Everybelly is an amusing, original look at bodies and the idea of home, narrated by an inquisitive youngster who stands tummy-high to their neighbors.
One summery day, a child and their mother join neighbors at a local pool. Readers are first introduced to Mama, whose belly was where the narrator "used to live... until I grew too big." The brown-skinned child wears a flowery swim shirt, pink bottoms, and a polka-dot swim cap, as they discuss their neighbors. The diverse cast speaks to this child's easy acceptance of all bellies, though they are puzzled by "flat" ones: Why do people "work hard to keep their bellies flat" when they can fill them with "donuts in sprinkles, har gow, gimbap..."?
This Kirkus Prize for Young Readers' Literature winner showcases a delightful parade of funny, sweet, and sometimes misunderstood moments. Thao Lam (One Giant Leap) consistently employs a child-centric point of view in language and in her lively, innovative cut-paper collage illustrations. Brimming with goodwill, the child's cheerful spin on everything they encounter creates a welcome place for readers to feel at home. --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger, and children's book author