This Skirt Won’t Work!: How Women Athletes Changed Their Clothes and Changed the Game​

Gr 2-4–Girls in a locker room are ready to play, “but first we’ll turn the clock way back…put on your gear. Get on the ice. But keep in mind you MUST look…nice.” What follows is a look at innovations in women’s athletic gear inspired by five women and two teams from around the 1900s who defied convention so they could ride faster, swim farther, skate swifter, and be better. The diverse sports of bicycling, swimming, soccer, ice hockey, and tennis are covered. Cooper tackles each by introducing the sport and the featured woman who then tells us they want more, but “The Skirt Won’t Work!” or “This Lace Won’t Race!” which is then followed by the woman playing in her new gear. Cooper’s clear and conversational text includes factoids about the historical lack of equality in sports and enough context so it all makes sense. Byrne’s proficient illustrations show the personality, style and determination of the characters within while also deftly depicting the impracticality of the athletic gear that society deemed appropriate for those sporting women who wanted more. Her use of double page spreads, details, white space and immersive text placement add plenty of visual interest. The illustrations feature characters with various skin tones and one in a wheelchair. Back matter includes a paragraph long biography for each woman and team mentioned in the book plus a page on current struggles of women to wear gear appropriate for them and their sport.