CUP tackles body image with new children’s non-fiction titles

Cambridge University Press has acquired two children’s non-fiction titles by Dr Charlotte Markey as part of a new trade publishing programme aimed at a broader audience.

The Body Image Book for Girls: Love Yourself and Grow Up Fearless is described as a “practical, accessible” illustrated handbook for girls aged nine to 15 years old, designed to help them to understand, accept, and appreciate their changing bodies. It will provide facts on puberty, mental health, self-care, diets, social media, and everything in between as well as real-life stories from girls who share their own experiences.

Markey is Professor of Psychology at Rutgers University and is the author of Smart People Don’t Diet (Da Capo Press, 2014), alongside many academic papers and articles. She has been studying body image, eating behaviour and weight management for over 20 years. She said: “This guide is based on years of research and talking to girls and parents about body image concerns. My hope is that the book will start the conversation early and help young girls to create – and most importantly maintain – a positive body image through their teen years and beyond.”

The Body Image Book for Girls will be followed by a second title aimed at boys, Be Your Best Self: The Body Image Book for Boys. This aims to support preteen and teen boys by offering them evidence-based information that will help them to understand body dissatisfaction, reduce embarrassment and become more open about their concerns, learn practical ways to improve body image, and develop lifelong skills and habits to support both physical and mental wellbeing.

These books mark an expansion for CUP in taking the expertise it is known for beyond clinicians and academics to a wider audience. Commissioning editor Sarah Marsh commented: “Charlotte Markey is a highly regarded expert in her field, with expertise in a subject area that is of huge interest to a wider audience – especially young people and their parents. The Body Image Book for Girls and Be Your Best Self skilfully combine Charlotte’s breadth of knowledge with accessible information and a friendly tone. As a publisher we’re excited to explore this new direction for our list, reaching a wider readership with titles such as these.” 
 
The Body Image Book for Girls: Love Yourself and Grow Up Fearless is due for publication in September 2020, with Be Your Best Self: The Body Image Book for Boys publishing in spring 2021.