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This Skirt Won't Work!

This Skirt Won't Work!

Jennifer Cooper (Author) See More (2)
Eva Byrne (Illustrator) See More

JUVENILE NONFICTION
Biography & Autobiography | Girls & Women
Women , Sports & Recreation
Sourcebooks
1 - 2
4 - 8
2026 Spring
Biography, Memoir & Speaking Out

Hardback
9781728267845
$28.99 CAD
English
12/02/2025

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Description


Imagine trying to play tennis in a long dress, or swimming laps wearing heavy petticoats! That's how it used to be for girls and women in sports... until a few found a better way!

See how women like cyclist Kittie Knox, swimmer Annette Kellerman, and Albertine LePensee and her Canadian hockey teammates flouted convention and risked scandal to wear things they could move in. They sewed their own knickerbockers, donned sleek swimsuits, and shortened skirts, and in the process helped change society's ideas about what women and girls could wear—and do! Features back matter with cool facts about each woman and team, as well as a look at women athletes today who continue to take a stand for clothes that are more comfortable and inclusive.

Eva Byrne Jennifer Cooper

Author Bio


Jennifer Cooper is an author, teacher, triathlete, and mom of three. She has taught high school PE and English for nearly twenty years and is a passionate amateur athlete dedicated to new challenges. Jennifer lives with her husband and family in British Columbia, Canada. KATIE, BIG AND STRONG is her first book.

Eva Byrne illustrates picture books and has a background in fashion illustration with a degree from FIT. Her work is imbued with her contagious sense of fun, elegance and whimsy. Her publishing clients include Abrams, Viking Penguin, Harper Collins, American Girl and Simon and Schuster.

Review Quotes


"A light historical look at women who bucked societal conventions to wear athletic gear, allowing them to be faster and better." — School Library Journal
"A spirited tribute to competitive women... In the ongoing battle for gender equality in sports, here’s one heartening—and perhaps underrecognized—victory." — Booklist
"Inspirational and informative." — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
"Sporty, peppy fun." — Kirkus Reviews
"An entertaining overview." — Youth Services Book Review
"The battle over inclusive athletic wear may be far from over, but this design history aptly shows how some athletes’ hard-won freedoms live on." — Publishers Weekly

Biographical note


Jennifer Cooper is an author, teacher, triathlete, and mom of three. She has taught high school PE and English for nearly twenty years and is a passionate amateur athlete dedicated to new challenges. Jennifer lives with her husband and family in British Columbia, Canada. KATIE, BIG AND STRONG is her first book.
Eva Byrne illustrates picture books and has a background in fashion illustration with a degree from FIT. Her work is imbued with her contagious sense of fun, elegance and whimsy.
Her publishing clients include Abrams, Viking Penguin, Harper Collins, American Girl and Simon and Schuster.