Bloomers!

by Rhoda Blumberg, Mary Morgan (Illustrator)

Libby Miller's arrival in baggy trousers instead of skirt and petticoat sends shockwaves through Seneca Falls, and inspires Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton to don them as they champion the cause of women's freedom.

Genres: History, Picture Books, Childrens, Nonfiction, American History, Fashion, Feminism

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Rhoda Blumberg has written about the opening of Japan (1853-1854) in Commodore Perry in the Land of the Shogun, a Newbery Honor Book, which also won the Boston Globe/Horn Book Award and the Golden Kite Award. Her acclaimed histories also include The Incredible Journey of Lewis & Clark, The Great American Gold Rush, and The Remarkable Voyages of Captain Cook, all ALA Notable Books. She is the winner of the Washington Post/Children's Book Guild Award for her overall contribution to nonfiction.

Rhoda Blumberg says that while doing research for Commodore Perry, "I read about the ordeals and strange adventures of Manjiro, then spent years replaying his life story in my mind until I felt impelled to write about him."

The author and her husband, Gerald, live in Yorktown Heights, New York.

Reviews

[R. G. Nairam · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't seem very nuanced to me--especially in depiction of the women who didn't like the new fashion. It also wasn't as focused as the title suggests.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This informative picture book introduces readers to bloomers, the short knee-length dress and loose pants worn underneath and the woman who first wore them, Libby Miller. Rhoda Blumberg explains how long skirts could be dangerous and at the very least were a hindrance to women as they went about their daily lives. In 1851, Libby Miller met Amelia Bloomer in Seneca Falls. Bloomer made bloomers famous through her adoption of them. Blumberg's text and Mary Morgan-Vanroyen's illustrations do a good job of portraying bloomers - and other people's shock at seeing them, as well as connects them to the women's rights and suffrage movement. However, the one concern that I had with the book was that the story does end a bit abruptly and it doesn't mention that took a long time for it to be acceptable for women to wear pants in many situations.

[Ellen McKeown · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining introduction to early feminists' reaction to the “clothes prison” (constricting corset, scratchy petticoats, heavy floor-length dress) that women had to endure in the late 1800s. A perfect picture book I used in a non-text unit about Amelia Bloomer, effects of clothing on women and how to appropriately seek change. Well written, good information and definitely will whet the appetites of students.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A simple introduction to how bloomers actually affected the women's rights movement. Use this in a social studies class to introduce the women's rights movement or to discuss cultural changes and how they happen.

[Julie Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t know if I had just forgotten this history or learned it for the first time, but I enjoyed learning about how bloomers came to be and how they contributed to the women’s rights movement. Amelia Bloomer, Susan B. Anthony, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton are the stars of the story along with the setting of Seneca Falls.

I definitely recommend this to supplement any elementary unit on women’s rights or progressive movements or anything like that.

[Christy Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story introduces historical women's fashion and lady pioneers who changed it, fighting for women's rights along the way.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

In fifth grade I began a report on women's wedding fashions through the centuries. I couldn't find enough research for my paper at the time (no internet) and so I switched to studying women's fashions. That interest is still in place today - not to be fashionable, but they why behind the changes and how the clothes worked for or against them.

Bloomers! provided more detail on the problems of the women's fashion of the day and the progress of the bloomer fashion. Why were they popular and a point of mockery, how did the trend spread and end?

I appreciate children's non-fiction books like this and their direct yet accessible and relatable tone. This was more detailed than I expected but not too much so nor dull. I don't think my seven-year-old would love it as much as my ten-year-old but that may be a personality preference more than an age issue.

[Pam · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rhoda Blumberg is a superb author and for that reason I am probably too critical of this book! Bloomers is simply the story how several women associated with the Women's Rights Movement in Seneca Falls began to wear bloomers and started a trend. That simplicity is the error in this book. Blumberg could have done so much more with the story but instead she ended the it quite abruptly. She could have included more about Women's Rights or added a timeline on Women's Rights at the end. Or she could have discussed women and physical activities. For that matter, she could have mentioned how it took many more decades before slacks were acceptable attire for women and girls.

[Ashley Lockhart · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book tells the story of how women began to wear pants or bloomers. I think that children will find it interesting to see how women began to wear pants and the underlying story of women's suffrage. This book offers children many things to think about, has a thick plot, and uses language that children can understand. The illustrations in this book are accurate and correspond to the text. The characters in the book do not represent a variety of cultural groups and there is not much diversity in the story. This would be a good way to teach children about womens rights.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love interesting books like this that give a history lesson to young children. Before I read this, I knew what bloomers were, but had never learned of their influence in history class. I think that it's important for children to learn these sorts of things, especially young girls interested in fashion. Heaven forbid we'd still be wearing corsets.

[midnightfaerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great educational book for your children over the preschool age. My 6 yr old loved it. Lots of good information with beautiful pictures that will help keep children engaged. A good addition to any woman's rights lesson. A great addition to any children's library.

[Mary]

I learned a lot from this one, but Caoimhe was only interested in a page which shows Susan B. Anthony getting her hair cut. So 5 stars for me, 1 star for Caoimhe.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

An engaging, brief story of the history of bloomers and women's rights in the U.S. My 5-year-old doesn't tire of it!

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Here's a picture book about women's rights and sticking up for what you believe. The story and message were good, but I didn't care for the illustrations.