Review by Booklist Review
This book about body positivity begins on a cheerful note, assuring very young audiences that all bodies are capable of wonderful things. Busy, bright illustrations support these concepts by modeling different bodies. One spread explains how everyone needs fat on their body to store energy, and that different people store it differently; additional pages focus on BMI and fat discrimination. Concluding pages reassure kids that all kinds of bodies can be healthy, and that bodies should be celebrated and taken care of. The text weaves in thinking prompts and back matter offers additional information for adults. This visually appealing board book tells it like it is.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 1--Jaunty music opens and closes this informative title, engagingly narrated by Corin, a nonbinary podcast host and storyteller who proves to be a splendid cipher for both the youngest and oldest ears. Only the first third of the recording is the actual "book," which Corin transforms into a supportive, inspiring affirmation of all kinds of bodies, specifically directed at youthful audiences--because, indeed, "Everybody has a body." The rest--"Continue the conversation" resources, as well as Madison and Ralli's authors' note (which appears prominently up front in print)--is meant for adult ears--caregivers, parents, teachers, anyone concerned about encouraging and enabling healthy relationships with every kind of body. VERDICT Libraries should offer all formats to promote read-alongs: seeing images of diverse bodies (thanks to artist Tequitia Andrews's inclusive, inviting illustrations) is undoubtedly an empowering experience for all ages.
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
ALL bodies are awesome! Bodies come in many shapes, sizes, colors, ages, and textures. Each body "can be healthy" and "deserves love and care!" Every body has fat, which stores energy. Bodies are very smart; they tell us when they need something. They signal how we might be feeling with different physical sensations--a tense neck indicates fear; wiggling toes are a sign of excitement. All bodies change and grow over time, whether that be over a day or several years. No matter what, "You are in charge of your body!" Unfortunately, "there's a big problem"--we're often erroneously told that some bodies are better or healthier than others and that some doctors might even convey misinformation about fat people. Thankfully, there are already many people who work to promote fair treatment for every body. Fostering acceptance and self-love, this book encourages children to consider their own bodies "with curiosity, and without shame." It tackles big issues with a straightforward frankness that makes the themes digestible to its young audience. Backmatter includes more detailed information about the big subtopics of self-care, body diversity, fat activism, critical media literacy, and the intersectionality of racism, sexism, and ableism with body perception. People of various races, abilities, and sizes are represented in the bright, flat illustrations, while the text calls out medical racism directly. (This book was reviewed digitally.) So important--"every body" should read this! (website) (Informational picture book. 3-5) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
