My Body illustrated by Libby Burns and Ours by Ruth Forman, illustrated by Talia Skyles
Published by Ladybird and Little Simon

Age Range: 12 months – 3 years

Self-esteem is a trendy topic in children’s literature today and Reach Out and Read is here for it! In fact, we’ve just received two gorgeously illustrated board books for our youngest patients. Ladybird Magic Windows: My Body is the embodiment of perfection in children’s literature. My Body is a must-have with a modern color-scheme, diverse illustrations (featuring a wheelchair among other lesser seen details!) and sliding pull tabs on every page to help develop baby’s pincer grasp. It’s a lovely first look at our amazing bodies and how to take care of them.

With only a few words on its lushly illustrated pages, Ours is a wonderful introduction to self-love. It follows children playing at an urban park who show what they love about their bodies. The children ask, “we love ours, you love yours?” and features a mirror for baby to admire what makes them uniquely them. 

I recommend both books for anyone looking to empower their little one with a positive message of self-love. For more information on this important topic, here’s a great Zero to Three article worth checking out: Who am I? Developing a Sense of Self and Belonging.

– Stefanie Estes, M.L.S.