Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
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)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
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
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
An alphabetical affirmation of body diversity and individuality. The heart of this picture book can be summed up nicely with "D is for diverse: / all the shades of our skin. / We respect other people and the bodies they're in." With colorful and inclusive images, the text is a celebration of how bodies "jiggle" and "bounce" as well as encouragement to be aware of what your body needs. The uppercase letter of the alphabet is prominently featured at the start of each short rhyming stanza, the lowercase letter appearing as a part of the accompanying illustration. Saine depicts bodies that are diverse in various ways, including skin tone. One character uses a wheelchair, while others have missing limbs, and another uses a prosthetic leg. One character has an eye patch. There are bodies of all sizes with different hairstyles and colors. Readers are also urged to express their gender "in a way that feels true" and to feed their bodies: "You need fuel to have fun." The rhyming text is short and moves along at an appropriate pace for a read-aloud. The letters of the alphabet are less important than the larger theme, and the book mostly structures the various topics rather than teaching the ABCs; this is above all an early introduction to body inclusivity. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Simple and powerful. (Picture book. 4-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
