11+ Books on Body Image That Girl Moms Will Feel Great About Buying!
Could you use a little help finding just the right book to help your daughter feel good about her body? You’re on the right page!
There are thousands of books on body image on the market, so pinpointing the right one can be overwhelming!
In this article, I delve into all the issues that come up in these books to help you find the one that’s just right for your daughter, depending on her age, personality, and the unique body ‘ish that she’s going through.
Body image books often include delicate topics like eating disorders, fatphobia, puberty and periods, gender identities, and even sex so it’s good to know what you’re in for before you hand one over to your daughter.
If you scroll to the bottom, you’ll even find out what happens when you don’t do you research first! (Yup, I made that mistake and you can learn from it!)
From picture books to chapter books, fiction to non-fiction, workbooks, and journals, get ready to empower your daughter with a solid list of the body-confidence-building book picks you can rely on now and as she grows!
Table of Contents
How to Use This Age-Specific Guide
To make it easy to zero in on what will work best, I’ve sorted books into sections by age, including those meant for girls ages seven and younger, eight to 14, and 13 to 16 years old.
As a bonus, I’ve also included a section on books to help you when it comes to raising a body-confident daughter!
Wondering whether you should let girls read these by themselves or not? Scroll to the bottom of this article to get the inside scoop on how it went for me with my youngest–and learn what to watch out for!
To help you, I purposefully kept the list {somewhat} short, highlighting only the ones I’m comfortable recommending to clients and handing over to my own girls.
These books primarily help navigate issues related to puberty changes, weight, and other issues often faced by girls.
If your daughter is struggling with issues related to race or ethnicity, gender identity, ableism, or other body image-related issues, then you’ll need recommendations that go beyond this list. Email me if you’re looking for something outside the scope and (eventually) I’ll update this with links that can help.
🔖 Bookmark this page so you have it handy when you need it! And, of course, remember that you’re the very best expert on what’s right for your daughter. The age ranges are only a guide!
Best Books About Body Image: Girls Ages 7 and Under
Elementary and school-age girls are noticing differences between peoples’ bodies. And while I WISH they were too young to worry about their weight, research tells us differently.
Studies have found that girls as young as six report being on a diet. The number of girls who feel a vague sense of worry about their weight is even higher.
Use these books to help put them at ease with who they are and what they look like, different or not!
Every Body: A First Conversation About Bodies
by Megan Madison, Jessica Ralli, & Tequitia Andrews
If comments like that have left you speechless, this simple board book can make knitting together a positive response much easier!
One thing to note: towards the end of the book, there’s a page explaining the incorrectness of the BMI.
While I think the information is too abstract and medical for a younger child, if your daughter’s aware of her BMI (or worse, her doctor made her feel bad or worried about it!) then this could be the start to a simple talk about why the number isn’t always helpful or even valid.
Lovely
by Jess Hong
This picture book is meant to help completely challenge her notion of what ‘lovely’ looks like by showing images of all kinds of bodies and appearances and asking the question, “What is lovely?”
It’s a simple and sweet way to deliver an important message without saying a whole lot!
Love Your Body
by Jessica Sanders
Two things I love about this book: the illustrations, which are gentle and also show diversity in size, shape, and ability, and the actionable advice the author gives girls.
Advice includes acknowledging your value for what your body can do instead of how it looks, ideas for journaling, and affirmations. This is more of an easy read than a tome of information yet it’s practical and a great resource for older elementary girls, especially those that are new to the concept of a self-help-y type book (ie do this to get that).
Best Books on Body Image: Girls Ages 8 to 14
Body image books for adolescent girls often cover the specific types of body changes that happen during puberty, helping to normalize what’s happening. Think of these books as little tools that can help boost comfort and confidence during this unique time.
Growing Up Powerful
by Nona Willis Arnowitz
Want to normalize self-care, explain the importance of sleep, or give her insight into the dangers of eating disorders without triggering an entirely new problem? This book can help.
Want your daughter to learn about shaving—from the pros and cons to the hows and how-nots? Want her to feel more normal about being neurodivergent? Oh, my, gosh; this book can help with all those things too!
Brought to you by the same team behind the Rebel Girl series, this dense (in the best possible way) paperback is an easy-to-read resource rich with all-the-right information.
It’s also heavy on illustrations of diverse body types and includes quizzes and QR codes your daughter can scan for more information, which makes it that much more fun for her to dig through.
✨✨ (Pssst! If I had to choose just one book, this would be it!) ✨✨
Celebrate Your Body
by Sonya Renee Taylor
The more she knows about the body-changing safari she’s about to go through called puberty, the better able she’ll be when it comes to getting through it without any major dings to her body esteem.
