Body Talk for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Everybody has a body! Even at a young age, kids notice bodies (their abilities and differences) and start asking questions about how bodies work. Here are some picks for cultivating a sense of awareness of our amazing, fascinating, and sometimes bizarre bodies to share with toddlers and preschoolers.

Also look for our list on Disability Visibility - Picture Books.

Updated May 26, 2023
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LINCC (Libraries in Clackamas County)Happy Valley Library
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Fishman, Seth
Paper Book
"Innovative." --New York Times Book Review "For the four- to eight-year-old who goes nonstop." --Philadelphia Tribune The companion to the popular and award-winning A Hundred Billion Trillion Stars. This captivating and educational picture book from Seth Fishman and...
The big bath house
Maclear, Kyo
Paper Book
A joyful celebration of Japanese cultural traditions and body positivity as a young girl visits a bath house with her grandmother and aunties NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY New York Public Library . NPR . Publishers Weekly . Kirkus Reviews ....
Big
Harrison, Vashti
Paper Book
Winner of the Caldecott Medal! A Coretta Scott King Award Author and Illustrator Honor book, a National Book Award finalist, and a New York Times bestseller! This deeply moving story shares valuable lessons about fitting in, standing out, and the beauty of joyful acceptance,...
Who has what? : all about girls' bodies and boys' bodies
Harris, Robie H.
Paper Book
First in the "Let's Talk About You and Me" series. Young children are curious about almost everything. Asking questions is one of many ways they learn about themselves and the world around them. Now, this unique series for our youngest children provides easy-to-understand facts...
Beautifully me
Noor, Nabela
Paper Book
From designer, creator, and self-love advocate Nabela Noor (@Nabela) comes a much-needed picture book about loving yourself just as you are. Meet Zubi: a joyful Bangladeshi girl excited about her first day of school. But when Zubi sees her mother frowning in the mirror and...
Eyes that kiss in the corners
Ho, Joanna
Paper Book
A New York Times Bestseller and #1 Indie Bestseller · A Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year · A School Library Journal Best Book of 2021 · Included in NPR's 2021 Books We Love List · Featured in Forbes, Oprah Daily, The Cut, and Book Riot · Golden Poppy Book Award Winner · Featured...
Families
Shrivastav, Archaa
Paper Book
2021 Stonewall Award Winner - the first ever board book to win an American Library Association medal! Beautiful photos of real LGBTQ and ally families showcase all the wonderful forms of family, gender, and sexuality while poetic text builds both vocabulary and empathy. FAMILIES helps families and...
Don't hug Doug
Finison, Carrie
Paper Book
Meet Doug, an ordinary kid who doesn't like hugs, in this fun and exuberant story which aims to spark discussions about bodily autonomy and consent--from author Carrie Finison and the #1 New York Times bestselling illustrator of The World Needs More Purple People, Daniel Wiseman.<...
Stella's stellar hair
Moises, Yesenia
Paper Book
Black girl magic takes the solar system in Stella's Stellar Hair, a celebration of hair, family, and self-love from debut author-illustrator Yesenia Moises! It's the day of the Big Star Little Gala, and Stella's hair just isn't acting right! What's a girl...
Eyes that speak to the stars
Ho, Joanna
Paper Book
New York Times bestselling team Joanna Ho and Dung Ho present Eyes That Speak to the Stars, companion to the acclaimed Eyes That Kiss in the Corners. "A brilliant treatise to love of self and heritage." --School Library Journal (starred review) "A beautifully...
Don't touch my hair!
Miller, Sharee (Illustrator)
Paper Book
It seems that wherever Aria goes, someone wants to touch her hair. In the street, strangers reach for her fluffy curls; and even under the sea, in the jungle, and in space, she's chased by a mermaid, monkeys, and poked by aliens... until, finally, Aria has had enough! This humorous...
Rissy no kissies
Howes, Katey
Paper Book
A lovebird who doesn't like kisses?! Rissy's friends and family wonder if she's sick, confused, or rude. But kisses make Rissy uncomfortable. Can one little lovebird show everyone that there's no one right way to show you care? Rissy No Kissies carries the...
More than fluff
Valentine, Madeline
Paper Book
A fresh, funny, and timely picture book about a fuzzy chick navigating autonomy and consent. The perfect conversation starter on the topic for young children. Daisy happens to be fluffy--she's a young chick after all. Her friends can't help but want to pet her, squeeze her, and...
I love me!
Gardner Middlemiss, LaRonda
Paper Book
I love me from my mouth and chin all the way down to my knees and shins. This affirming picture book features a diversity of races and ethnicities, physical features, body types, abilities and disabilities. I Love Meteaches all kids they have many, many reasons...

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