An affirming disability-centered body positivity anthem.
All bodies are great!
“Some bodies are big. Some bodies are small.” Readers may be expecting a generic opposites book from this book’s opening. But as Maclean’s rhyming, repetitive text progresses, a myriad of body types and abilities are explored with accompanying bright illustrations. “Some bodies walk” (an image depicts a figure with closed eyes and a white cane). “Some bodies stroll” (we see someone using a rollator). Maclean’s verse is simple but appealing, brimming with energy and fun; meanwhile, both text and artwork offer a notably diverse depiction of disability. Characters rely on various styles of wheelchairs, crutches, walkers, and other mobility aids. Some figures wear masks, hearing aids, or ostomy bags. Some are amputees, with or without prosthetic limbs. At a children’s party, bodies “chomp, munch, and gobble” pizza and cake, while “some bodies use G-tubes.” In addition to the array of disabilities highlighted, the characters vary in shape, size, complexion, and hair texture. Maclean also portrays two friends embracing alongside the text “Some bodies love hugs” while the opposite page shows two other friends waving to each other from a distance (“Some bodies need space”)—welcome acknowledgment of consent, touch aversion, and bodily autonomy. The final page directly addresses readers: “I love that my body lets me be here with you!”—a closing line that begs to be read aloud, again and again.
An affirming disability-centered body positivity anthem. (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: Sept. 15, 2026
ISBN: 9781547618880
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: July 20, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: today
Adults looking for an easy entry into this subject will not be disappointed.
This book presents a simplified explanation of the role the atmosphere plays in controlling climate.
The authors present a planet as a ball and its atmosphere as a blanket that envelops the ball. If the blanket is thick, the planet will be hot, as is the case for Venus. If the blanket is thin, the planet is cold, as with Mars. Planet Earth has a blanket that traps “just the right amount of heat.” The authors explain trees, animals, and oceans are part of what makes Earth’s atmosphere “just right.” “But…Uh-oh! People on Earth are changing the blanket!” The book goes on to explain how some human activities are sending “greenhouse gases” into the atmosphere, thus “making the blanket heavier and thicker” and “making Earth feel unwell.” In the case of a planet feeling unwell, what would the symptoms be? Sea-level rises that lead to erosion, flooding, and island loss, along with extreme weather events, such as hurricanes, blizzards, and wildfires. Ending on a constructive note, the authors name a few of the remedies to “help our Earth before it’s too late!” By using the blanket analogy, alongside simple and clear illustrations, this otherwise complex topic becomes very accessible to young children, though caregivers will need to help with the specialized vocabulary.
Adults looking for an easy entry into this subject will not be disappointed. (Board book. 3-4)Pub Date: Aug. 18, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-4926-8082-6
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Sourcebooks eXplore
Review Posted Online: Aug. 31, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2020
An impressive, thoughtful collaboration.
A cast of young, cartoon animals in children’s clothes follow the narrator’s directions about how to “relax, breathe, and listen.”
The title page shows a pig, an elephant, a rabbit, a bear, and a cat—all in school attire, including brightly colored backpacks—heading toward a large set of stairs. Behind them is an urban skyline, and around them are the flora and fauna of a park. The entire text is composed of simple instructions for relaxation, beginning with the suggestion that readers sit down and clench, then relax, “every part of your body.” After the cat follows these commands, the perfect, humorous choice to illustrate noticing the breath is the elephant. The bunny, piglet, and bear show proper placement of paws for feeling breaths. Throughout, the text is straightforward, with a few gentle rhymes. As the animals use visualization, background scenes move from the classroom to an idyllic beach. A jar of glitter is used to help the animals imagine their thoughts settling down. The text moves on to helping children express different emotions with their bodies, always affirming the importance of breathing and, later, listening. A jewel-toned palette, sweet animal faces, and soothing landscapes—combined with a text infused with care—ensure that a child or adult can pick up any part of this book to take a needed break from stress.
An impressive, thoughtful collaboration. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Aug. 29, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-399-18661-5
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Dial Books
Review Posted Online: June 4, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2017
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