This book’s illustrations are engaging and also very (very!) informative. Ever wonder how exactly to explain to your preteen to insert a tampon, for example? She can get a step-by-step set of instructions along with a visual on page 82!
I also love the section called Stop Body Talk on page 127, which literally gives her a one-sentence script we all need to learn how to stay to shut down the body-bashing that’s so common among teens (and diet culture-entrenched adults, as well!).
My Body’s Superpower : The Girls’ Guide to Growing Up Healthy During Puberty
by Maryann Jacobsen
Using the “superpower” theme, this book will inspire your daughter to take her ability to navigate body changes that go along with puberty into her own hands.
By identifying different things she can do based on her own powers, she’ll be inspired to be an active participant in growing up.
The author gives girls insights into their own powers to reduce pressure, listen to their internal cues and compass, think critically, know exactly how their body is changing, and stay focused.
Best Books on Body Image: Girls Ages 15+
Body image books for girls ages 15 to 20 will focus on issues that come up for teenagers and young adults. This might include how to handle social media, personal identity and even romantic or sexual relationships.
More Than a Body: Your Body Is an Instrument Not an Ornament
by Lexie and Lindsay Kite
Just because this book wasn’t written especially for teens, it doesn’t mean they won’t love it!
I’ve found that many girls 15, 16, and up can really get into it, particularly if they’re already aware that their own body image issues aren’t unique to them—they’re part of a larger cultural problem.
The book is so unique because it’s written by twin sisters who also happen to be body image researchers. They dive right in by talking about their own experiences as girls struggling with worries about their bodies and their looks, which makes it really accessible.
The authors include powerful reflexive questions that will really get your girl thinking. And while they cover research and heady concepts, they do it in a way that’s really accessible. In fact, most people I’ve recommended this book to like to brag that they finished in a day or two!
If you’ve read my book or other posts on this site, you might remember that one of my favorite body image concepts is body image resilience, right? Well these are the researchers I learned about about it from.
You’re daughter will walk away from this read, no doubt, having built a bit of body image resilience of her own after having read it!
No Weigh!
by Signe Darpinian, Wendy Sterling, and Shelley Aggarwal
Your daughter couldn’t be in better hands than with the trifecta of body image experts who co-authored this book, including a family therapist, eating disorder dietitian, and adolescent health doctor. It’s not just their professional backgrounds that make them amazing advocates and sources of support for your girl, however; their passion for helping in a way that’s just right is what impresses me!
This book is best for ages 13 to 16. (Of course, as he rmom you’re the best expert but this gives you a guidepost at least.)
The tone in this book is relatable for teens yet respectful and oh-so-wise when it comes to handling the delicate topic of body, food, and self-care.
As a non-diet dietitian, there are nuances to these delicate topics that not every expert gets right. These authors do, so you can feel great about putting this in the hands of your girl.
Even better: Read it yourself to get insights into how the authors manage some of the topics that leave us parents tongue-tied ourselves.
The Intuitive Eating Workbook for Teens
by Elyse Resch
Has your teen already started experimenting with dieting? Do you see her making food choices based on discomfort with her body shape or size? Is she struggling with restricting and binging?
While this book doesn’t offer support on body image directly, it’s a powerful way to help you help her escape the clutches of the dieting mentality. It can help her explore intuitive eating via explanations and free-writing exercises. If she’s a writer or journal-lover, this book will hit the nail on the head in terms of helping her get insight into the eating behaviors that might not be serving her well.
If you’re a fan of intuitive eating and you think your teen is ready to start healing her own relationship with food, this is the place to start.
The Body Image Book for Girls: Love Yourself and Grow Up Fearless
by Charlotte Markey
One of the best parts of this mix of illustrations and text is the Myths and Beliefs and Q & A sections, which clear up some of the most common points of confusion among girls—and adults—that I see in my own practice when it comes to topics related to body image.
For example, when a doctor tells you to go on a diet, you should, right? Or, you can never eat too healthily, right? Or, how often should you weigh yourself?
The reason your daughter can trust the answers: the author literally has a PhD in body image, so knows all the issues at play when speaking to teens about these topics. (And there’s a version for boys, too!)
Adultish: The Body Image Book for Life
by Charlotte Markey
This book is perfect if you’ve got a young adult in your life. Say, a college age daughter or a girl who just seems or feels a lot more mature than her teenage years.
