Shaped by Love: An Ode to Mom Bods - by Nikki Powers (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

"As captivating as it is important, a lovely and essential tribute to the transformation wrought by parenthood." --Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Intimate, inclusive, and brimming with bold colors, this tribute to the physical and emotional bond between mother and child is the perfect gift for new parents to treasure and share.

Before babies enter the world and arrive in their parents' arms, they are held inside their mothers. Mother and child grow strong as one, nourished by love. Moms imagine the little ones they carry inside, dream of them, wait and long for them, and when those babies arrive, a mother's body eases their hunger, heals their hurt, and holds and soothes them when they are sad. As the years pass and mother and child grow and change, their bodies change with them--altered by time and tenderness, courage and joy. Lyrical text and warm, energetic illustrations track the evolution of a timeless bond in the lives of diverse families. Destined to be a go-to gift for new or soon-to-be parents, this portrait of the physical and emotional journey through giving birth, parenthood, and aging is a love letter to families of all kinds.

Review Quotes

Picture books about parenthood are plentiful, but few capture the corporeal experience with comparable care. Calatzis' artwork, a stunning combination of collage and embroidery, underscores the act of making as being intentional and effortful, an aesthetic message deeply compatible with Powers' thoughtful, empowering text. As captivating as it is important, a lovely and essential tribute to the transformation wrought by parenthood.
--Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

About the Author

Nikki Powers lives in Minnesota with her husband and children. This is her first picture book.

Amanda Calatzis is the author-illustrator of Khalida and the Most Beautiful Song and illustrator of the board book Are You My Cutie Patootie? by Monique Aiken and the picture book Mister Rogers' Gift of Music by Donna Cangelosi. She lives in New York's Hudson Valley.