthews shines a rosy light on a woman who, it has recently come to light, was a virulent anti-Semite and Nazi sympathizer. Her relationship with "Boy" was that of a mistress, whose success would depend on the support of many men, according to recent biographies. Raises the question: should "bad" people be celebrated for their artistic contributions? Wonderful caricature line drawings of Coco, with her upturned nose.

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Different Like Coco is the biography of Coco Channel for children. Channel was born very poor, and her mother died when she was young, and she was sent to an orphanage where she was even poorer.

Nevertheless, she learned to sew and was sent to school with very affluent young women; both of these things led to her career as a fashion designer who broke all the rules.

You will love both the Channel story and the illustrations in this book, and you will come away admiring the gumption of this little poor girl who made something big of her life.

[Teri · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 7 year old fashion-conscious daughter and I read this book multiple times. She loved Chanel’s innovative fashion and style. I loved Chanel’s story of her early life and her unapologetic way of living. This is a great story for women and girls.

We didn’t find it too long and we enjoyed the illustrations.

[Stay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Coco was always different. She came from nothing and turned herself into something. Even when time eras were tough, she fought through and made herself unique.

[Joanna Marple · Rating 5 out of 5]

“AT A TIME when France was the centre of all that was wealthy, grandiose and fashionable, Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel was born poor and skinny. COCO WAS ALWAYS DIFFERENT.”

Isn’t this a cracking hook? From the streets of poverty, through a barren catholic orphanage to Paris, the hub of world fashion at the beginning of the 20th century, Coco carries herself with confidence, independence and determination. Her cheeky charismatic personality is evident from her early fashionable play, to her making up stories at the confessional, through to her creeping in to the polo matches to make contact with the high society of Gay Paris. Her liaison with a wealthy British aristocrat is her doorway into shop ownership and eventual iconoclastic fame for her unique style. She played to her uniqueness and her strengths and she never let her lowly beginnings determine her future or how she should be treated. Her simple, practical yet chic style was to give her legendary fame by her fifties. One telling sentence towards the end of the book is, “women no longer wanted to dress just like Coco — they wanted to be like Coco.”

Why I like this book: I struggle with thinking up god titles, and this is an example of a great title which captures the essence of the entire book! Matthews has a light, vibrant confident style, rather like her protagonist Ms Chanel! The characters are almost caricatured and there is humor on every page through expression, interaction and witty asides. A lot of information is imparted but with such fun and gaiety, that even young girls won’t be overwhelmed by the content. I most appreciate though, is this willful independent spirit through two world wars and a time of social upheaval, Coco was a real pioneer not just for women, but for celebrating one’s uniqueness. I think many girls will enjoy this spirited biography. I have to say today’s choice may not appeal to as many boys, but why not? It should inspire anyone to dare to dream!

[Kassidy Pine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Different Like Coco explores the life of Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel. When Coco was younger she sometimes accompanied her father to the marketplace and saw how many women reacted to the fancy clothing and she imitated their persona. When her mother died her and her sister were sent to an orphanage where she learned to sew and used her creative imagination to make rag dolls. When she was older she attended Notre Dame and taught herself to appear like she was an elegant, wealthy young woman, although she was still penniless. Coco began to make her own clothing that was different from the typical outfits worn at that time period. After sneaking into a polo match she met the love of her life, who bought her her own small shop for her clothing. Her clothing not only became iconic, but very practical and soon everyone was wearing what she created.This caused everyone to want to be just like Coco Chanel because she was different from the rest.

This picture book follows many characteristics of biographies. First with chronological order from Coco as a child with her family to her in her life as a successful designer. There is also scenes and dialogue that is that help further describes the person and events that Coco experienced. This book falls under the sub genre of dealing with adversity. When Coco has a struggle against the odds and against her poor life. This book can also be considered fictionalized biography because it is grounded in research however the character is dramatized and the dialog may not be exact to how it happened.

This message particularly highlights overcoming adversity. Form being a young poor girl to extremely successful in an area that she loves, many can view her as an inspiration to following your dream.

[Lauren]

Curricular Connections:

You could make it into a writing assignment. Have the students discuss what Coco did for women and how she impacted the world. Then have them write about someone they feel has impacted their lives in a positive way.

§110.18. English Language Arts and Reading, Grade 6, Beginning with School Year 2009-2010

(9) Reading/Comprehension of Informational Text/Culture and History. Students analyze, make inferences and draw conclusions about the author's purpose in cultural, historical, and contemporary contexts and provide evidence from the text to support their understanding. Students are expected to compare and contrast the stated or implied purposes of different authors writing on the same topic.

(16) Writing. Students write about their own experiences. Students are expected to write a personal narrative that has a clearly defined focus and communicates the importance of or reasons for actions and/or consequences.

[Jordan Chisholm · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has won no awards

Appropriate grade level(s) are 1st-5th

This book tells all about the life and success of Coco Chanel. The story discusses the impact she had on the fashion industry as well. It also talks about Coco's life before her career and how she became who she is known as today.

I enjoyed this book. Coco Chanel's story is such an inspiring one and I think it would be great to use with students in a classroom. It shows them a real life example of someone who came from nothing and worked hard to become something they could be proud of.