What Markey does so well is address the elephant in the room, often going after the biggest myths we all tend to believe and hear about our bodies. By attacking them head on, we also give our daughters a chance to reassess their own thinking.
Even better: the advice is great for moms, too! Plus the pages are colorful and inviting, and broken into sections, which makes it easy to get in and out of when you just need a quick body-pep-talk!
Raising Body Positive Teens
by Signe Darpinian, Wendy Sterling, and Shelley Aggarwal
Yes, I love (ie trust) these authors so much I’m recommending them twice. This is the same team that wrote No Weigh!, and I’m so happy that they’ve got a parent-focused title for us!
This little title is packed with up-to-date, real-world, concrete advice for us parents trying to navigate technology, diet culture, the pressure to be uber-healthy, weight stigma, and more.
Best Books on Body Image: Just for Parents
Feel like maybe your struggling to understand your own body ‘ish? Not sure you’re saying the right things when it comes to eating, or weight, or shopping, or bathing suits, or all the other things that come up around your daughter’s body or looks?
Join the club! That’s why just as many authors have tried tackling body image issues that moms are facing too. Here’s some of my favorites… and come back for more because the list is growing and growing!
Body Happy Kids
by Molly Forbes
If you’re looking for a book to eventually share with other adults in your daughter’s life, such as grandparents, in-laws, well-meaning aunts, uncles, and cousins, then this just might be it.
It’s easy to read while also clearly explaining complex and charged topics, like diet culture.
The author’s entire career is dedicated to helping kids learn to love their bodies. Imagine all that knowledge and passion wrapped up in one relatively slim-sized paperback!
Diet-Proof Your Daughter
by Amelia Sherry
If you’re on this site, you’re probably already familiar with this book because, well, I’m the author!
In case you aren’t, I wrote all my best tips and strategies when it comes to parenting around food in a way that positively impacts eating and body esteem.
If you feel like I’m a little bias (and I am, so I don’t blame you), don’t take my word for it. You can read recommendations from others by visiting Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Goodreads
Questions to Ask Yourself Before Buying Books on Body Image: Critical Thinking for Moms
Books work to boost body confidence in multiple ways.
However, every girl is unique. Selecting the right body image book depends on her age, interests, reading preferences, and, most importantly, what she’s currently experiencing when it comes to body image.
For example, what kind of bias or criticism they have or haven’t been exposed to? Are they in a larger body? Are they taller or thinner than most? Are they experiencing gender dysphoria? Are they hearing other girls talk badly about their bodies or dieting?
Intentionally exposing her to books that include diverse body shapes and sizes in their illustrations and themes is a subtle and indirect way to help her feel more confident with her own differences.
Subtle and indirect might not always work, however!
If your daughter is confronting some of these issues directly in her life either by being the target of a bully, hearing diet culture comments, or feeling pressured by peers to take a diet for a test-drive, then you might want to rely on books that tackle the themes head-on.
When I was researching books for this list, I found many books—many critically acclaimed books—that tackle tough issues head-on. And that’s great news! We need these topics explored and talked about.
However, not every girl is ready to process the complicated thoughts and eating behaviors that go along with internalized bias. Each of our kids’ needs and readiness is unique.
Is She Ready for Fat Phobia, Eating Disorders, and Diet Culture?
If the answer is No or even I’m not sure, then it’s important to take a good look at some of the most popular books before you hand them over to your daughter.
Trust me! (I tried it—here’s your chance to learn from my missteps, beautiful mommas!)
When I was promoting my own book, one of the very first talks I gave was for my local library. It was called Building Body Trust in Kids and, to start, the children’s librarian asked me a very good question:
Do you have a list of books about body image that we can share with parents?
While I wanted to say, “Why yes, yes I do!”, I couldn’t. So to solve the problem, I got straight to work on Google and cruised through just about every body-positive book recommendation list I could find.
After searching, I chose about 15 titles or so highly-recommended titles that looked intriguing, hauled them back home from multiple nearby libraries, piled them up on the floor in my seven-year-old daughter’s room, and decided to explore one or two a night before bed together.
(You can find out why the together part was problematic if you keep reading.)
What’s in Some of the “Best Body Image Books”?
In the first book, an elementary-school-age girl listens as multiple members of her family engage in diet talk during a busy morning. I got tense.
Since we intentionally avoid diet talk in our home, reading that dialogue to my second-grader felt awkward, jarring, and unhelpful. I sensed some subtle disappointment (as in this isn’t going to be a fun book, Mom, is it?) as she started looking at the wall.
In the next book, an adorable little swimmer is called a “whale” as she puts on a bathing suit and makes a big splash in a pool. On a positive note, the little girl went on to receive lots of positive encouragement from her coach to try new things, but the word still stung.
