B Is for Bellies

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

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

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)

Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Simple and powerful.