WITH DR. KOTI L. HUBBARD, DEPARTMENT OF TEACHING AND LEARNING
Media, including children's literature, shapes children’s self-perception and attitudes toward body size (Coyne et al., 2022). This study investigates how body-positive picturebooks address issues of fatness and body size, focusing on books published in the past five years for children aged 4-8. With limited resources available for fostering dialogues about body size, examining existing literature becomes essential (Valauri, 2023). The research question is: What messages about body size do body-positive picturebooks convey to readers? The study analyzed four relevant picturebooks using an analytic review template (ART) adapted from Rogers et al. (2023), encompassing 23 categories such as literary features, personal connections, and themes related to promoting self-love. The analysis led to three primary themes: (a) promoting self-acceptance and redefining stereotypes, (b) empowering children through personal agency, and (c) presenting positive role-models and supportive environments. These themes emphasize resilience, showcasing how protagonists manage negative commentary and foster body- positive attitudes. By engaging with these picturebooks, families and educators can initiate constructive conversations about body size, encouraging children to embrace body positivity and navigate societal pressures. Seeing the Bigger Picture: Analyzing Messages about Body Size in Body- Positive Picturebooks
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