By Elizabeth Weitzman, illustrated by Helen Green

Disclosure: GreatfulMoments.com received this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through my link, at no additional cost to you.

I wanted to bring you something in our 30 Minute Reading Challenge this morning that fashion icons will love or music lovers or anyone who loves playing with paper dolls.

I choose Style Icons: Kylie Minogue: A Dress-Up Paper Doll Book because it will give your family something to do while spending time creating new memories.

When I first picked up Style Icons: Kylie Minogue: A Dress-Up Paper Doll Book, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. I’ll be honest with you: I knew the name Kylie Minogue, but I wouldn’t have called myself a Kylie Minogue fan because I really didn’t know much about her music or her career.

Well, Buttercup, this little book changed that! What I discovered was much more than a paper-doll book. It became a little introduction to music, fashion, movies, art, pop culture, costumes, and the story of a performer whose career has stretched across decades. And, as you know, I love a good #teachingmoment.

If you’re like me and only knew Kylie Minogue’s name, this book gives you a chance to get to know her a little better. Which brought me to a lot of teaching moments to share with David and Charlie.

The book takes us through some of Kylie’s most memorable looks and moments, beginning with her early career and continuing through some of her most recognizable music videos and tours.

There are stories along the way, too, so you’re not simply looking at an outfit and moving on to the next one. You’re learning a little bit about what Kylie was doing at that point in her career and why that particular look became memorable. And that gave me a whole bunch of #TeachingMoments to share with my friends and family.

The Kylie paper doll isn’t just a flat piece of paper that you dress and then put away. You press out the Kylie mannequin, and she comes with a stand so you can actually have her standing up.

The clothing pieces have tabs that help keep the outfits on her, and you can change the clothes again and again. That repeat play is something I really like.

And if you have a favorite outfit, I could even see using a tiny little bit of tape to keep Kylie dressed in that particular look and putting her on a shelf where you can see her every day.

Her illustrated smile has such a warm feeling to it. To me, it radiates kindness and generosity, and I could see why someone might enjoy having her displayed rather than simply putting all the pieces back in the book.

One of the first things I noticed was how many opportunities there are to stop and learn something. There’s the famous gold outfit from the “Spinning Around” music video. Which we can watch the video and then come back to the book and look at the outfit.

Then we move through other important moments in Kylie’s career, including “Can’t Get You Out of My Head.” That sent me down another little rabbit hole because I realized there was so much about Kylie’s career that I simply didn’t know.

And that’s what I love about books like this. Sometimes a book doesn’t just give you information. It makes you curious enough to go looking for more. Before we know it a whole day has gone by and were still reading the book.

Here’s one of my favorite discoveries in the entire book. I had no clue Kylie Minogue was in Moulin Rouge! Did you? Now, it looks like I need to watch this movie again.

Because Kylie appeared as the Green Fairy in Baz Luhrmann’s movie, starring Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman. And suddenly we’re not just talking about a paper doll anymore.

Now we’re talking about a movie, an Australian director, costume design, acting, music, and the story behind the character. Her costume immediately reminded me of a butterfly or even Tinker Bell. Another #teachingmoment

The book also talks about “Come Into My World,” a music video created by French director Michel Gondry. And guess what? That gave me another name to look up.

I learned that Gondry was also known for his work with artists such as Björk, Radiohead, and The White Stripes and directed Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

That’s another movie I had never seen! See what happened there? One little paper-doll book led me from Kylie Minogue to a music video, to a director, to other musicians, and then to a movie. That’s exactly the kind of thing I enjoy discovering with my family.

For homeschooling families, I can see so many ways to use this book beyond simply playing with paper dolls. You could bring it into a home economics lesson while talking about clothing and fashion.

You could use it for art by studying Helen Green’s illustrations and the different costumes. You could bring music into the lesson by listening to Kylie’s songs and watching some of her music videos.

Then there are opportunities to explore film, history, pop culture, mythology, geography, costume design, and even art history. When the book gets to Kylie’s Aphrodite Les Folies Tour, for example, we learn that the production drew inspiration from Greek mythology.

Kylie emerges from a gilded shell reminiscent of Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus. Well, now I want to visit an art gallery! Isn’t that cool? One book can open the door to so many different subjects.

The costumes throughout the book are probably my favorite part. There’s the gold look from “Spinning Around.” There’s the beautiful white look associated with “Can’t Get You Out of My Head.”

There’s the futuristic-looking outfit from the Fever era, complete with thigh-high boots, a short blue skirt and a blue top. Charlie and David both noticed that one because it has that almost sci-fi feeling.

Then there’s the spectacular Showgirl look. That one reminds me of a Vegas showgirl or a circus performer, complete with stars and a beautiful headpiece.