Once I closed the cover of this book, I spent more time talking to my seven-year-old about how hurtful it feels to be called names. An important message for sure, but definitely not one that improved her body confidence.
It also overshadowed our ability to focus on the “I can do hard things” message, which is central to the theme and one I love!
By that third book, I stopped reading out loud. It was a graphic novel featuring a younger sister witnessing an older sister devolve into an eating disorder.
In the fourth book, which I read on my own cover to cover after my daughter fell asleep (because it was just that good!) a little girl deals with overt fatphobic comments and behaviors from multiple people, including her mom.
I was triggered, I was in tears, and I couldn’t stop thinking about the book and the main character for days. While I’d intended to give this one to my 6th grader, after reading it myself and much deliberation I decided against it.
In the fifth book, a mom keeps dying her daughter snack foods—and essentially fails to prepare adequate meals at all! This is a realistic and unfortunate situation, particularly for a mom who’s struggling with her one eating disorder. But could it help my own daughter with her issue? No, not right now at least.
Avoid THIS Mistake When It Comes to Choosing a Body Image Book for Your Daughter!
Don’t hand ’em over before you read ’em! Or, at least read all about them just like you’re doing right now. The reason? Some topics like eating disorders and fat phobia or dieting-moms might be too heavy for your daughter, depending on where she’s at of course!
Every girl is different. Different body, different experience, different perspective.
While I DO recommend speaking with girls about the dangers of dieting and the concept of an eating disorder, if a girl hasn’t been directly exposed to those behaviors such as binging, purging, or restricting amongst her friends or family then there’s no reason to hand her a book that features them.
For example, if your daughter’s been exposed to diet-talk then Beautifully Me could be a great, age-appropriate way to start a conversation about why dieting is problematic. Of course, if you have a no dieting policy at home or you don’t diet yourself, this book might bring up a topic that’s not necessarily something on your daughter’s radar. Thus, the book might be confusing and not that helpful.
This book was one I felt really uncomfortable reading with my seven-year-old. We intentionally avoid diet talk in our home, so hearing so many of her adults engaging in it felt unnecessary.
On the other hand, if your daughter has experienced an older sibling struggle with anorexia, for example, and she’s well aware of such behaviors, the graphic novel I mentioned earlier, Smaller Sister, might be reassuring and helpful.
It can help normalize the experience of having a family member struggle with this, as well as reinforce the dangers of emulating negative eating behaviors. (Parents in this situation might find it helpful, too!)
Just don’t hand this graphic novel to your 11-year-old (like I almost did) without reading it first!
Additionally, while I found the chapter book Starfish triggering (in fact, I cried and then deliberated about giving it to my daughter for days), that doesn’t mean it might not be helpful for someone else.
While I wasn’t ready to expose my girls to the overt fat-phobic comments and behavior doled about by a critical mother because I don’t think it’ll help them develop a better body image, could it help your daughter?
Could she learn to lean on other supports like her father, therapist, and friend as the main character does if she happens to be going through the same situation? What do you think, dear momma?
If you’re a teacher, coach, or therapist working with a child who is struggling with a fat-shaming mom, this could be empowering because ultimately the main character finds her voice with a few of the right advocates including a therapist, her father, and a new friend.
Likewise, if your daughter has fallen into the trap of being the fat-shaming bully then this book could be a powerful way to put an end to it. Understanding how the main character feels could give an ill-guided child much more perspective than a lecture about how wrong it is from a parent.
Similarly to Starfish, Taking Up Space features a young girl struggling with disordered eating. She’s restricting, interestingly, in response to the body changes she’s going through via puberty as well as dealing with a mother who is overcoming her own eating struggles—and subtly and almost unconsciously restricting her daughter’s food in the process.
I, again, didn’t want to yet expose my younger girls to this dynamic. That doesn’t mean that your own girl couldn’t benefit from it.
If you’re not exactly sure what your younger daughter is thinking, feeling, or struggling with right now, start by reading some of the books on the next list yourself before you read them together. This way you’re prepared and can better gauge her reaction (or nonreaction) to the pictures, people, and scenarios.
The unique images and characters will give you insight into answers to those questions, as well as help you see how you’re feeling about the different body images and types yourself!
By the way, how do you feel about all the different body types in the picture books? How about the mothering-around-food behaviors in books like Starfish and Taking Up Space? Don’t be surprised to feel some emotion, especially if you’re struggling with balancing body acceptance and healthy eating and raising kids!
