“...how a prince, believing that sea bathing was good for his wife's health, helped her to be able to swim as queen.”
Ages: 5 - 8
Grade Level: Kindergarten - 3
Location: England
Pages: 40
Time Period: 1800s
It was so hot and, oh!, how Queen Victoria longed for a swim! However, as queen, society dictated that she must not show more than her hands and face. To be seen by the public in a bathing suit would be a disgrace! Her inventive husband, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, hears of his beloved's wish and sets out to find a solution. Queen Victoria's Bathing Machine by Gloria Whelan is a silly, fun, and rhyming picture book about a true story.
The back content includes an "Author's Note" that has more information on the royal couple and the machine. There is also a real picture of the bathing machine and a book list by the author called, "Further Reading About Queen Victoria That You Might Enjoy." The list is separated into sections: "Picture Book," "For Parents and Teachers," and "Websites." Each of the book recommendations includes a one line summary.
Note:
The links included in the "Websites" section are no longer available. One link, the one for Queen Victoria's journals, requires a login from an educational institution or company.
Resources:
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Content Warnings
Content that some individuals may find controversial or objectionable. Attention was given to include content which may offend people of a particular culture, race or religion and details which the sensitive child may find unsettling or troublesome.
"No Spoilers" offers a summary of content issues while avoiding spoilers. "With Spoilers" lists the potential content issues in detail.
No Spoilers:
One instance of dark humor and several of body shaming.
With Spoilers:
+Other
Dark humor. Mentions how the Queen would be "roasted, toasted, and eaten" if she was launched from a catapult and mistaken by a hunter for poultry.
There are times when the book pokes fun at Queen Victoria's weight.
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