I wrote Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story (a chapter book for ages 7-10) in May, 1994. At that time, I knew Kimble would be wearing a dress from the fall of 1918.It took me years to find a pattern for Kimble's dress. I looked and looked. Then, two years ago I finally contacted Mrs. Penny Ladnier over at CostumeGallery.com to see if she had any books or catalogs from 1918.
In Kimble's day, most girls did not go to the store and buy clothes. They bought patterns and cloth. Then they made their dresses at home! They would put the pattern on top of the cloth and then cut out the pieces of the dress. Then they would sew the pieces together.
When I contacted Mrs. Ladnier, I was truly surpised. Mrs. Ladnier had just won an auction for a pattern book from the fall of 1918! And what was even more amazing was the auction was over in France!
So we waited and waited for the book to arrive. Once Mrs. Ladnier received the pattern book for children's dresses, she faxed me the different dresses that were for a girl Kimble's age. Then I chose one I liked.
Later, the illustrator for Katie & Kimble, Mrs. Kim Tharp, helped me design the back of the dress. We could guess at the back pretty well because we could see the front and the side of the dress.
Mrs. Tharp also painted in a plaid pattern for the cloth of the dress. Plaid was very popular that year.
So, that means that Kimble's dress is REAL and that real girls wore that dress in 1918. They also wore big red bows in their hair, just like Kimble. And we took Kimble's hairstyle and her dress boots from the pattern book, too!
Just thought you might like to know!
Fun Katie & Kimble Hint: On the sidebars, click on the yellow stripes for a little surprise or two!
Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story is now available at Lulu.com:
Instant download version: $2.48
Paperback version: $8.95
Click here to order Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story!
Click here to order Katie & Kimble: The Magic Wish (Book 2)!
[Reading Level 3, for ages 7-10]
Nine-year-old Katie Russell and her family look normal. But the Russells don't know they are living with Kimble, the ghost of a ten-year-old girl. That is, until Katie discovers Kimble and they become best friends!
© 2007-2008 by Linda Thieman
