Library Idea of the Week
March 21, 2005
Cathy Belben, Librarian, Burlington-Edison High School

I surveyed all of my teachers and had them list their favorite books.  Every two weeks, I display those books with a sign (“Mrs. McGillicuddy’s Favorite Books” and a photo of the teacher reading. I like to show teachers reading and modeling their love of books. Does anyone else do this, or something similar? If so, what have the results been?

Book of the Week

This isn’t one that I’d put in the school library, but I think it’s fun one for adults, especially women….if you’re familiar with the TV show “What Not to Wear” and the book published by the show’s creators, you’ll appreciate the latest effort from authors Trinny Woodall and Susannah Constantine.  What You Wear Can Change Your Life offers practical advice to women about choosing colors and styles of all sorts of clothing that will flatter your complexion, hair, and figure. The authors have divided the book according to items of clothing and accessories, and each chapter begins with a funny, insightful commentary about the items. They then provide photos to demonstrate how the wrong items can highlight your worst features and the right ones can make the most of your features.

What I like best about the authors’ approach is their sense of humor about the topic—despite the book’s title, they aren’t suggesting that one’s appearance matters above all else. They are advocating taking pride in yourself, being honest about the impression you want to make to the world, and having fun with your clothes, jewelry, and make-up in order to increase your confidence and enjoy your life.  “Looking good, and feeling that are looking good, has an important psychological role to play in moving through the five life-changing stages of a woman’s life,” the authors write.

With commentary on everything from underwear (“If your underpants are clean, fresh, and invisible, you are clean, fresh and confident”) to belts (“big boobs don’t look great with big belts because it all becomes too complicated”) to organizing your closets and drawers and choosing the best colors, What You Wear Can Change Your Life is a great gift item, a fun read, and a mini-education in fashion and fun.  Enjoy!