Three Body Positive Picture Books To Celebrate The Skin You’re In

Body positivity, body neutrality, fat liberation, inclusivity—no matter what you call it, representing and normalizing a range of body types and abilities is crucial in children’s media. I’ve felt strongly about this for decades, and it’s really only in the last five years that I’ve seen a shift in the picture book world. I’ll never forget the moment I heard that Big by Vashti Harrison had won the Caldecott Medal. I erupted into tears of shock and joy. Winning a Caldecott means a title will never go out of print. It ensures the book will live on recommendation lists accessed by casual readers, booksellers, and library patrons for generations to come. In this case, it means thousands more children will hear the story of a girl who is mocked for being too big, but who ultimately decides not to let hurtful words go unaddressed or define her. This masterpiece doesn’t just exist; it is celebrated with the highest honor in picture books. Things are changing. Below, I’ve gathered a few more titles that allow children to celebrate the many different ways bodies can exist in the world. The genre needs everything: joyful illustrations, accurate language to name body parts and their functions...