Body positive book for toddlers!

No, I don't think it would have an adverse affect on children suffering from life-limiting illnesses, or pain, or chronic illness, or physical difference.

Because, in the end, we only do have this one body. It's as stark as that. Whatever this body is, that's it. It's a fantasy, a mirage, that one can have the 'wrong' body. And I think it's actively harmful for children to internalise that idea.

When children are in crisis, we might be more attentive to the books or media we present them with - what is right for one child right now is not right for another child right now.

Maybe a child needs texts that affirm their anger right now, or acknowledges their despair. This is why children have parents and librarians and health educators and even bibliotherapists to help them in their book choices.

Maybe another child, dealing with the exact same thing, finds the message of the book healing.

There is nothing inherent in the book which is damaging to unwell or disabled children, imo.

How will.it help children who feel like I do though?.what impact would it have on them if they.pick it up at school, if you say it's not the book for.me or.my children presumably you think it would have an adverse affect?

I'm angry and I'm pissed off with my body for.letting me down

I felt like that too, for a long time. I still do, now and then.

I'm sorry; it's a terribly difficult place to be in mentally. It is so hard, on top of dealing with physical illness and pain.

This may not be the book for you, or your children, at the moment. But it a good book, with a hopeful and positive message, and I believe it is an essential counter to the prevailing narrative that sees the body and self as separate, and in an antagonistic relationship.

Just how are you ok in a body that is in constant pain, that.limits your life choices?

Because there is no other body to be in; there is no other me. There is only this body.

I use modern medicine to help improve this body (my) functioning as best I can. Beyond that, there are two choices - despair at the body, or love for the body.

I am sorry if you are struggling with this question, which is existential, and difficult, for yourself or for a loved one (if that sounds snarky it's not meant to - I fully understand how painful these existential issues are, I utterly empathise with the struggle, it is painful and difficult and people without disability or life limiting or life changing illness sometimes cannot truly see what that struggle is, and how devastating it can be).

Fwiw, I do not see the message of the book as dismissive of my personal life -limiting, life-changing struggle with my body (my self).

JanesKettle

I'm truly sorry for the illness that you have. If you've achieved a sense of acceptance of your body them I'm pleased for you. I'm not you though. I'm not in that place. I'm angry and I'm pissed off with my body for.letting me down. I certainly don't love it and yes, your last paragraph exactly sums up how I feel.

OMG do you only buy books whose message you already know you agree with

No, I borrow books from the library..I'm not spending money on something that i.might.not.like or get anything from.

This is a book for children, celebrating the fact that whatever body they are in, they are OK. How the fck does anyone disagree with that ?!*

I disagree with that exact idea celebrating the fact that whatever body they are in, they are OK

Just how are you ok in a body that is in constant pain, that.limits your life choices?.Just how are you ok? If my dd re starts the medication that.im.on and she had as a child she won't be able to have children - how does that.make her body ok?

That's why I'm finding these ideas trite and patronising. It very much feels that it's being used to counter the trans issue and is co opting disability in some way.

And seriously, Hooves, you are not the only person in the world with a body that is only going to get worse in terms of functioning, not better.

I'm in that same situation, and guess what ? It's still the only body I have, or can have, and I'm gonna love it till I (probably) get lung cancer, or suffocate to death, and even then, I'll love it till the moment it stops and I am no more. Because as crap as it is, it's got me everywhere till now. Every blessed thing in my life is because I am in this body, because I am this body. Without this body, I would have no life, no blessings. Every breath it takes (poorly) is a blessing, because it's my breath, it's me.

Imagine thinking it would be healthier for me to think 'oh, this old thing ? It's rubbish. I hate it. Someone should get me a new one, a better one. I can't be happy in this body. Take it away!'

OMG do you only buy books whose message you already know you agree with ?

I can't even. How do you ever buy fiction ? Pre-digested ? How do you ever understand where those you disagree with are coming from ? Do you not ever read and change your mind ?

Good luck waiting for a copy from the library - I'm sure all the 'this is literal terrorism!' nutcases are busy tweeting libraries with threats not to stock the work of transphobes as we speak.

This is a book for children, celebrating the fact that whatever body they are in, they are OK. How the f*ck does anyone disagree with that ?!

JanesKettle

If there's a copy in the library I'll have a look. Why should I pay money for a book that I suspect I won't agree with?

Because it's the only one you've got. Is not the medication, surgeries etc a way of showing love to it, you want it too heal?

My body will never heal, it will only get worse. The medications cause other problems, cause side effects that necessitate more treatment, put me at risk of life threatening infection etc. The surgeries limit my mobility and activity even more but are necessary to try and control the illness so no, I don't see them as showing love to my body. Showing it love would be to just stop all treatment.

Again, I do think.its trite to have 1 token child in a wheelchair as the representative of disabilities. And is that child really playing together with whatever toys they want? Disability limits what you can do. It sets you apart from your friends. I certainly can't do whatever I want or play whatever sports I want.

I would change my body in a heart beat for a healthy one.so I do struggle with the message in this book.

The same but different too.

I love this book

Can you give examples then? I haven't read the book and can't see the text. I'm only going on what's been written on this thread - that boys and girls are shown being able to do the same things etc..so how do they address disability?

