Bodies Are Cool

 


Bodies Are Cool by Tyler Feder is a LGBTQ+ children's picture book.

From the publishing house, Penguin Random House the age range for the book is 3-5 year olds.

Bodies Are Cool forgoes a traditional plot and instead shows the many times of bodies that are are and how cool that is and that everyone should love their body because of how many different bodies there are in the world.

This book was chosen because it fits within the parameters of an LGBTQ+ book by showing members of each sexuality. This book was also chosen after finding it on the New York Times of recommened LGBTQ+ books from librarians and this is the first recommendation.

For this evalation I will be looking at three aspect which include illustration, rhyming and motif. To start of, looking at illustration they are used to inform the words that are on the page. Providing characters in a cartoonish style we see both an exaggerated look at them as well as paying close attention to the parts tha make them all different. It evokes picturesque moments in ou lives like going to cookout, partying or going to the movies showing all the ways bodies are different and it is useful ins describing them.

Second, let's look at one interestin aspect of the book whch rhyming. The book acts as a poem with each verse describing a different type of body. For example we have, "soft tummies, saggy tummies, flat or sticky-outy tummies, innies, outies, pregnant tummies." Finally, each verse ends with the statement and theme of the book, "Bodies are cool." Using this rhyming and song technique allows for a engaging and fun read that describes as well as visualizes.

Last it's important to focus on motif. This one is tricky. The book has a particular theme in its title by saying bodies are cool. Then it moves on to describe all of them and how it's okay to have a different body and you should love your body no matter what. The theme also ends up being the plot and so the story ends up being more tied to theme than any of the booka I have read thus far. The story is the theme in this instance.

References

Bodies are cool. (2024). Penguin Random House. Retrieved February 8, 2020, from https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/647974/bodies-are-cool-by-tyler-feder/

Feder, T. (2021). Bodies are cool. Penguin Random House.

Giddings, C. (2023). 15 LGBTQ books for kids and teens recommended by queer librarians, educators, and independent booksellers. New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/15-lgbtq-books-for-kids-and-teens/


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