Why am I passionate about this?

Iā€™m an inclusion consultant working with publishers to help ensure all children are included in books. Itā€™s easy to forget how important embracing all types of bodies is when thinking about diversity and inclusion. But inclusion is essentially about welcoming and appreciating all different types of bodies. The best way to promote this is to build a sense of awe about how bodies are created, understand the science behind why differences occur, and see that bodies come in many shapes and forms, and are all beautiful. There are so many books that can help with this, but alongside my book, the books on this list are a great place to start.


I wrote

All Bodies Are Wonderful: An Inclusive Guide to talking about you!

By Beth Cox, Samantha Meredith (illustrator),

Book cover of All Bodies Are Wonderful: An Inclusive Guide to talking about you!

What is my book about?

From inspiring a sense of awe in the science of our bodies to understanding that bodies can be tricky, thisā€¦

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of On the Night You Were Born

Beth Cox Why did I love this book?

I read this book to my son when he was a baby every single night for over a key, and it still gives me goosebumps.

Personally, the road to becoming a parent hadnā€™t been straightforward, and this celebration of a new life in the world put my feelings about the wonder of this into words. A key part of building self-worth and self-esteem in children is creating a sense of awe and wonder, and this book does that alongside helping each child to see how special and unique they are.

Itā€™s relevant for any of us at any age to remind us that we all have immense value.

By Nancy Tillman,

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked On the Night You Were Born as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 1, 2, 3, and 4.

What is this book about?

On the night you were born,
the moon smiled with such wonder
that the stars peeked in to see you
and the night wind whispered.
"Life will never be the same."
On the night you were born, the whole world came alive with thanksgiving. The moon stayed up till morning. The geese flew home to celebrate. Polar bears danced.
On the night you were born you brought wonder and magic to the world. Here is a book that celebrates you. It is meant to be carried wherever life takes you, over all the roads, through all the years.
This debutā€¦


Book cover of What Makes a Baby

Beth Cox Why did I love this book?

My son is donor conceived, and Iā€™m a solo parent by design, so how he was made is something weā€™ve talked about since he was tiny. (Although the conversation was rather one-sided for a number of years!)

When I discovered this book it quickly became a favourite as itā€™s so inclusive! The way itā€™s presented transcends gender and family set up, meaning you can use it to discuss any or all of the ways a baby can be made. Understanding how babies come into the world and grow helps children to realise the importance of their own bodies. 

By Cory Silverberg, Fiona Smyth (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked What Makes a Baby as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Finalist for the 2014 Lambda Award for LGBT Children's/Young Adult

ā€œWhat Makes a Baby is extraordinary! Cory is a Dr. Spock for the 21st century.ā€ā€”Susie Bright

ā€œA Truly Inclusive Way to Answer the Question 'Where Do Babies Come From?': The new book What Makes a Baby offers an origin story for all children, no matter what their families look like." ā€”The Atlantic

"This is a solid, occasionally quirky book on an important topic."ā€”School Library Journal

Geared to readers from preschool to age eight, What Makes a Baby is a book for every kind of family and every kind of kid.ā€¦


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Book cover of Knife Skills

Knife Skills by Wendy Church,

"Dizzying . . . Audiences who wished the TV series The Bear had made room for Russian mobsters are in for a treat" - Kirkus Reviews Starred Review

Sagarine Pfister is a great cook but has been blacklisted by almost every restaurant in Chicago. She gets her chance at Louie's,ā€¦

Book cover of Julian Is a Mermaid

Beth Cox Why did I love this book?

This book is a joyful celebration of being a child and exploring your interests, without feeling bound by the constraints of expectations, gendered or otherwise. Books like these help our children to see that itā€™s okay to explore who they are, and model to adults how you can positively accept that exploration (rather than fear it). 

By Jessica Love,

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked Julian Is a Mermaid as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 3, 4, 5, and 6.

What is this book about?

A glimpse of three women dressed as mermaids leaves one boy filled with wonder and ready to dazzle the world.

"Every choice Jessica Love makes imbues the story with charm, tenderness and humor" New York TImes Book Review

While riding the subway home with his Nana one day, Julian notices three women spectacularly dressed up. Their hair billows in brilliant hues, their dresses end in fishtails, and their joy fills the train carriage. When Julian gets home, daydreaming of the magic he's seen, all he can think about is dressing up just like the ladies and making his own fabulousā€¦


Book cover of It isn't Rude to be Nude

Beth Cox Why did I love this book?

The first time I shared this book with my son there were a few giggles, and there still are to be honest. But then you canā€™t really expect any less when sharing a book filled with realistic pictures of naked bodies with a child!

What better way to demonstrate the variety of bodies and expression than seeing them in their naked, perfectly imperfect, glory. This book has opened up so many conversations about gender and disability, as well as self-expression and Iā€™d say itā€™s a must have on any bookshelf!

By Rosie Haine,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked It isn't Rude to be Nude as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 6, 7, 8, and 9.

What is this book about?

* A remarkable new picture book supporting body positivity for everyone * Striking, sensational, powerful ink illustrations This beautiful and brilliant debut picture book from Rosie Haine celebrates all bodies in every colour, shape and size you can imagine! All bodies are brilliant bodies, no matter what they look like. They will change as you get older, some things will change quicker than others, some might not change at all! Everyone has a bum. Nipples are normal. It isn't rude to be nude!


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Book cover of The Finest Lies

The Finest Lies by David J. Naiman,

A mysterious stranger traps teen siblings in a precarious game where each must overcome their embittered past for the other to survive.

This suspenseful, yet winsome novel explores the power of family and forgiveness. But take heed. The truth can cut like shards of glass, especially for those whoā€™d ratherā€¦

Book cover of Bodies Are Cool

Beth Cox Why did I love this book?

With a real focus on the range of bodies and features that exist, and lovely rhyming text to support this, Bodies Are Cool really does show that all bodies are just that.

With body hair the norm rather than the exception, scars, stretch marks, stoma bags and more depicted, this book focuses on how bodies are different without othering them ā€“ just by making them natural and familiar.

By Tyler Feder,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Bodies Are Cool as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 3, 4, and 5.

What is this book about?

This cheerful love-your-body picture book for preschoolers is an exuberant read-aloud with bright and friendly illustrations to pore over.

From the acclaimed creator of Dancing at the Pity Party and Roaring Softly, this picture book is a pure celebration of all the different human bodies that exist in the world. Highlighting the various skin tones, body shapes, and hair types is just the beginning in this truly inclusive book. With its joyful illustrations and encouraging refrain, it will instill body acceptance and confidence in the youngest of readers. "My body, your body, every different kind of body! All of themā€¦


Explore my book šŸ˜€

All Bodies Are Wonderful: An Inclusive Guide to talking about you!

By Beth Cox, Samantha Meredith (illustrator),

Book cover of All Bodies Are Wonderful: An Inclusive Guide to talking about you!

What is my book about?

From inspiring a sense of awe in the science of our bodies to understanding that bodies can be tricky, this book will help children learn how to be themselves and feel like they belong. Some children might feel like their body is different. But being different is completely natural... itā€™s just science!

By teaching the principles of DNA, anatomy, nature vs. nurture, environmental influence, and moreā€”all in language that is accessible and inclusiveā€”children will learn to celebrate all body types. Tips are included throughout to help them feel confident and empowered as they grow. Adults might even learn something, too!

Book cover of On the Night You Were Born
Book cover of What Makes a Baby
Book cover of Julian Is a Mermaid

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Interested in pregnancy, body image, and mermaids?

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