Alright, quick and dirty:
Historic Costumes and How to Make Them
Other books of note: Corsets and Crinolines
Basic Sewing for Costume Construction
Corsets and crinolines is a really good book for understanding the reason clothes were constructed the way they were.
Costume history is honestly just dress porn but it’s gorgeous and a wealth of inspiration.
The hero’s closest is simply because you mentioned kids, and I wish my grandma had this book when I was growing up.
The last book is probably well below her skill level, and I don’t personally own it, but it’s worth a look.