Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

Iris Apfel by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara explores the life of this fashion icon. She fell in love with fabrics and fashion as a young girl playing with fabric scraps at her grandmother's house. An exuberant and extroverted person, Apfel favoured bold clothes and jewelry. Her life is definitely a lesson on embracing your own style, and following your passions.

The end of the book contains a more detailed look at her life, using language suited for much older readers. Inspirational and educational both, this entire series is great! I read this with my cubs. We love this series! Highly recommended!

4☆ An Inspiring and Uplifting story.

What a fantastic edition to the Little People Collection.
This Uplifting book teaches Children it's ok to be different and to embrace it.
As fashion is individuality and a way of expressing yourself.
Iris made a successful career for just being her fun, quirky self and following her passion and dreams, not letting anyone tell her any different!

I had never come across Iris Apfel before and I'm so glad I got to read her story.
I think children are going to Love reading all about how she lived life to the fullest by following her dreams and being who she wanted to be. I think Children will be able to relate to her story, and hopefully inspire them to be creative and have fun.

I adore these Collection of books, not only are they easy for children to understand and learn about, but they are also fun, beautifully illustrated and gives just the right amount of information and for those who want to learn a little more there time lines are a wonderful added bonus.


Thank you to Quarto Publishing & Netgalley for my copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

A beautiful vibrant addition to this amazing collection. Iris is some who might be unknown to many but she has had a colourful and varied life even decorating the white house for multiple presidents. It was interesting to have a female who is still living and achieving in her old age and is a fab inspiration for young readers.

Iris Apfel is a style icon who is instantly recognisable on sight but who I actually knew nothing about. I love these books as an easy introduction to famous/inspirational people. I love that Iris followed her own dreams, and her own style. Fashion isn't about how you look but how something makes you feel and Iris is the embodiment of this. I can't wait to share this book with my 6yo daughter tonight.

Iris Apfel was an American fashion icon and businesswoman. She had a unique sense of style and instead of following fashion fads, she became a trendsetter.

These biographies are age appropriate; inspiring and interesting, but not overwhelming. They have bright, beautiful illustrations, striking covers, and look great on a shelf together. I love the diversity of the people featured in this series. Artists, athletes, authors, activists, explorers, entertainers, musicians and scientists.

Thank you NetGalley and Frances Lincoln Children's Books for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Iris is an amazing character and just the perfect role model for my 9yr old who has a love for all things interior design. She was blown away by this wonderful life story of how Iris created her own business and travelled the world collecting fabulous fabrics, dressing famous homes and creating the most enviable fashion wardrobe, and finding fame in her 80s after showcasing her fashion in The Met Museum in NYC. It is so inspiring for my daughters to read about an independent and successful female who set her own trends and followed her own interests. A superb addition to the Little People, Big Dreams series.

I love the regularity in which new titles appear in the Little People, Big Dreams series and I love it even more when the title celebrates the life of someone I haven’t heard of.

Growing up in Queens, New York, only child Iris was surrounded by fabrics and loved nothing more than exploring the different colours and patterns. These early childhood experiences led to a life dedicated to fashion. Iris had style, flair and creativity and she made it her mission to find textiles that she wanted to wear, not to impress others but to wear to be herself. Bringing colour and fun with her wherever she went, the ‘rarest bird in the fashion world’ was her own style icon…

In a world where we are expected to conform and fit in, Iris’ story is a wonderful one about the joys of standing out and daring to be different. Iris had a passion and she followed it even when others offered unflattering opinions, while Iris was at university she was told that she was not pretty but she had style. With fashion and style ruining through her veins, oozing self-confidence and embracing the right to express herself, Iris led the most colourful life and had the most wonderful of wardrobes.

The quirky lady with the over-sized glasses had an eye for colours and patterns and is a brilliant example of having the courage and confidence to express yourself and to be brave and bold. In Iris’ case, it was to be brave and bold enough to wear whatever made her happy. This message about being true to yourself is a universal message that all readers can embrace and extends far beyond the world of fashion. Children need to know that it is OK to be different from the crowd and Iris is a brilliant role model for this.

The story is told in short and simple sentence and is delightfully illustrated with vibrant and colourful artwork that is as bright and as bold as the lady herself - I think she would rather like the way that her life has been represented. At the back of the the book there is a short overview of her life which includes key facts and dates and a historical timeline featuring photographs.

A fabulous short biography about one of the lesser known names of the fashion world.

Recommended for 5+.

With thanks to Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara and Frances Lincoln Children’s Books for the advanced reader copy that was received through NetGalley.

I absolutely adore the Little People, Big Dreams series. Filled with glorious illustrations, these texts are a fabulous springboard for classroom discussion. I love how they cover such a broad range of famous faces, from scientists to musicians.

I was unfamiliar with the story of Iris Apfel and so I was very much looking forward to learning more about this business woman, fashionista and designer.. As always, I thoroughly enjoyed this offering from Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara, which painted an interesting picture of the life of Apfel. The illustrations were incredible and really helped to bring the story to life. The story didn’t have quite the same impact upon me in terms of its message and wider reach, however I still enjoyed it. I am pleased to see this series diversifying into some less well-known figures across a range of domains.

