THANK YOU, BODY

Khen’s debut picture book encourages children to think about what their body parts do each day.

The author, an experienced psychotherapist, has worked with children for more than 10 years. During that time, she’s observed the fascinating rituals that young people use to make sense of the ever-changing world around them. This book proposes a bedtime ritual that allows children to thank each part of their bodies, from their toes to their heads. The rhymes are a little sentimental in places (‘Thank you so much, my cuddly arms, / For you have become my lucky charms’), but the book may be quite therapeutic, as it helps children overcome their tendency to overlook the amazing role each body part plays in guiding them through a typical day: Legs walk; lungs breathe; hands draw, write, clap and build; and heads think about the world. The author sometimes mixes physical and emotional qualities; for example, the heart is for “letting me feel” rather than for pumping blood, and the tummy registers excitement (with butterflies) and also welcomes food (although it may not welcome everything a child eats). During the hustle and bustle of everyday life, both children and adults can take the human body’s uniqueness for granted. It’s all too easy to appreciate one’s arms or legs when one sees another person who doesn’t have any, but this book engagingly asks readers to celebrate what they have without any feeling of loss. The quaint color illustrations will also undoubtedly appeal to a young audience.

A fine book about the body to share with young kids, featuring a positive, upbeat tone.