★ 04/26/2021
“Big bodies, small bodies,/ dancing, playing, happy bodies!/ Look at all these different bodies!/ Bodies are cool!” In an act of resistance against ubiquitous, homogenous images of human figures, artist Feder (Dancing at the Pity Party) offers up an inclusive celebration of endless variation in rousing verses and group settings, including public transit, a seasonal market, and a pool. Feder employs bold black linework and a luscious palette of candy colors. Bouncy text, on each page ending with the refrain “bodies are cool,” attends people of varying abilities, ages, body shapes, religions, skin tones, and hair textures; a range of gender identities and sexual orientations are shown throughout. In one outdoor campfire scene, two brown-skinned adults snug- gle—one shirtless with top surgery scars, the other with stretch marks and leg hair who wears a crop top and shorts. Across the spread, someone breastfeeds an infant in a hammock, and a variety of ethnically varied kids—one hijabi, one wearing an eye patch—play around a tree. With such a joyfully inclusive range of humans, all taking part in community and taking pleasure in each other’s company, it’s hard to imagine a stronger statement of body affirmation and pride. Ages 3–5. (June)
★ 07/01/2021
PreS-Gr 3—With colorful pages of people in all shapes and sizes, this book both serves as a joyous read-aloud for small and large groups and as a book for individual study and discovery. It works as an introduction to diversity without being explicitly about that, which is a gloriously refreshing take on the universality of the human experience. Young readers can look at the full-page color cartoon drawings for true-to-life representation of people in everyday group situations, such as a public swimming pool, the park, dance class, movie theater, and public transit. Displayed is a richly detailed tapestry of people with many skin tones, hair colors, shapes and sizes, clothing choices, and abilities; examples include wheelchairs, a hijab swimsuit, prosthetics on adults and kids, diabetics with insulin pumps, etc. More importantly, in a book about body positivity, the drawings represent people as they are in real life, "tall, short, wide, or narrow." The approach to both body image and body concepts is to use people-centric language and imagery that doesn't divide along explicit lines. Each spread with its dense drawing of people joined together in a group activity focuses on traits (body shape, skin tone, hair, eyes, faces, etc.) in a repetitive, rhythmic sequence. Feder includes representations of Africans, Asians, Muslims, and whites from small sizes to plus sizes in all positions. This book is an excellent pairing with Todd Parr's It's Okay To Be Different. VERDICT With lilting dancelike rhythm through word repetition and brightly colored detailed images, this is a timely and worthy addition for every collection.—Vi Ha, Los Angeles P.L.
★ 2021-04-14
A bustling celebration of body positivity that lovingly features bodies, skin, and hair of all kinds.
“Big bodies, small bodies / dancing, playing, happy bodies! / Look at all these different bodies! / Bodies are cool!” begins this engaging picture book, extolling the variety and splendor of human bodies in gentle, singsong text. With shared public spaces as the backdrop of her full-bleed spreads—and a refreshing lack of fanfare—author/illustrator Feder depicts people of many races, genders, disabilities, and physical attributes enjoying one another’s company, emphasizing connection rather than explanation. Whether riding a crowded bus, painting a community mural, or playing in a public park, no individual’s body is on particular display. Instead, young readers are able to people-watch through the pages, observing difference within the context of community. Most notably, Feder chooses clear and unapologetic language to describe body characteristics, challenging the negative connotations that are often attached to those bodies. Though the illustrations are a bit jam-packed, their richness and detail easily make up for the busy feel. Perfect for read-alouds, this offering shows young readers that vitiligo, assistive equipment, scars (including those denoting gender transition), fatness, dark skin, and textured hair (among many other features) all belong. Expanding visually beyond her celebration of the body, Feder also takes care to include queer families and characters wearing headscarves and turbans as well.
Depicting societally marginalized human bodies in all their joyful, normal glory, this book is cool. (Picture book. 3-10)
2022 ALA RISE: A Feminist Book Project List Pick
★ "A bustling celebration of body positivity that lovingly features bodies, skin, and hair of all kinds . . . Feder chooses clear and unapologetic language to describe body characteristics, challenging the negative connotations that are often attached to those bodies . . . Depicting societally marginalized human bodies in all their joyful, normal glory, this book is cool." —Kirkus, starred review
★ "With such a joyfully inclusive range of humans, all taking part in community and taking pleasure in each other’s company, it’s hard to imagine a stronger statement of body affirmation and pride." — Publishers Weekly, starred review
★ "[T]his unabashed promotion of body positivity packs a punch and reminds readers to respect and love every body—including their own. This is a timely message with universal applications." — Booklist, starred review
★ "With colorful pages of people in all shapes and sizes, this book both serves as a joyous read-aloud for small and large groups and as a book for individual study and discovery . . . With lilting dancelike rhythm through word repetition and brightly colored detailed images, this is a timely and worthy addition for every collection." —SLJ, starred review
"Feder's rhyming text and double-page spreads filled with all kinds of people celebrate the variety of our physical attributes. The joy-filled cartoon illustrations pack a lot of bodies into the settings (e.g., subway car, pool, backyard barbecue) and offer plenty to consider." —Horn Book
"This inclusive book shows and celebrates all types of bodies in the park, in the pool, at a party—everywhere. That’s exactly where all our bodies are . . . . It’s truly transformative not only to be seen by others but to see yourself. To see yourself just as you are. To see yourself included. To see your body as good, as cool . . . a great resource to start conversations about fatphobia and anti-fat bias and to help a kid struggling with their self-image." —Lisa Fipps, author of Starfish