I would use this book in class to get children excited about learning. When the child knows a story is based of a real person or event they become so excited. I would use this book as an example of a life story with older students then ask them to write a short life story for themselves.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book because I learned a lot more than I was anticipating. I also had a pre-determined opinion about Coco Chanel and the fashion industry in general and this really changed my perspective. I learned that Coco was an orphan, raised in a very poor home, and couldn't marry the man she wanted to because of their difference in social classes. A very inspiring story of (literally) rags to riches and I think is very empowering to little girls and women to show that if you work hard and take life by the reigns, anything is possible.

I wasn't a huge fan of the illustrations but I think other people would because they're simplistic yet detailed but they just didn't jive with me for some reason. Overall, I enjoyed the book.

[현순 최 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book describes about Gabrielle Coco Chanel. When she was twelve, her mother died. She was sent to an orphanage. When she was eighteen, she enters Note Dame, a finishing school. After that, she takes a job at a tailoring shop. She opens her first dress shop, on LA rue Cambon in Paris. The eponymous perfume, Chanel No. 5,debuts. It contained more than eighty ingredients and was the world 's most expensive perfume at the time. She develops her signature cardigan jacket and creates the little black dress. World War 2 begins, She closes all of her boutiques. A successful comeback restores Coco Chanel to the ranks of haute couture.

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel was always different. And she vowed to prove that being different was an advantage! Poor, skinny, and orphaned, Coco stubbornly believed that she was as good as the wealthier girls of Paris. Tapping into her creativity and her sewing skills, she began making clothes that suited her (and her pocketbook) — and soon a new generation of independent working women craved her sleek, comfortable, and practical designs. Now an icon of fashion and culture, Coco Chanel continues to inspire young readers, showing just how far a person can come with spunk, determination, and flair.

[Lois · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author/illustrator Elizabeth Matthews' presents the life story of the independent-thinking French fashion designer, Coco Chanel. Coco started as a seamstress and capitalized on the changes in society during World War I. She created comfortable, simple, but stylish clothes for working women that let them move freely. She became a success, and her ideas over the years influenced fashion. The historical details, wonderful illustrations, and back matter contribute to a delightful book. (The vocabulary seemed "old" for younger readers and more for middle-graders.)

[Ally Lybbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picture Book, Historical, Biography, Non-Fiction
I liked this SO much more than the Amelia Bloomer and I feel like it met the same goal of that book. To inspire students to think outside the box and be inhibited.
I really want to have a collection of autobiographies and biographies for my students to do exploratory projects with. This could definitely be one for that purpose.
We could also use it to talk about how despite rough circumstances anyone can make the best of a tough situation. We could also talk about treating others with respect.
Cool pen illustrations too.

[Kris Dersch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Going back and forth between 3 and 4 stars on this one.
It can be hard to write a good biography for kids on complicated historical figures. I feel like this one is done successfully, certainly highlighting her important contributions to fashion and her eschewing of traditional roles for herself, with some insight as to why. Definitely an interesting biography.

[Katarina · Rating 5 out of 5]

*MULTICULTURAL

I personally LOVED this book. I love Parisian style and culture. I never realized Coco Chanel was a poor orphan. Such an inspiring book. Especially for young girls. I will definitely be purchasing this book!

Lexile: 925
DRA: 44

The ideas in this book were powerful and for that I give it a high rating.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review: https://hiplibrariansbookblog.com/200...

[Vaden Ellwanger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summary: Coco, a poor orphan, always dreamed to be like the wealthy elite women in Paris. She developed a talent for sewing in the orphanage and a passion for clothing. She began to take off in her career during WWI when working women needed something other than a corset; she created comfortable and trendy clothes that all women wanted. She started her own trend and went from nothing to something.

Theme: The theme is about following your dreams and pursuing your passions by working hard.

Response: I love this story about Coco's adventures. It is really neat to see how even the most successful people had to work extremely hard to get to where they are in life. She was confident and driven and, in the end, she was very successful; she made a name for herself.

Recommend because: Children can relate and learn from Coco's life. We all have to start somewhere in life, and this is a great way for kids to learn that through hard work they can accomplish their goals.

[Alaina Covington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Different Like Coco is a non fiction picture book based from the true life story of Coco Chanel. Growing up Coco was poor and always found herself thinking that she was just as good as all the more well off rich girls of France. Throughout the book we watch as Coco begins her first clothing line and we see just how her hard work pays off.

I really enjoyed this book and thought it taught a great lesson about hard work and determination. I think this book would be beneficial to a lot of upper elementary readers and a great lesson on perseverance and proving yourself. Great read!

[Freddie D · Rating 3 out of 5]

Coco Chanel's story certainly is a remarkable one, and this picture-book adaptation is beautiful. I'm not sure how I feel about Chanel's continued obsession with thinness, and the way it is portrayed as a positive in this book.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has so many great teaching themes - hard-work, resilience, individuality and following your passions. With a strong-willed little girl, this will surely be a book we return to again and again over the years.

[Breighton · Rating 3 out of 5]

grade: 2
genre: biographical nonfiction
This book was okay, but not one of my favorites. I could use it to talk about women in history or to talk about confidence.

[skcocnaH · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. Very interesting. I didn’t know anything about coco Chanel before this.

[Miss Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

An elementary level picture book biography of designer Coco Channel and her rise from poverty.

[Karol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful in-depth biography for young easy readers. Includes a “Fashion Time Line”, Bibliography, and Internet Resource at the back of the book.