It even made me think of I Love Lucy and that wonderful kind of old-fashioned show-business glamour. And then we get to Aphrodite Les Folies, where Kylie looks almost like a Greek goddess in white and gold.

The book finishes by giving you even more looks to enjoy, and some of those little dresses are so cute that I could absolutely see some of my friends wearing them.

One fact in the book really made me stop. Kylie Minogue became the first female artist in the UK to have a number-one album in five consecutive decades. Five decades!

That is a pretty amazing career milestone and another great opportunity to talk with older children and teens about longevity in the music business, changing musical styles, and what it means for an artist to continue reinventing herself over many years.

And then there’s “Padam Padam.” Kylie was 52 when that song became a major hit, and the book uses that moment to show that her career certainly wasn’t finished. I love that message.

I will mention one other thing for parents: The Kylie mannequin is dressed in a black bikini, so depending on the age and interests of the child you’re buying this for, that’s something you may want to know ahead of time.

I don’t think it makes the book inappropriate for everyone, but I could see some families wanting to look through it together, particularly if they’re purchasing it for a younger child.

For older children, tweens and teens, I think the fashion and music angle may be much more interesting anyway. Now, let’s talk about something I think parents will want to know.

The book is $19.95, and while I can see the work and detail that went into it, that’s a little more than I would normally spend on a paper-doll book for a child.

Why? Because this isn’t really a traditional book that you’re going to read and then carefully return to the shelf. You’re going to press out the Kylie mannequin. You’re going to press out the clothing. You’re going to dress her. And that’s part of the fun!

But eventually, the book is designed to be taken apart and used. For me, that makes $19.95 something I’d want to think about before purchasing it for a child.

If I knew the child loved Kylie, fashion, music, paper dolls, costumes or pop culture, I’d feel differently. And if you’re a true Kylie Minogue collector or devoted fan, I can understand looking at the book differently altogether.

For a collector, this isn’t simply a $19.95 children’s activity book. It’s a piece of Kylie memorabilia that celebrates some of her most recognizable looks and gives you something you can actually interact with and display.

Now, I have a fun fact to share with you: Would I Put This in Our Christmas Gift Guide? Absolutely. You will find this amazing paper-doll book inside our GreatfulMoments Christmas Gift Guide this year.

I think it makes the most sense for tweens, pre-teens and teens, particularly those who enjoy music, fashion, drawing, costumes, celebrities or something a little different. It could also be a fun gift for a Kylie Minogue fan or collector.

And for homeschooling families, I love that you can take something that looks like simple entertainment and turn it into a conversation about art, fashion, music, movies, mythology, history and so much more.

I honestly had fun learning about a true icon whose name I’d heard many times but whose story I really didn’t know. Now I know a little more about Kylie Minogue, and I’m going to be able to learn more, listen to her music, watch some of her videos, and share what I discover with my family and friends.

And isn’t that what I love about a good book? Sometimes you pick one up because the subject catches your eye, and by the time you finish it, you’ve discovered something completely new.

That’s what happened to me with Style Icons: Kylie Minogue: A Dress-Up Paper Doll Book. I started with a paper doll. I ended up discovering a musician, a fashion icon, a movie cameo, music videos, costumes, art, mythology and a whole lot of new things I want to explore.

So, Kylie, I guess it’s time for me to listen to some of your music. I have some catching up to do! Grab yur favorite beverage and a chair and meet me on the front porch as I turn on her music.

About:

Dial up the disco and step into the glittery world of Kylie Minogue with this glam paper doll book.

Kylie Minogue isn’t just a pop superstar—she’s a fashion chameleon whose looks have defined decades of music, style, and pure joy. This book features a press-out Kylie mannequin and ten of her most unforgettable outfits, beautifully illustrated by Helen Green. From the golden hotpants of “Spinning Around” to the show-stopping stagewear of her Aphrodite and Disco tours, each look celebrates Kylie’s signature blend of attitude, playfulness, and pop magic.

A tribute to Australia’s ultimate style queen, Style Icons: Kylie Minogue captures the sparkle, strength, and reinvention that have made Kylie an icon for generations.

Elizabeth Weitzman

ELIZABETH WEITZMAN is a journalist, film critic, and the author of more than two dozen books for children and young adults. She currently covers movies for the Wrap, and was a critic for the New York Daily News for 15 years.

She has interviewed hundreds of celebrities, and written about entertainment for the New York Times, the Village Voice, Marie Claire, Harper’s Bazaar, Interview, and many others.

In 2015, she was named one of the top critics in New York by the Hollywood Reporter. She holds a Master’s degree in Cinema Studies from NYU, and is a longstanding member of the New York Film Critics Circle and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Visit renegadewomen.net.

✝️ Glenda | 🐸 David | 🎮 Charlie | 🦋 Suzanne

Grateful, Thankful, and Blessed.

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