Every Body: A Celebration of Diverse Abilities

by Shelley Rotner

Join this photographic celebration of differing physical and neurological abilities from a National Geographic photographer.

We have different ways to move around.

Celebrating children of different abilities, this photographic book presents large, clear images of children moving around their community, using scooters, wheelchairs, walkers, and more. The text presents their experiences navigating the world, from the park to the beach, in simple relatable language. Every Body celebrates children with varying abilities, covering neurological differences, physical differences, and health challenges.

The book includes contributions from internationally-known disabilities activist Judith Heumann whose work is profiled in the oscar-nominated Netflix documentary Crip Camp.

Shelley Rotner, a National Geographic photographer and prolific children's author, applies her trained eye for crisp details in this latest book for young readers.

Genres: Picture Books, Nonfiction, Disability, Childrens, Bodies, Photography, Storytime

32 pages, Hardcover

Published March 21, 2023

About the author

When I was five, I refused to go to kindergarten. I declared it was for babies. I already knew how to read, but what really bothered me the most was that the kids mixed up the paintbrushes and colors at the easel so there was never true blue, red, yellow or green. Every time my teacher turned her back, I left the room and headed to the first grade class diagonally across the hall. Luckily, I had a friend there who happily shared her desk with me until the teacher noticed and sent me back to kindergarten. After many successful escapes, a trip to the principal and some testing, I was officially moved to that first grade class with beautiful autumn leaves painted on the door.

Reviews

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ignoring the disability #SayTheWord verbiage, this is like a modern version of Someone Special, Just Like You, one of the most impactful books for me growing up with a disability.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must for any early elementary classroom or library. For homes as well. Real children are featured in this book about so many different abilities ❤️

[Elli Keefer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will definitely be adding this to my future classroom library. Through real-life pictures it shows many different types of kids. Kids who have physical disabilities, hearing and speech impairments, Downs Syndrome, learning disabilities, and intellectual disabilities. This book goes along perfecetly with one of my courses about making your classroom inclusive. While it is a great lesson for students to understand, some adults could use the reminder too. Kids just want to be kids and even with diverse abilities they should have the opportunity to thrive. I chose this book as a potential Caldecott Winner because of its use of pictures. Students reading this can learn about this topic with real life kids and pictures rather than illustrations that may seem to be fiction to them. The pictures fill up every page and include a wide range of kids and their disabilities. Overall, while the pictures stood out to me, the lesson is great too.

[Ellon · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars (I really liked it)

This was a book with a great message. I liked the photographs and clear text.

I didn't /love/ the book because of two main things: 1) On some spreads there is smaller caption text that appears in a place where you would logically read before the main text and this was kind of awkward. 2) It's awesome that there is a glossary but I feel like it could have been done better since many of the words were not seen at all in the main text (some were alluded to).

[Peacegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great idea for a book! This is a title that needs to find a home in every public, school, and elementary classroom library. It demystifies the idea of physical, mental, and health differences with lots of photos of real kids doing things that other kids can relate to--like playing and spending time with friends and pets. Understanding is the first step toward creating a climate of acceptance and kindness in the classroom, playground, and everyday interactions.

[Reshamad · Rating 3 out of 5]

How do you communicate to the youngest readers the diversity of human body and the variety of abilities we come in? This book does that beautifully with pictures and movements and simple call outs. Meant for the younger readers, this book gently reminds readers of acceptance and love for all human abilities and body shapes.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a happy and incredibly affirming picture book about all the different kinds of bodies kids have and how to appreciate and celebrate that. For younger kids, I love the large and simple text on the pages and the color photographs of real kids. This would be a great classroom or story time book or one just to share.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish I'd had this when the kids in my life were younger and liked looking at pictures of other kids. Exposure to kids with diverse abilities and having safe conversations with a parent or guardian about differences is so important- and I think this book makes it much easier to do.

[Gabrielle Stoller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so needed. Celebrating children with dyslexia, Downs, missing limbs, hearing aids, glasses.....but we all need to read and learn and BE. By using actual photographs that really drives home the point! These are people too!

[Elisabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful look at diverse bodies and abilities. Includes so many different disabilities--even those that are invisible! Includes a glossary of differences and disabilities, and four bios of disability activists, three of whom are kids! The photography is gorgeous and I just really enjoyed it.

[Binxie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Photos of real kids celebrating diversity and inclusion are the highlight of this book. Sure to be shared with groups by parents, educators, and librarians.

[Jeretta Hall-Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A realistic look at the physical, emotional, and neurological diversity among children. A great introduction for children about differently abledness.

[Josh Peatfield · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably a good rec for guidance. Good back matter.

[Sarah Threlkeld · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great representation of different kinds of bodies and abilities with accessible, kid-friendly language.

[Susan Dunn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful photos of lots of kids with a variety of disabilities.

[kati · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so happy to read this book for storytime. The captions in tiny text are hard to read to a group.

[Sam Anneken · Rating 5 out of 5]

Real children are showcased in this book, and thats really important for classrooms as you have all different types of kids. Reading this aloud can promote inclusion well.

[Natalie Tate · Rating 5 out of 5]

The premise of this book is simple: Everybody has a body, and we should be kind to everybody!

Shelley Rotner, a professional photographer with several picture books under her belt, does an exceptional job here. All kids are similar in some ways (everyone has a body; everyone plays, learns, and loves), but they're different too (in ways they move, communicate, see, learn, etc.).

What's remarkable about this book is that it lays out its message simply without feeling like a sermon. Every Body is truly a celebration of kids of all kinds. Don't miss this.