The Big Bath House

A little girl and her mother arrive at her Baachan’s (grandmother’s) house in Japan and are immediately embraced by all the women––her Baachan and her aunties. Wearing their traditional garb, all the young girls and women venture to the neighborhood’s big bath house. Without any shame or self-consciousness, all the women––young and old––shed their clothes and take a bath together.

This is a lovely and beautiful book about body positivity. I love how all the women in the book just waltz right into the bath house and strip off their clothes without a care in the world. I love how the illustrator depicted all the women being so comfortable in their own skin. I love the illustrations and the beautiful use of color. The color palette is soft and tranquil, which fits the setting of the lively yet peaceful bath house.

What a wonderful book showing the Japanese tradition of going to a bath house and showing young girls that all bodies are beautiful no matter the shape, size, or age! I highly recommend this book to families with young girls.