Review by Booklist Review
Verde and Littlebird celebrate the human body as a miraculous, beautiful package for one's being. Situating it among nature's wonders, the book asserts that one's body can (and should) be appreciated for its many qualities and capabilities: growing; speaking; moving; and being expressive, unique, wise, and deserving. These simple affirmations are followed by powerful text elaborating on each statement--for instance, "Your body is YOUR OWN / Not for anyone else to / talk about, judge, define." Meanwhile, Littlebird's vibrant illustrations are almost like stained glass, with bright sunrise hues filling heavy black outlines to create joyous nature scenes where children gleefully play and everyone is cast as unique, special, and important. Children of any color, gender, or ability will see themselves in this empowering book, which helps teach young readers to fully accept and love themselves exactly as they are. Notes from the creators further highlight how important it is to regard one's body with gratitude and recognize its beauty. Shelve this with Tyler Feder's Bodies Are Cool (2021) and share during storytimes.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 3--A self-affirming celebration of the human body in all its forms. Joyful children of varying skin tones are shown both moving and resting their diverse bodies, some of which include accessories like glasses, a cochlear implant, braces, and a wheelchair. Littlebird's bright illustrations effortlessly show the individuality of human bodies and how they mimic the uniqueness of the natural world, like a baby in its mother's womb mirroring a seed in the ground and galactic bodies emanating from other celestial objects in space. Verde's tender verse is sparse, allowing readers to take in the colorful spreads as well as the importance of bolded words: unique, miraculous, deserving. The text could work well for dynamic story hours with participants acting out some of what bodies do and express. VERDICT Important lessons on bodily autonomy, consent, diversity, and self-love are wrapped up in an age-appropriate hug of a book.--Carrie Voliva
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Your body is many things all at once. Opening with an assurance that "your body is beautiful," Verde tells readers that "you were born from another beautiful body, who was born from another beautiful body." Most subsequent spreads begin with the phrase "Your body is," followed by an uplifting adjective (unique,miraculous,expressive). Verde's lyrical work encourages readers to respect all bodies, including their own, and to honor their connection to the world around them. Littlebird (Oregon's Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde) showcases a diverse array of children of different sizes, skin tones, and abilities, set against and sometimes integrated into colorful bursts of natural elements. On a spread that proclaims that our bodies "[mirror] the wonders in nature," two children's seated forms make up the bases of gloriously green trees. On another page, the curves of a joyfully pregnant person's belly mimic the swirls of the planets and stars in a seemingly unending galaxy. In addition to exploring body positivity and bodily autonomy, Verde implores readers to listen to their bodies while staying active to the best of their abilities. Her melodious text combines with Littlebird's vibrant artwork for a joyous read-aloud. Respectful, empathetic, and exuberant. (author's and illustrator's notes)(Picture book. 4-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
