We were kindly sent a copy of Jessica Sanders latest book, the beautifully written and illustrated Be Your Own Man. When it arrived in the mail I had a flick through, and tears instantly sprang to my eyes. This is a glorious read from start to finish, and one that will cement feelings of acceptance within any young man who is struggling to feel ok with himself.
Be Your Own Man invites boys (in fact anyone who reads this) to broaden their ideas about what it is to be a boy, to feel proud of who they are and to feel like they can be anything they want to be. I would encourage boys & men of all ages to get a copy, sit down and take it all in. *All of it!!! Be Your Own Man should be handed out at maternity wards for all families expecting boys, and quotes from it chanted in the halls of all schools.
You and your body are together for life, so always treat your body like you would your best friend.
We’ve become so very good at encouraging girls to reach for the stars, be leaders, mechanics, engineers and soldiers. We reassure our daughters that girls can be who they want to be, they can strive for greatness; but for our boys, being strong and getting to the top is mostly just expected. Be Your Own Man is such a refreshing change to the selection of ‘boy books’ available, it’s a ‘Be Your Own Man’ guidebook, a life journal and a bible for boys to live by.
Boys have inherited an outdated story around what it is to be male, Be Your Own Man gives them permission to rewrite that story and embrace a new masculine identity that feels right for them – Jessica Sanders
I highly recommend you purchase 10 copies of this book and give them out to every boy you know, it has to be the Number 1 gift for boys! It’s not only a conversation starter for our little guys and their caregivers, it’s a page by page realisation that “I am ok”, “I am normal” “I want to be like this”, “I can be me”, “my body is ACE” which ultimately turns any reader into a happy, life loving, young man, who treats himself and others in the best way he can.
All you need to do is be your own boy so that you can become your own man.
In a world where men are three times more likely to die by suicide than women, and who are far less likely to ask for help, it’s time we allowed and encouraged our boys to be who they are, and not who we expect them to be.
When you’re tucking in your little man this evening, when you’re giving those last kisses of the day, the last hugs before he falls asleep, remember to whisper: “You are one of a kind, there’s absolutely no one else quite like you, and that’s amazing!”
You can buy this beautiful book by Jessica Sanders at all good book retailers (RRP $24.99) Published by Five Mile
I have to mention the RAD illustrations in Be Your Own Man as they really capture everything this book is about. Robbie Cathro is a British (*Yay*) illustrator from Bristol, and is well worth a follow! Think “illustrator that our kids will grow up with and think fondly of when they share his illustrations with their own kids!!!” THAT GOOD!!
Be Your Own Man was gifted to my son, however as always, these words are my own and honest opinion. Liv xx
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