Queen Victoria's Knickers by Jackie French and Bruce Whatley

from goodreads

3.5 stars

Today in Canada it is Remembrance Day. A day of remembrance and reflection. This is when we think of those who fought in wars to garner our freedom.

My oldest daughter and I were talking about it this morning and she said she was sad. I asked her why. She said because of the soldiers and stuff. This got me thinking, for while I think Remembrance day is one a day to be somber and solemn, I don't feel the need to be sad. Do I think that there were lives wasted, you betcha, especially when thinking of the First World War. To me it was stupidity and waste personified. Do I wish that the atrocities that happened and still happen didn't. Sure do. But I do not feel sad about it, sorry that it happened, but not weepy sad. It just gives me a greater resolve to raise children to be kind, loving and accepting. It gives me a greater resolve to be kind and generous myself.

So on this somber day of remembrance, let us reflect on how we want to live our lives in light of the sacrifices of others. Conflicts will be a norm in human history, but how we decide to lead our individual lives, that is where true victory lies.

Synopsis

This is the tale of the background of how Queen Victoria got her first pair of underwear.

My Thoughts

To me this is the weirdest story. It is cool to go in the history of underwear. Underwear is something that I think we all take for granted now. We probably don't even think about there ever being a time when underwear was non-existent. I love the what the grandmother said when she found out that the Queen wanted the mother to make her knickers. She said, "I don't approve of knickers. If a girl wears proper petticoats and takes ladylike steps she doesn't need knickers." Hilarious.

My kids like this book. I think anything that deals with underwear is going to be a hit with kids. I don't know what it is about underwear but it puts my kids, and I would wager most kids, into a fit of giggles. My kids really liked when the family was envisioning all the different kids of underwear they could make for the Queen. I like the ones with the bows and arrows.

To me, this book was just weird. When I read children's picture books it is hard for me to pinpoint exactly what I am looking for. To me there is no set formula of what a book needs for me to like it, but I can also tell when I don't like it and, again, it is hard to pinpoint exactly what I don't like. I just feel it my bones. This book, while I think great for kids, just does not fill me with enthusiasm when I read it and I groan a little inside when my kids bring it to me to read. But read it I do and I try my best to hide my displeasure. (Though, on occasion, I have faked business and asked them to get their father to read it to them instead. I know, I'm bad.)

So if you ever wondered about royal underwear of days of yore, this book might just be for you.