I Love My Amazing Body

Author Scofield and Illustrator Dors introduce Jackie, a friendly looking, kid-shaped girl who celebrates her body for its usefulness and sensation—without ever looking or feeling objectified—in this poetry collection about the parts of the body.

“No one on earth has a body like mine. / It’s unique and rare and one of a kind,” Jackie announces. Her earnest love for her body and its uses—and her acceptance of all bodies as different and special—should welcome readers of all shapes and sizes from the first page. She follows that thought with an ode to her toes (which she can use for balancing or for drawing), her feet (which can feel the grass tickle or kick a ball), her ankles and knees, and on up the body. Each short poem (either one stanza or two) is accompanied by a crayon-drawn illustration of brown-haired, orange-and-yellow–dressed Jackie, whose interests include ballet, swimming, playing with her dog, archery, and practicing piano, among other things. The illustrations emphasize that girls can have many hobbies and skills, and they can enjoy both activewear and dressing up. The poems, some stronger than others, offer readers a way to appreciate the functions of each body part. In heart bubbles (also in yellow and orange), readers are asked questions about each body part: “How fast can your legs run?” or “Can you feel your heart beating in your chest?” To accommodate the placement of the questions, some of the stanzas feature broken lines, which may throw readers out of the rhythm of the poetry. Some rhymes are also a stretch: “chest / breath,” “me / feet,” etc. Still, the overall effect of the book—encouraging children to love and be comfortable in their own bodies—shines through.

Made possible through a Kickstarter that funded 200% of the goal, this wonderfully illustrated book is a great way to get young readers talking—and thinking—about their bodies in a positive way.