A Brief History of Underpants, written by Christine Van Zandt and illustrated by Harry Briggs is a fast-paced, funny-punny, easy-to-read children’s book that is certain to have you laughing your pants off!

I was lucky enough to receive a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The title caught me at once and I knew I would be in for a giggle and the book didn’t disappoint! 

Christine cleverly wraps fascinating historical facts around a butt-full of jokes and fun, making it the perfect book for early and reluctant readers. The book takes the reader on a journey through time, from ‘the beginning of buns’, through to medieval Europe right up until the age of lycra in the 1050s. 

It’s hard to imagine any child not finding the subject fascinating. Clothing is an essential part of our everyday lives and there has always been a curiosity yet taboo over the subject of bottoms and underwear in our world and this tackles it head on, breaking down barriers and sharing knowledge about our society. Christine looks not just at different time periods but also different cultures making this book wide reaching and relatable to every child. 

Harry Briggs’ illustrations couple perfectly with the humor in Christine’s writing and are great visual aids for the various inventions and garment styles worn throughout history. 

Christine adds a fun extra Easter egg at the end that kids will love – ‘How to Make your Own Japanese Fundoshi’. It is the perfect way to end the book.

I hope you pick this one up at the shops or library, there is nothing quite like a bit of humor to help you learn and this one has it in pants -full!