Bodies Are Cool: A picture book celebration of all kinds of bodies

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Bodies are Cool is the most amazing body-positive book for children I've ever read. Written and illustrated by Tyler Feder (creator of the incredible graphic memoir Dancing at the Pity Party), the book includes positive, inclusive illustrations of all kinds of human bodies. The pastel-toned illustrations effectively convey Feder's youth and the intensity of her emotions while emphasizing the ultimate message of survival and resilience in the face of life-changing grief. Cathartic and uplifting." — Kirkus

Families can talk about how bodies are portrayed in Bodies Are Cool. Which bodies look like your body or the bodies of people you know? Which bodies look different? Why do you think the author wanted to show so many different bodies in the book? That bodies are cool is not questioned, and I can imagine myself as a kid saying, “But WHY are bodies cool? Who SAYS?” As an adult, I can imagine that opening up a worthwhile discussion. This anthology, edited by Kelly Jensen,explores feminism through the voices of 44 diverse writers, poets, artists, dancers, and actors. There are no central characters in this book, but the illustrations are full of people joyously participating in diverse community settings. The book models accepting and appreciating yourown body and the bodies of others.This cheerful love-your-body picture book for preschoolers is an exuberant read-aloud with bright and friendly illustrations to pore over. 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 The giant boulder of diet culture fell on me so soon after that. But to remember that there was this moment where I genuinely couldn’t understand why he would want to have a different body than what he had,” she said. “What if all kids just stayed that way? And they just kept thinking that bodies are just bodies, you don’t have to aggressively change them. Wouldn’t that be so great?” After the author’s mother dies of uterine cancer when her oldest daughter is 19, Feder (Unladylike for adults) finds herself longing for something “that cradles my grief without smothering Continue reading »

On two readings, I don’t think I saw a single person with albinism. Again, given how thorough the book usually seemed, this was a surprise. I really wish it weren’t the case. Feder takes readers along on the nightmare road trip that nobody wants to make in a frank and funny, intimate and poignant graphic novel . . . The narrative, in peppily solid panel art, is exceptionally articulate and accessible." — BCCB, starred review From the author and illustrator of the gorgeous and solemn graphic memoir Dancing at the Pity Party comes a lively and glorious picture book that is all about body positivity, from head to toe. The story is anthemic and reads like an affirmation that highlights all the lovely types of bodies out there and how they are really cool. Feder’s book is inclusive and will instill in readers confidence and pride!Bonus review from my 8 year old son: "I really liked it...I liked looking for what was different about each person. I liked how colorful it was and how comfortable everyone was with being themselves and being around people who were different. It was a happy book, and kids should get to see people who are happy with themselves." From the author and illustrator of the gorgeous and solemn graphic memoir, Dancing at the Pity Party, comes a lively and glorious picture book that is all about body positivity from head to toe. The story is anthemic and reads like an affirmation, highlighting all the lovely types of bodies out there and how they are really cool. Feder’s inclusive book will instill confidence and pride! This book shows young readers a wide variety of bodies. Whether it's size, height, gender, ability, hair (head and body), eyes, skin colors, scars or marks, kids will learn about body diversity.

This heart-warming, inclusive book, filled with detailed and friendly illustration is a celebration of every kind of body that exists in the world. Through an empowering, rhythmic text that is perfect for reading aloud, little ones can explore various skin tones, body shapes, hair types, and more, in an accessible way that instills body positivity and confidence.From two Nobel Peace Prize winners, an invitation to look past sadness and loneliness to the joy that surrounds us.

By the time we met on Zoom in March, she couldn’t remember precisely what it was she’d been reacting to that day in late October. “I think that was when one of the Kanye West antisemitism things was happening,” she said. Perhaps it was the demonstrators who stood behind banners that read, “Kanye is right about the Jews,” and, “Honk if you know,” on a Los Angeles freeway overpass that weekend, extending their arms forward in Nazi salutes. Feder writes and draws about mental health, too. It’s all connected, she said. Her 2020 book, Dancing at the Pity Party , subtitled “a dead mom graphic memoir,” starts before her mother’s ovarian cancer diagnosis and continues after her death when Feder was a sophomore in college, reflecting on the grief of a “motherless life” with candor and humor. Her next book, Are You Mad at Me? — cowritten with one of her sisters and set to be published in September — is a picture book that follows an anxious ostrich who always thinks other animals are mad at her. Common Sense is the nation's leading nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of all kids and families by providing the trustworthy information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in the 21st century. The last bit of the author bio: “Tyler has a round tummy, fuzzy eyebrows, and a mole on her left arm with a little hair growing out of it. Her body is cool, and so is yours!” My niece is a very curious and empathetic kid. She always has a lot of questions about strangers’ bodies when we go out together. I’m not a parent and am never quite sure how to help her learn without pointing, staring, or being rude (I try my best but I’m never sure the exact best way to do it). I bought this book for her so we could examine and talk all we want about all kinds of different bodies in private. She loved it. It was so helpful for me to be able to explain all kinds of bodies to her without being put on the spot to do it directly in front of the human in real life. And I think she felt relieved to be able to ask all of her questions, express fear and concern, etc without having to worry about hurting someone’s feelings.

A few years ago, when Feder was preparing to write and illustrate her picture book, Bodies Are Cool , aimed at preschoolers, she put out a call on social media: What’s a body part or physical feature people wished they’d learned to love as kids?