NPR's Book of the Day 'Body Beautiful' and 'My One-of-a-Kind Body' aim to cultivate kids’ body positivity
Jan 16, 2026
Join Susan Verde, a children's book author and former teacher, as she explores the vital topic of body positivity for kids. She shares insights on how negative self-talk can start as early as six years old and emphasizes storytelling over lectures to engage young minds. Verde highlights the amazing functions of our bodies as sources of wonder. Alongside her, Whitney Casares introduces practical tools for tweens to build body literacy and critical media awareness, fostering self-kindness while countering harmful messages.
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Teach Through Story, Not Lectures
- Use picture books to share body-positive messages without lecturing or saying 'should' or 'should not.'
- Let children absorb opinions from characters their own age rather than from direct adult commands.
Focus On What Bodies Do
- Emphasize what bodies do — the everyday functions — to inspire wonder and shift focus from appearance.
- Noticing capabilities (healing, grasping, walking) frames bodies as miraculous rather than merely aesthetic.
Beauty As Identity, Not Comparison
- Centering uniqueness closes comparisons: ending with 'your body is you' reframes beauty as identity.
- Susan Verde aimed to remind kids that being themselves is the most beautiful attribute.
