I was going to use B Is for Bellies by Rennie Dyball as my Bingo Bodies but found another one instead. Therefore, I just decided to add this to a review of two other books about being yourself.
Starting with a bunch of bellies (well, we have A first as B is for Bellies is an alphabet book) we have a self explanatory picture book. This book is about big bellies, small bellies, black and brown, and white and purple bellies (okay maybe not purple). It is about arms and legs and skin. It is about your self expression, your gender and non-gender expression. It is about your ups and downs, your good and bad, your disabilities, conditions such as vitiligo, and who you are. But nothing is “hyped up” or is “OH LOOK! You are different!” Just “Look, you are different; I am different; she, he and they are different! And that is cool.” Mia Saine has people of all shapes, sizes and colors. There are actual “big people” and “small people” and all the happy people. It is just a good, happy book. (Due mid July 2023; read as online reader).
What happens when a BFT-R (Big Friendly T-Rex) shows up to a farm? You get Parker’s Place. This is another book about just being yourself, it just takes a minute or three to get there. Parker is a dinosaur who wants to live on a farm. The other animals are afraid, at first, but then say, sure, but we all help out on the farm. What can you do? Well, at first Parker is not sure, but they are game. It’s just that well, a T-Rex is a hard fit for the farm, and maybe not the best fit. Yet, if you have been paying attention to Russ Willms’s illustrations, you will see Parker has a place afterall, just not the one you would think of. This cleverly worded book (also by Willms) is a must add to your library and you can do so in August 2023. (Read via an online reader copy).
And last but not least, is Big Wig by Jonathan Hillman. B. B. Bedazzle is a real drag…queen that is! She has the wig to prove it! A big, beautiful wig that has sass and class. That is, until they see the other wigs are bigger, higher and sassier! Does this mean they are better? The wig takes on a life of its own and has the confidence to fly about. Our narrator tells and shows us how everyone is special and a winner with a little confidence and a lot of hairspray! Levi Hastings cannot be outdone by the flash of the text and they throw up and out and around color (lots and lots of bold, bright, flashy colors), sparkles and bedazzlement (I swear I found glitter in my socks after reading) with the illustrations. There is muchness going on and it is all for fun. (Currently available).