Tug Your Earlobe: A Picture Guide to Body Language

by Štěpánka Sekaninová

56 pages, Hardcover

Published October 22, 2024

Reviews

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

(3.5/5, rounded up)
Not only a great idea but illustrated with precision. Adam Wolf, bravo!

Body language can feel like a "you had to be there"-type concept when explaining it to someone, so I wasn't sure if there was any way to succeed in conveying movements and gestures like they wanted.

My complaints are:
1) Sometimes the reasoning is stated as fact vs making it explicitly clear that it's only what the person doing the language thinks about themselves - not an actual trait they possess. For example, one says "I've achieved little in my life, and I believe I have nothing to offer." I totally understand where they're going with this - but I'm 29. My concern is that a child, whose brain thinks much more literally, could jump from feelings of insecurity to an assumption they've never achieved anything. Per usual, there's a chance I'm giving this too much thought and it be a non-issue. But thinkin' too much is why they pay me the big bucks ($0). ;)
2) It wouldn't be a bad idea to mention the real possibility of meeting someone who doesn't follow a few, most, or even all of these patterns. Providing this information so rigidly can backfire. Providing the exception of other cultures and their differing customs is not enough.

With those better addressed, this would be an easy 5/5 for me, added to my family's bookshelf upon publishing.

{Thank you bunches NetGalley, Stepanka Sekaninova, Adam Wolf, Publisher Spotlight and Albatros Media for the DRC in exchange for my honest review!}

[Shan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm going to be brutally honest: I can't tell if this book is supposed to be a joke or not. All of the body language examples and meanings seem both overused and outdated. My main takeaway from this book is that 80% of seated positions indicate that you are insecure or scared. Additionally, this book is so rigid, for lack of a better word. What I mean by this is that the author mentions one, maybe two, meanings for each action even though, in the real world, there are many reasons why people move like they do, and many ways to interpret gestures. My first example of this is crossing your legs. For some, it might suggest insecurity, but it just might be comfortable for others. Another example (which bothered me a lot) was the personal space bubble. This *definitely* varies from person to person, and I felt confused since these measurements don't correlate with my own rules. All in all, I think that there is a good idea here but there isn't enough information or depth within this book to make it useful.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

In an increasingly digitalized world, body language, spatial awareness, and general crowd behavior is being lost for the new generations. With evolving body language, it's difficult to place exactly what body language means in every situation.

While this book is a really good introduction into what body language is, and how to read body language, I think it lacks the ability to evolve body language, introduce that body language varies between individuals, especially neurodivergent individuals, and that sometimes body language can't be read at all.

However, I do think that this is the right stepping stone to introducing how to read that and to create a bigger conversation between adults and children that body language exists and it can help children be more successful in sharing their own words and experiences with others. It's also a great way to introduce how body language can be read between children and between children and adults.

The illustrations are colorful and engaging, and I loved seeing the different ways that emotions were portrayed between the characters.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This child-friendly introduction to body language and nonverbal communication is easy to read, humorous, and quite helpful in demystifying the topic. Colorful spot artwork complements the text, and readers learn some of the secrets behind someone's posture, eye contact, smiles, hands, legs, chests, gestures, and even how someone sits. Learning what some of these nonverbal signs mean can help youngsters navigate the world more easily. One cautionary note, though: The author's interpretations for all these examples aren't always valid in every situation. Sometimes crossed arms or legs simply mean that's the comfortable, preferred position for the individual.

[Kim Wilch · Rating 5 out of 5]

We enjoyed play-acting with each of the illustrations and situations. The book starts with space bubbles and explanations - that’s a big one for me. Each nonverbal action is comprehensively covered with an example and meaning. Posture, Head, Eyes, Chest, Hands, Feet, Smiling, Gesturing, and Sitting are covered. We’re going to study this more to be able to “read” people. Try it, it’s fun! (big gesture) What a wonderful tool to learn as a youngster that will stay with them throughout their life!