From School Library Journal
Grade 2-4-Although these books provide some useful information on the clothing of their target eras, both are oversimplified. Each one begins with a hodgepodge of historical facts followed by double-page chapters. Only a limited variety of each type of clothing is discussed; for example in American Revolution, the only women's footwear noted is a high heel worn by "wealthy, but conservative ladies." The same is true of men's head wear. In some cases (in particular, the use of powder on wigs in this title), the books raise more questions than they answer. There are no pictures of some of the important clothing mentioned such as corsets, men's shoes, and the Promenade dress typical of Southern plantation life. In both books, most of the illustrations are contemporary photos. Bobbie Kalman and Antoinette DeBiasi's 18th Century Clothing and 19th Century Clothing (both Crabtree, 1993) are better choices on the subject.
Lynda Ritterman, Atco Elementary School, Waterford, NJ
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Lynda Ritterman, Atco Elementary School, Waterford, NJ
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.
