All bodies are good bodies by Charlotte Barkla

Illus. by Erica Salcedo. Little Hare, 2019. ISBN: 9781760503932. 24pp., hbk.
I love hands!
Hands that are white and hands that are brown,
Freckles mean sunshine has sent kisses down.
Short fingers, long fingers, bendy or straight,
Hands to clap, or high-five your mate.
Even though the human body comprises the same elements, each is unique. No two are the same unless you are an identical twin. In this superbly illustrated book, each body part such as hands, hair, eyes and even tummies is featured while those characteristics which make them unique are celebrated. It doesn't matter if your nose is long and thin or short and flat or even turned up like a pussycat, we each have one and each does its special job.
With its bouncy rhyme and positive message about accepting the diversity and differences which make each of us special, it actively promotes the acceptance of the body regardless of shape, colour, or size so that we appreciate our individuality and are inclusive in our choices. When even our youngest readers are aware of their physical appearance these days and start to develop their relationship with their body, this is a critical message that encourages the positive mental health mindset so essential to developing resilience and empathy and offering lots of scope to collect and interpret data as the children compare and contrast their differences.
Barbara Braxton