A Brief History of Underpants

by Christine Van Zandt

Harry Briggs (Illustrator)

From bloomers to boxers, everyone wears underwear! One part humor, one part history, A Brief History of Underpants explores the evolution of fashion’s most unmentionable garment.

Gain a whole new understanding of underthings as you:
 

• Learn which ruler was buried with over 100 pairs of underwear.
• Discover how people kept their underclothes from falling off before elastic was invented.
• Find out why some underwear was made from feathers.
• And much, much more!

Zany illustrations add to the humor, and step-by-step instructions teach real dyeing and washing techniques used hundreds of years ago. Interact with the topic directly by turning the reveal wheel on the front cover to see underwear evolve through the ages.

• ISBN13: 9780760370605
• Publish Date: 1 June 2021
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 17 May 2023
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: becker&mayer! books
• Imprint: becker&mayer! kids
• Format: Paperback
• Pages: 48
• Language: English

Reviews

[annieb123]

Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

A Brief History of Underpants is an engaging and very entertaining look at underwear through the ages in many world cultures. Released 1st June 2021 from Quarto on their becker & mayer! imprint, it's 48 pages and available in paperback format.

This is such a fun and information rich look at unmentionables. The book has a simple and accessible layout with full page illustrations and inset text boxes throughout. The language is aimed at younger readers (roughly grades K-3) and will be fun for reading alone or for story-time with an adult. The illustrations are full of small details which will enrich reading time and provide lots of entertainment. Although it's humorous and tongue-in-cheek, it is factual and full of real history tidbits and actual historical people (Otzi the iceman and King Tut make brief appearances in (naturally) their underwear).

The author has included an abbreviated bibliography and links list for further reading as well as a cute short DIY tutorial to make readers' own samurai fundoshi.

This is the sort of fun and irreverent short book which will keep kids interested in reading and developing their skills and which make reading a fun activity. This would make an absolutely superlative choice for public or school library acquisition, gift giving, or the home library. Very very fun book.

Five stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.