Everybody Has a Body

Employing digestible, body-neutral text in this necessary read, Ehlert explains many ways that bodies can look and behave as they “take us through the world.” Throughout, the repeated statement “everybody has a body” is followed by conversational text that explains how as “we move and play and feel, our bodies are part of who we are,” and notes that bodies both “look different ways” and “have different needs.” Via sometimes abstract, sometimes fully detailed illustrations, Tu’s scribbly, thin-lined art depicts characters of various abilities, ages, body types, and skin tones. In one art gallery scene, individuals using forearm crutches and a wheelchair are shown with a person walking with a seeing-eye dog and cane, a child manipulating a fidget toy, and another wearing headphones and sporting the infinite loop symbol representing autism. Ending text affirms that “your body is your body. It doesn’t look like anyone else’s. It doesn’t feel like anyone else’s.” An end note defines and offers suggestions for practicing body neutrality. Ages 4–8. (Aug.)