And I said to my body, softly, “I want to be your friend. It took a long breath and replied, “I’ve been waiting my whole life for this.” – Nayyirah Waheed
As someone who has struggled with body image issues throughout my life, the importance of helping your child develop a positive body image from an early age resonates. A child with such a positive perception accepts, values, and respects their body, even if they don’t love everything about it. This mindset allows them to feel comfortable and confident in their own skin.
This cheerful love-your-body picture book, BODIES ARE COOL by Tyler Feder, is an exuberant read-aloud with bright and friendly illustrations to pore over.
By encouraging body positivity early on, you empower your child to build confidence and resilience that will benefit them throughout life.
From the acclaimed creator of Dancing at the Pity Party and Roaring Softly, this preschool gem is a pure celebration of all the different human bodies that exist in the world. Highlighting the various skin tones, body shapes, and hair types is just the beginning in this truly inclusive book. With its joyful illustrations and encouraging refrain, it will instill body acceptance and confidence in the youngest of readers. “My body, your body, every different kind of body! All of them are good bodies! BODIES ARE COOL!”
The book is beautifully illustrated, highlighting bodies of all types and abilities. It is great for starting diversity conversations with preschoolers. Feder's engaging rhyming text flows nicely.
Body positivity plays a key role in preventing eating disorders and promoting balanced habits. When children feel good in this way, they are more likely to develop a healthy self-image, embrace self-acceptance, and make nutritious food choices. They will also stay active and engaged in physical activity.
“We can’t hate ourselves into a version of ourselves we can love.” –Lori Deschene
“People of all ages, sizes, abilities, skin colors, genders, hairstyles, and interests populate the pages with joy and authenticity,” wrote reviewer Mandie Carroll. “Vibrant illustrations show people gathered in a subway train, at a picnic, a pumpkin patch, a swimming pool, and ending at a fancy, rainbow dance party.” She continues:
All bodies are treated with dignity, including bodies that are not routinely portrayed positively like fat, trans, nonbinary, disabled, hairy bodies, etc. Some drawings show people in underwear or swimsuits, though they are not depicted in a sexy way. Kids will love the text's bouncy rhythm and exclaiming the repetitive "Bodies are cool!" as they read. A perfect book to introduce young (and older) readers to body respect and pride.
From my own painful experiences, I know how deeply these issues can affect self-worth, and how powerful early encouragement can be. BODIES ARE COOL is an affirming message filled with kindness and appreciation for all. It's a wonderful tool for fostering confidence from the very first read. By sharing books like this and nurturing body positivity early on, we give children more than just self-acceptance. We give them resilience, healthier habits, and the freedom to grow up loving themselves exactly as they are. That’s a gift that lasts a lifetime.
