You Forgot Your Skirt, Amelia Bloomer! Book

Bloomer, an early advocate of women's rights, and a newspaper publisher hated the way "proper" ladies were expected to dress in 1850. She hated the way the long skirts picked up mud and trash from the streets. The constricting corsets made it hard to breathe. The hoops were so wide, women had trouble fitting through doors. The layers of petticoats were hot, and the whole outfit put together weighed between 20 and 40 pounds.



Luckily for Amelia, she was introduced to Elizabeth Cady Stanton's cousin, Libby, who, after a visit to Europe where she had seen women wearing baggy pantaloons covered by a short skirt, had adopted the outfit as her own. Amelia was inspired. Not only did she create pants for herself, she wrote about them in her newspaper. Soon many women were wearing "bloomers," and enjoying the freedom that light, loose clothing afforded them.



Corey presents an interesting glance at a revealing bit of history. Chelsea McLaren's illustrations are simple, yet evocative. There is also an author's note at the back of the book that provides a more detailed account of Bloomer's life and accomplishments.

Again, rating this one based purely on my five-year-old's response. I don't like kid's books, toys, sandboxes, or fun. She likes the book but doesn't sleep with it: thus, the four, not five. Still, the book provoked a good discussion of why I'm "not a lady" and plan to remain so. Nice bit of history here too -- the ending which fast forwards to modern slacks-wearing broads felt a bit tacked on. Otherwise, solid addition to the library for parents who have noticed that, uh, girls need active role models and a sense of history that includes them. Not just anorexic passive long haired damsels. (Even Elsa -- she needs to consume something other than ice cubes.) Yeah.