The Bare Naked Book [Deluxe Edition] [Paperback]

Kathy Stinson (Author), Heather Collins (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 2 and up

The return of a treasured favorite about our bodies.

There is nothing more ordinary -- or more special -- than the human body. After all, everybody has one, and for all the parts that are the same each comes in a different shape and size. The Bare Naked Book joyfully celebrates this wonderful ordinariness with a matter-of-fact introduction for toddlers to the parts of the body.

From hair (dripping, straight, curly, tangled) to toes (stamping, ticklish, skinny, squishy) and the private bits in between, Kathy Stinson's playfully simple prose identifies the parts of the body at rest and in motion. Meanwhile, the friendly realism of Heather Collins' illustrations offers a variety of body types in familiar environments, from the bathroom to the beach.

Twenty years old and still going strong, The Bare Naked Book remains a favorite family introduction to the vocabulary of the body. We're proud to unveil this redesigned edition on this special anniversary.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreS The shock value of this title is largely undeserved. The book is actually an introduction to the parts of the body for young children. A page or two is devoted to each feature, which is displayed in a number of ways. ``Noses,'' for example, shows runny noses, itchy noses, blowing noses, and advises, ``Don't pick your nose.'' Slightly stiff illustrations show children and adults in everyday situations with accompanying descriptive phrases``Pushing arms,'' ``Yummy toes,'' etc. The organization of the text is somewhat illogical, with shoulders followed by belly buttons and nipples followed by arms. There are relatively few ``bare naked'' bodies, all belonging to babies or small children. Genitals are clearly displayed; a bathtime scene makes a comfortably natural setting. Although the artwork is mediocre, the concept is well done. This approach is a good one for older toddlers and preschoolers who are becoming aware of others' bodies as well as their own; it has the added bonus of descriptive adjectives which are useful for vocabulary building. Sally Kilroy's Babies' Bodies (Four Winds, 1984) is aimed at a younger audience and is less detailed. Lucy Young Clem, Evansville-Vanderburgh County Public Library, Ind.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

The concept is well done. This approach is a good one for older toddlers and preschoolers who are becoming aware. (School Library Journal )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 2 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Annick Press; 20th anniversary edition (September 12, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 155451049X
• ISBN-13: 978-1554510498
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 3.3 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #897,098 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #38 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Science > Biological Sciences > Anatomy

More About the Author

The clue that Kathy Stinson has enjoyed a lifelong love of reading is in the wide range of books she has written. "What you read," she says, "influences what you write. And so does the day to day life that you live."

That's why Kathy's characters ride bikes along dirt paths, fall in love in summer, argue and have cozy chats with parents and friends, sometimes have trouble sleeping, and walk on beaches and city streets.

Kathy says, "It's also fun, as a writer, to imagine yourself into situations unlike your own." That's what she did when she wrote about Marie-Claire living through a smallpox epidemic in Montreal in 1885, and Mr. Elliot deciding as a grandfather that it's time he learned to read.

Kathy sorted mail, waited tables, and taught school before finally figuring out what she really wanted to do was write - everything from picture books to young adult novels, from biography to historical fiction. Readers never know what kind of book to expect from her next!

Kathy has served as Writer-in-Residence for several library systems in southern Ontario and has led writing workshops all across Canada.

Kathy is the mother of two grown children, who inspired some of her earliest books. She also has two grown stepdaughters and five grandchildren. If she's out buying them a present, chances are it's in a bookstore she'll be shopping. Of course!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Something is missing, November 28, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The Bare Naked Book (Annick Toddler Series) (Paperback)

When I sat down with my son to read this book I was prepared to read about body parts including the "private" ones. It was a real treat to see these parts on a wide variety on bodies. After I read it I sat and thought about how much it really means to share a book like this with my son. For him to see moms with thick tummies and dads with double chins. How unique the characters' facial features and body types were. Slowly it began to occur to me that something was not quite right. Everyone in this book is white.

Normally I do not notice when books have primarily white characters. Our family is caucasion and so we naturally identify with white characters. But when a book like this comes along, and I can see how much the illutrator has made a point of depicting such a wide variety of people, it really feels like something is missing when the characters all have basically light skin.

It is still a very good book, and I highly recommend it.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely book, May 30, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The Bare Naked Book (Annick Toddler Series) (Paperback)

I bought this book after hearing about it from friends and it certainly lives up to the praise. Both my kids love it and it's very matter of fact about our bodies and how we are different and the same.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for the curious little mind..., September 15, 2008

By 

J. Moran "mom of curious one" (Pasadena, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Bare Naked Book (Paperback)

This book was purchased for a 26 month old girl who was very curious about the opposite sex and their parts. It was just the right thing! Not too much detail as with other books about our bodies . It simply goes over the various parts of the body in a matter of fact way that is both sweet and light. Many of the books I looked at were too detailed or sophisticated for her.