EVERY BODY

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!