B Is for Bellies

In this upbeat alphabet book, the creators use the ABCs to offer up body-related affirmations. From A to Z, each letter stands for a word relating to human physicality: B is for "bellies," L represents "listening," and S references "sizes." Throughout, boldly hued, stylized cartoons from Saine picture beings with various abilities, body types, gender presentations, and skin tones. Individuals, including some using eye patches and mobility aids, are shown at rest and in movement--dancing, playing, and hitting the beach. Dyball's straightforward rhyming quatrains, meanwhile, each explain a core component of embodiment, often including references to interpersonal and social conceits: "U is for understanding/ that differences reign./ It would be awfully boring/ if we all looked the same." Language that acknowledges experiential subjectivity (e.g., "Movement can feel great!") may prompt reader questions about individual experience, starting conversations about emotional, mental, and physical health. This bustling book leaves readers with the knowledge that there are "zillions/... of reasons to love yourself--/inside and out." Ages 4-8. (July)

PreS-Gr 2--This body-positive picture book follows in the footsteps of Tyler Feder's Bodies Are Cool with an alphabet spin. Each letter is represented by a quatrain with crisp rhymes, describing an aspect of one's body or physical identity, e.g., "J is for Jiggle," "M is for Muscles," and "T is for Talking." The rhymes are affirming and describe not just the diversity within the range of human bodies, but also the importance of bodily worth, listening to one's body, and respecting the bodies of others. The rhymes are ideal for reading out loud: "B is for bellies, some round and some flatter. They each serve a purpose--the shape doesn't matter." The dynamic digital illustrations feature a distinctive palette and animated cartoonlike characters who have a slightly vintage 1970s feel. The illustrated bodies, mostly children and nearly all fully clothed, represent a wide range of diversity in nearly all physical aspects. VERDICT A must-purchase in the ever-expanding genre of picture books that normalize the multitude of ways a body can be healthy and beautiful.--Clara Hendricks

I'm honored to dress women of all sizes and genders for the runway and the red carpet. I am so excited for Rennie's forthcoming picture book that reminds children—and all of us—how important it is to accept and respect ALL bodies. — Designer Christian Siriano

The most important thing we can do for a child's self-esteem is to teach them that their bodies (just like their skin color, ability, or gender) are perfect just the way they are. But this specific lesson is often left out of early childhood books and conversations. With parents reaching for books like B is for Bellies, we can hope that more children will grow up never having to undo the negative thoughts they have about their bodies and instead will grow up celebrating themselves as worthy, capable, and uniquely wonderful. — Whitney Way Thore, author, star of TLC's My Big Fat Fabulous Life, and founder of the No Body Shame movement

I know this is a book meant for children, but it really resonated with me, a 44-year-old woman! Maybe it's quarantine, maybe it's working in Hollywood where how you look is a big part of your job, or maybe it's just a lifetime of subconsciously comparing ourselves to others ... whatever it is, I had tears in my eyes reading this. This book needs to be on every child's bookshelf. It breaks my heart to see what happens to our tweens and to think of them as the little girls who were once so carefree and unaware of their looks. I wish we could bottle up that confidence and carry it with us as we age. This book is the reminder that we all need. — Andrea Barber, author, Fuller House star, and mental health activist