Body Image
Many young people feel insecure about their bodies, and experience pressure to look a certain way. It’s hard for young women and men to be happy with how they look when they’re constantly being shown unrealistic beauty standards on social media. This can badly impact a student’s well-being but it’s a sensitive topic for educators to approach.
Not every child is a reader, but for those who are, the easy-to-read books below provide a safe way for you and a student to talk about the negative feelings they may be having about how they look, and are treated by others..
- Canadian settings and characters
- Realistic fiction
- Relatable challenges
- Diverse characters
- Stories featuring main characters who are experiencing anxiety in some form and learn about managing it
Titles featuring characters dealing with body image issues
Carnival Curves
By Stacey Robinson
$19.95 Paperback
SEL SKILL: Self-Awareness
Two body-conscious black teens participate in their first Toronto Caribbean Carnival in their last summer of high school, learning to embrace themselves.
Half-Court Trap
By Kevin heronJones
$12.95 Paperback
SEL SKILL: Self-Awareness
A thirteen-year-old basketball player struggling with body image and rivalry plots revenge on a teammate, but an unexpected friendship leads him to empathy and self-acceptance.
Luscious Love
By Katerina Bakolias
$16.95 Paperback
SEL SKILL: Self-Awareness
A teen grapples with body image, low self-worth, and a toxic boss—until she finds the courage to stand up for herself, recognize her worth, and embrace the love she truly deserves.
Walk This Way
By Tony Correia
$14.95 Paperback
SEL SKILL: Self-Awareness
A teen passionate about drag faces criticism from his boyfriend, who—like some in the gay community—rejects flamboyant identities. Ultimately, he learns to embrace his authentic self..
Love on Planet A
By Christina Minaki
$14.95 Paperback
SEL SKILL: Relationship Skills
A disabled teen climate activist navigates a protective family and her desire to take action and have more independence, while also experiencing first love.
The Summer Between Us
By Andre Fenton
$14.95 Paperback
SEL SKILL: Relationship Skills
A biracial teen faces pressure to meet others’ expectations as he graduates high school, deals with identity and body image issues, family tensions, and discovers his own path and passion during a pivotal summer.
 |  |  |  |  |