TAKING CARE OF YOU

A user’s manual that explains the why of self-care.

From the first page, upbeat language directly addressed to a child celebrates four “fabulous” features of bodies that need to be kept clean: skin, teeth, hair, and nails. Rockwell goes into detail on each of these attributes: basic biology, what it does, and how to care for it. We learn what microbes are and how we can protect ourselves from harmful ones, what makes hair straight or curly (and how to treat lice), why flossing and brushing are important, and much more. The smiling children depicted—all students in the same class—are racially diverse; one uses a wheelchair, one has albinism, and several wear glasses. Rockwell’s warm, realistic watercolor, gouache, and pencil art shows kids actively caring for themselves—combing their hair and bathing—and adults assisting with essential parts of care (trimming a youngster’s fingernails, bandaging a cut). The illustrations go into great detail at times—for instance, a closer look at the skin’s layers or a tooth’s structure. Incidental rhymes and rhythm add interest and reinforce the positive message: “To be the best you is not hard to do.” A final spread offers a glossary and resources for parents and extends the care advice to eating healthy food, exercising, getting enough sleep, staying up to date on vaccines, and taking care of emotional health. There’s just enough science, and the advice is concise, clear, and attractively presented.

Engaging, informative, and accessible.