Contents

Cover

About the Book

Title Page

Dedication

Map

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

About the Author

Copyright

About the Book

Poppy and Saffron are at the New York Fashion Week. They’ve got an action-packed itinerary, including fashion shows and a city tour. But when Poppy finds the supermodel Tallulah Melage sobbing in a corner, she realizes that there’s a darker side to all the glitz.

Join them on their adventure in the Big Apple and find out whether their homespun values and fabulous fashion sense triumph stateside.

About the Author

Janey was born in Edinburgh and grew up by the seaside just outside the city. Janey published the first two Princess Poppy books herself (with her own illustrations) and the books were so popular that Random House Children’s Books soon bought the series and re-packaged the books. The series is now going from strength to strength, including picture books, activity books and sumptuous gift books. Janey has also written two Princess Poppy novels for young readers, Pocket Money Princess and A True Princess, both of which have been very successful.

Janey read English at Edinburgh University specializing in the Victorian novel. Following this she became a teacher – a career that she absolutely adored – and then, with her husband, set up The Jelly Club, which has become an extremely successful chain of children’s activity centres in Scotland. She still very much enjoys visiting schools and talking to children to find out what they like doing and what makes them laugh. Janey and her husband live in Edinburgh with their three sons.

For the real Berry Coleman

and all independent thinkers

Chapter One

POPPY LOOKED THROUGH the aircraft window, desperate for her first peek of New York City. She could hardly believe what she saw, even though she had seen pictures in her guide book, the real thing was even more amazing. The needle-point skyscrapers looked like space rockets about to lift off, and there were masses of neon lights and thousands and thousands of cars driving through the busy streets in the early evening light. Everything looked twinkly. The view was completely alien to Poppy. She was used to the gentle rolling countryside around Honeypot Hill, where little cottages nestled cosily in the dales and the roads were almost empty of cars. She couldn’t wait to explore the city!

Just then the captain announced that they should strap themselves in because the plane would be landing in ten minutes. As the plane descended, Poppy looked from her guide book to the window, trying to see whether she could spot some of the sights she had read about. What she really wanted to see was the Statue of Liberty. It looked so beautiful and she was fascinated by its history. Saffron had explained to her during the flight that the statue had been given to the Americans by the French in 1886 as a sign of friendship and to celebrate American independence.

As they waited to get off the plane, Poppy admired the outfits of all the past them along the aisle.

“Oh, look, Poppy. That’s Tallulah Melage, the famous supermodel,” whispered a star-struck Saffron, pointing to a tall, willowy girl with dark-blonde hair.

Tallulah was wearing a white raincoat tightly belted round her waist, with a hot pink scarf at her swan-like neck. Her long hair was tied in a loose ponytail and she had dark glasses propped up on her head.

Poppy gasped. “A real model! Wow! She’s really, really beautiful.”

“I know,” agreed Saffron, “and she’s so incredibly stylish too. I can’t believe we’ve seen her up close rather than just in a magazine – she looks even better in real life!”

“We haven’t even got off the plane yet and we’ve seen a real life supermodel,” laughed Poppy. “This trip is going to be amazing. I’m going to have so many cool stories to tell Honey and the other girls at school.”

“We’re going to see a lot of beautiful people and exciting clothes over the next few days. It’s going to be great,” said Saffron, squeezing her little cousin’s hand and leading her along the aisle. “Come on now. Time to taste the Big Apple!”

Poppy recognized the nickname for New York from her guide book. She smiled, grabbed her lilac backpack and followed Saffron.

Saffron had won two tickets to New York Spring Fashion Week when her shop was chosen by Buttons and Bows magazine as the Best Clothes Shop in the area. And because Poppy had helped her win the prize by being so helpful to the mystery shopper, who actually turned out to be Bryony Snow, the fashion journalist, Saffron decided to take Poppy on the trip with her.

“I can’t wait to see Bryony Snow again!” said Poppy as they waited for their bags to come round on the conveyor belt. “I still can’t believe she chose us as the winners – especially me. After all, I was only helping out in your shop for the day!”

“I know, Poppy, but you made a very good impression on Bryony,” replied Saffron. “It was mainly because of you that my little shop won.”

Poppy smiled proudly as they collected their bags and placed them on a trolley. They breezed through passport control and customs and made their way towards the taxi rank. Their New York adventure was really beginning!

“Wow! Bright yellow cabs! I’ve only ever seen these in movies!” said Poppy.

“Central Park Plaza, please,” said Saffron as the driver loaded their bags into the car and the girls climbed into the back seat.

Soon they were whizzing through the dusky streets of New York. Poppy gasped at the height of the buildings and the buzz of people returning home from work along the broad pavements – or sidewalks, as they called them.

After what seemed like no time at all, their taxi pulled over. Poppy looked out of the window to see a magnificent hotel entrance with huge revolving glass doors, lots of plants and shrubs and a vast royal-blue canvas awning. THE CENTRAL PARK PLAZA HOTEL. They’d arrived!

Poppy and Saffron got out of the taxi and thanked and paid the driver; their luggage was immediately whisked off into