Before talking about anatomy and the changes kids go through in puberty, it’s great to have a base of information on what self-care looks like and what it means to be healthy. Wonderful Me: A First Guide to Taking Care of Yourself by Nancy Shapiro, walks kids through all the ways they can care for themselves and others.
The book generally covers aspects of the body, relationships and feelings, covering things like getting enough sleep, taking care of your body, getting exercise and learning how to check in with your body; being a good friend, establishing boundaries, balancing time alone and with others, asking for and offering help and learning to say no; communicating your feelings and using creative ways to express them and relaxing through balloon breathing.
Each topic is covered on a single page or a two-page spread, so it’s a pretty basic overview of these and other issues, but it’s a good place to start for early elementary school kids who are starting to learn to do things for themselves and express their needs more fluently than they could earlier in life.
The book includes illustrations by Vânia Sacramento showing kids with a range of skin tones and physical differences (there’s a child in a wheelchair and one with a hearing aid) so kids should be able to see themselves in the book and recognize that these are things they should be thinking about and doing in their own lives.
It doesn’t touch on anatomy or gender differences and doesn’t get into anything potentially scary (there are some mentions of talking to adults when things don’t feel right or someone asks you to do something you don’t want to do) and would be a fine book for use in a classroom (with an emphasis on being a good friend and being respectful of yourself and others) or at home if these are things you want to make sure your kids know about and do.
About the book: 48 pages, hardcover, published 2024 by Frances Lincoln Children’s Books, suggested retail price $16.99
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