The illustrations have children who use a wheelchair taking part in the activities too. It also addresses sensory issues children might have.

Buy the book, zebras!

These women are artists, and make their living from art - I'm not going to start providing extracts from the book online and undermining their sales! (I believe there is a page photographed on Twitter).

And don't critique it till you have read it!

I've ordered it and will be able to comment more when it arrives but it certainly has a child in a wheelchair heartily taking part in sports.
Children and adults who are obese often think they are much bigger than they are (though some don't obviously) and knowing what your body is really like is part of helping yourself to be healthy. If you are overweight and think you can never do anything active because your body is obscenely large that's not going to make you healthy.

@Hearhoovesthinkzebras Because it's the only one you've got. Is not the medication, surgeries etc a way of showing love to it, you want it too heal? From your comments I suspect with present technologies and therapies it cannot heal, but you are still taking the best care of it you can. My OH works in healthcare and he has seen it, people do give up.

Would you prefer for your daughter to have the same outlook you do or a different one? I don't think embracing and accepting your disability means giving up on hope or change. Sometimes it might mean not giving up. All circumstances are different but that may be too philosophical for a small children's book.

It's about taking care of your body and loving it. It is a book for small children, going deeply into the ins and outs of disabilities and eating habits might be a bit above their heads. But it's about loving and taking care of your body. Your body is part of you, it cannot change, love it. It covers skin colour, hair colour/type, sex/gender and disability. It covers gender stereotypes, lots of pictures of children with different skin colours and definitely saw at least 1 wheelchair all happily playing together with whatever toys they want, hair how they want etc, it not mattering whether you like pink or blue. Very simple for a small child to take in and understand.

I've bought this book and my OH does have concerns about it setting out female children up for a big fall. He's aware that as females they'll likely be judged by their bodies their entire lives. I disagree and think it'll make them less susceptible too the impact of negative comments, and hopefully the more parents who read children such stories the less judgement they'll be in the world.

Yes, I'm sure Rooney and Ahlberg, both with an incredible amount of experience with children, in children's books, inclusion, diversity etc failed to consider that 'bodies' might include ill or disabled bodies - NOT.

Can you give examples then? I haven't read the book and can't see the text. I'm only going on what's been written on this thread - that boys and girls are shown being able to do the same things etc..so how do they address disability?

Disability doesn't make someone's body (them) any less!

Any less what though?.less human - of course not. Less able to do certain things - work, play sport, go on holiday, go out with friends, be pain free? That's why my body makes me.less. it's shrunk.my world and i do feel.less because of it. So I don't agree that.my body is good as it is. It ain't isn't.

Yes, I'm sure Rooney and Ahlberg, both with an incredible amount of experience with children, in children's books, inclusion, diversity etc failed to consider that 'bodies' might include ill or disabled bodies - NOT.

Concern trolling.

Is someone seriously arguing kids should not receive the message that 1. they are their body (I mean, seriously, do you want dualism in your picture books ? You are your body and your spirit ? I mean, go for it, if that's your religion, but I'm a fucking atheist - do athesit families not deserve picture books?) and 2. their bodies are good as they are ? (as someone with a chronic, progressive illness, which has affected my appearance and my functioning, the message that enabled me to accept and cope in a healthy manner with this is - your body (you) are OK, just as you are. Disability doesn't make someone's body (them) any less! This is a hate-crime now, to innoculate our children with the message that no matter what body they have, they (their body) are capable and fully, wonderfully human. You can be at home in your body - such terror!)

It's a gorgeous book, with beautiful illustrations. Fun to read - children seem to enjoy both rhyme and illustrations.

Theme-wise, it's really quite similar to picture books I was read as a child. You are great as you are! Look at all the things your body can do! is the underlying message.

People on Twitter calling it terrorism are idiots, who don't have a clue about children's picture books, and are happy to destroy a female writer (and female illustrators) career, just because they don't like it.
People who want to ban books or attack writers are the fucking terrorists, imo.

Telling children that their healthy body is wrong and needs sterilised and parts cut off because it does match their personality isn't a great message, is it. You'd think you'd agree.

Where have I said that's my view?

I've said that I don't agree with telling anyone to.love and accept your body no matter what. Plenty of things that can be wrong with a body that have nothing to do with being trans. Personally, I think it's trite. I'd be interested for example to see how they address the issue of disability or illness? If they're portraying children as being essentially the same ie being able to do the same things, play the same games etc how do they apply this to children with disabilities?

Doesn't match their personality...

It’s a book for preschoolers

Should obese children be encouraged to accept the body they have? I would think it's better that they are encouraged to make changes to that body in the hope that they can live a healthy life.

The book discusses looking after your body and treating it with care.

I don't understand your beef with this book if you want to encourage children to be healthy. Telling children that their healthy body is wrong and needs sterilised and parts cut off because it does match their personality isn't a great message, is it. You'd think you'd agree.

Sorry but I still don't think that it's a universally great message.

Should obese children be encouraged to accept the body they have? I would think it's better that they are encouraged to make changes to that body in the hope that they can live a healthy life.

I'm.not convinced that total.acceptance of your body is a good thing. I'm envious of people with serious illness or disability who can accept their bodies. I'm not in that camp.and I'm not alone.