You Forgot Your Skirt, Amelia Bloomer, by Shana Corey; Chelsey
McLaren ill. Scholastic Press, 2000. by Tara Bloyd Aimed at
young children, this short picture book presents the story of
Amelia Bloomer and her eponymous outfit in a simple, direct
fashion. The illustrations are bright and compelling, and are
set off by a generous amount of white space. The book contrasts
Amelia Bloomer with the “proper ladies” who surrounded her –
women who were not supposed to work or vote, and who wore
dresses that required 20-30 yards of fabric just for the skirt.
The fact that Amelia didn’t invent bloomers – something that
many people do not know – is clearly stated and is important. As
editor of the woman’s newspaper The Lily, Amelia’s championing
of the short skirt and baggy pantaloons to replace cumbersome,
socially-approved dresses was crucial to their popularization,
and the book shows how both men and women reacted to the new
clothing option. I found the Author’s Note at the end of the
book the most compelling part; it