My Body, My Rules

“Everyone has a body, and every body is different.”Passchier explores consent, boundaries, and more. Bodies can be “big, small, tall, short, fat, thin, young, and old”; all are worthy of respect and empathy. Above all, the author stresses, “you are the boss of your own body.” Passchier relies on concrete examples that will resonate with young people. “Please don’t touch my hair,” says one child to another at a birthday party. “Can I hug you?” says another youngster on the playground. “Yes!” responds a smiling pal. A peppy, positive tone pervades the book as characters diverse in terms of skin color, size, and ability celebrate the beauty of their bodies (“My body is soft and great for giving hugs!” “My scar shows where my body healed itself”). Though the language is simple and accessible, Passchier shows nuance, emphasizing that kids can say yes to something but change their mind later, for instance. And sometimes it’s important to do things we don’t like, like eating vegetables or getting a shot at the doctor’s office. A spread devoted to disability has a similarly upbeat vibe (“I love my brightly colored and decorated leg!” says one child, gesturing at a prosthetic limb); another section urges kids to embrace their own unique style.
A child-friendly, approachable take on bodily autonomy. * Kirkus Reviews *

Andy Passchier (they/them) is a trans nonbinary illustrator originally from the Netherlands and currently based in the USA. In their work, they focus on diversity, inclusivity, and advocacy for LGBTQIA+ topics. They have illustrated several children’s books regarding love, family, gender identity, and pronouns, with Gender Identity for Kids being the first book they both wrote and illustrated. Outside of illustrating, they enjoy hanging with their cats, playing D&D, video games, Halloween, and shows about aliens.

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