We will be adding this book to our Person of the Week list and I know it will be enjoyed by many of my Year 5 readers. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Another gem from the Little People, Big Dreams series, this colourful and inspiring account of Iris Apfel's life hits just the right note for young budding fashionistas!

I enjoyed reading this beautifully illustrated book about Iris Apfel, who is a famous fashion icon and interior designer from America. The book shows her life from when she grew up in New York, until the present time. She was a very creative person who was inspired by her grandmother. The illustrations of this book portray Iris wonderfully, since she always wore bright clothes and bold jewellery, as well as big glasses and she looks wonderful in the images shown. She seems like a fun person.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and Net Galley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What a delightful, uplifting look at the amazing life of Iris Apfel and how she came to be the fun, and quirky style icon we recognise today!

This addition to the Little people: BIG DREAMS collection is another beautifully illustrated mini-bio which perfectly captures Iris and her unique eye for thrifty, quirky designs. This book shares a great message through Iris’s story which is:
“How fun and wonderful life can be when you let yourself shine!” Iris didn’t let the opinions of others slow her down and used her unique style to express herself! What a great message to share with the young minds of today!

**I received an advanced copy of this ebook to read and review. Thank you NetGalley l, the author and publisher for allowing me this opportunity **

Another brilliant addition to this series – I always keep an eye out for new titles of Little People, Big Dreams, as they’re firm favourites in our home.
The illustrations in this book are an absolute joy – they’re particularly colourful to convey Iris’s eccentric style and flair for expressing herself. Children will readily identify with young Iris Barrel, who enjoyed playing with fabrics and selecting favourites.
The book celebrates Iris’s eye for the unusual and aesthetic. Through the story of this fashion icon, it teaches little ones to accept individuality, to pursuing their passions and to be themselves.
Thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Yet another gorgeous edition to this series of books! I love how they chronicle the lives of such a range of inspiring characters. In this one we learn through simple text and colourful illustrations the flamboyant life of Iris Apfel and how she became a style icon by doing things her own way.

This is another brilliant addition to this series – even as an adult I look out for the next book in the series being released!

I love the images in this series and this is a delightful introduction to Iris Apfel – she is such a fascinating lady, I love she is not afraid to be herself and use her own style and unique personality in her outfits. She really is an inspiration.

This series is an excellent introduction to some of the well-known, and less well-known characters that have had a great impact in our lives through a variety of subjects such as literature and social influences in this case fashion - I love the variety of people chosen.

It is 5 stars from me for this one – a delightful read and one I will be very highly recommending!

I’ll admit it: I had bigger expectations for this little book.

I’ve have an interest in picture books that explore deeper ideas, and I have seen what they CAN do to broaden young minds, so I don’t believe that it is necessary for children’s books to be quite as truncated as this book is.

As someone who only recently heard about Iris Apfel, I think the idea for this book is great, but I do not think that Apfel’s eccentricity and wonder was quite conveyed. The illustrations of the periphery are more distracting than Apfel herself, while I would have thought that there would be many little details to see on her character.

I wonder (although this does not affect my rating, because I am undecided) if the description of Apfel as Jewish is really relevant. Perhaps it is to promote cross-cultural reading, but I’m not sure it adds much to THIS particular book.

In summary, the idea was good, but the execution is lacking.

Another great book in a great series of books!
I am in the UK and I have never heard of this lady, yet I knew I would still enjoy the book so didn't hesitate to request it via netgalley.
Learnt a lot about her - from her childhood right up until the current day.
Great book

Another charming addition to this series. The illustrations are so vibrant and charming, really capturing characters and the fab textiles Iris is known for. I've always found the quote where the woman said she wasn't pretty but had style to be so rude - like, just say she has style you don't have to mention her attractiveness...

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

WoW! Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara books must be one of the best little books to purchase for children, these are the best-selling series of books and educational games that explore the lives of outstanding people, from designers and artists to scientists and activists. All of them achieved incredible things, yet each began life as a child with a dream.

So, this latest book is about Iris Apfel by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara and is just brilliant throughout.

"Growing up in Queens, New York, little Iris was the only child at family events. Her grandmother would open a giant bag of fabric, filled with every color and pattern, and let her play with fabric scraps. This inspired a lifelong love of fashion. Famous for her eclectic style, built around oversized glasses, bright colors, and bold jewelry, Iris was the subject of an exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art when she was just 84 years young."
This inspiring book features stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the style icon's life.

It's one book, you should definitely buy for your little readers so they can learn about this wonderful artist.

I am so glad these books are being published and I highly recommend all of these books

Many thanks to Quarto’s Frances Lincoln Children’s Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was so glad to see a book about Iris Apfel, because she definitely has an interesting life and she is such an authentic individual.

You learn a little bit about her background, where she grew up, how she got into fashion and how it all progressed through time. Essentially, how and why she became such a fashion icon.

As always, the illustrations are beautiful.

This book teaches our little ones self-expression, acceptance of difference, fearlessness in going after what you're passionate about and simply not being afraid to be who you want to be. Love it.