A History of Underwear with Professor Chicken

by Hannah Holt (Author) Korwin Briggs (Illustrator)

Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade

Packed with information, hilariously but accurately (well...except for the chickens) illustrated, Hannah Holt and Korwin Briggs' A History of Underwear with Professor Chicken is sure to wedge its way into the annals of history-based picture books.

From Paleolithic loincloths to Henry VIII's wives wearing underwear on their heads to Mary Walker, a civil war surgeon who was arrested for wearing men's underwear and clothing to better work on patients, this book surveys the vast and fascinating history of our most private clothing.

Modeled by chickens, we trace the history of underwear from the very first discovery- a paleolithic nomad whose body was found completely preserved in ice. From there, we look across time and culture in this completely accessible, new take on boring old nonfiction picture books.

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Publishers Weekly

A fowl marches across time and space shedding new light on the history of people's intimate relationship with intimate apparel. As Biggs's crisp cartoons portray poultry-dominated peoples, Professor Chicken (who sports a bow tie, but not underpants) touches on subjects including why underwear is still referred to as a "pair," as well as the evolution of innovation and taste that led from the loincloth to the codpiece ("fancy underwear on the outside") and, eventually, the thong. Though the text fails to initially define specific terms (farthingale, panniers, stays), and an ending timeline is frustratingly out of order, Holt writes with a relish for juicy facts and irreverent wordplay (about the loincloths buried with King Tut: "That's a lot of Fruit of the Tomb"). But she also makes a compelling case for the historicity of material culture: how even mundane items can speak volumes about a society's technologies, class structure, and commitment to sustainability. Ages 3-9. (Feb.)

Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

School Library Journal

Starred Review

K-Gr 4--A hilarious and surprisingly compelling history of underwear starring chickens that sets the stage for all the information that follows. Holt covers the verbiage of underwear--it's referred to as a "pair" of underwear because typically it was once comprised of two pieces--as well as funny historical facts, for example, that King Tut was entombed with 100 pairs of underwear. Several pages are devoted to the evolution of underwear in different cultures. Funny puns abound amid the facts, but what really sets the book apart is the artwork. The chickens wearing underwear are so silly, it's impossible not to smile while reading it. The juxtaposition of the mostly serious historical text with such charming and adorable chickens is just magical. Back matter includes an illustrated time line. VERDICT Do not miss this very fun and informative book, which is an excellent choice for anyone interested in fashion, history, or chickens.--Debbie Tanner

Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes




Hannah Holt

Hannah Holt is a children's author with an engineering degree. Her books, The Diamond & The Boy (Balzer+Bray) and A Father's Love (Philomel) weave together her love of language and science. She lives in Oregon with her husband, four children, and a very patient cat named Zephyr.

Korwin Briggs is an author and illustrator who makes comics, infographics, and books about academic stuff like history and science. And chickens wearing underwear.

Classification
Non-fiction
ISBN-13
9781250766496
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Roaring Brook Press
Publication date
February 15, 2022
Series
-
BISAC categories
JNF003030 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Animals | Birds
JNF028000 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Humor | General
JNF025000 - Juvenile Nonfiction | History | General
JNF006030 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Art | Fashion
JNF059000 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Clothing & Dress
Library of Congress categories
History
Underwear

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