6 of the Best Children’s Books About Body Image
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Books can be highly beneficial in helping our grandchildren feel good about their bodies. Lists of books about body image abound, but we were looking for ones that had positive messages and were fun to read. Here are our top picks:
I Like Me! by Nancy Carlson focuses on self-acceptance. The simple, colorful pictures held my grandchildren’s attention, and the message was clear enough for the toddler in the group. I’d rate this as the top book in the category of body positivity for children from 1-3 years-old.
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What I Like About Me! By Allia Zobel-Nolan, illustrated by Miki Sakamoto, celebrates the differences among us, like freckles and big ears, curly hair and unibrows. It ends with a mirror and the words “What is it you like best about YOU?” This was the book that the 4-year-old requested I have next time she visits, though I'm pretty sure it was mostly because of the mirror.
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Rot, the Cutest in the World! By Ben Clanton shares the message that being cute is in the eye of the beholder. The humor delighted the 6-year-old, while the 2- & 4-year-olds liked the actual cute animals in the book more than Rot, the mutant potato who won the cuteness contest. Does this mean they missed the message?
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I Am Enough by Grace Byers, illustrated by Keturah A. Bobo.
This one was pleasing to read out loud—it’s a lovely, lyrical poem about all the things a child is capable of doing and being. The language and pictures captivated all of the children, but none of them picked it as their favorite. Still, it's powerful in its depiction of children of every size, shape and color.
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Rock What Ya Got by Samantha Berger, illustrated by Kerascoët, was another book with rhyming verse. It was fun to read because of the peppy beat and positive message, and the kids wanted to pour over the pictures. The message, that instead of changing you should embrace what you already are, could be lost on the youngest kids; I’d recommend it for those five and up.
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Abigail the Whale by Davide Cali, illustrated by Sonja Bougaeva, was definitely our favorite. Unlike most the other books in this category, Abigail the Whale actually tells a story. The message is still clear: there’s power in your mindset, and it can help you celebrate your differences, overcome your fears, and protect you from the hurtful words of others. The pictures are simply beautiful, and the story is engaging enough to warrant a request to hear it twice in a row.
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THE ONE WE DIDN'T LIKE
Freckleface Strawberry by Julianne Moore, illustrated by LeUyen Pham, is included on every body positivity list I found. I respectfully disagree with them all, and here’s why:
The main character, who has red hair “and something worse…FRECKLES!” hates her freckles because everyone teases her about them. The main message of the book is that even though she has these bad freckles, people still like her and she grows up and is able to find happiness. Rather than sending a positive message about freckles, the book makes it clear that they are a trial that can be overcome. The only message she gets from an adult in the book is that maybe her freckles will go away when she’s older.
As someone who was also called “Freckleface Strawberry”, I would have hated to read this as a child and discover that I was supposed to hope they went away. Instead, at roughly the same age as the character in the book, I encountered an adult who told me, “A face without freckles is like a sky without stars.” He made me feel like they were something special, and I've never wished them away.
Let's share books with our children that make them feel good about themselves! And if you missed our post about What Grandparents Need to Know About Body Image, go read it now!