New Children’s Book Sends the Message of Body Confidence and Inspiring One Another

Chasing a Dream, Not a Shape or Size, challenges the stigmas society puts around youth weight and embracing self-esteem through movement. End Quote

I want young readers to learn how exercise and athletics can be sources of empowerment and support.

(1888PressRelease) October 29, 2025 - BOSTON, Mass. - It’s estimated that roughly 45 percent of children and teens have issues around body image and self-confidence. These stigmas can affect mental health and the ability to make friends. A new children’s book by co-authors Gleeson Rebello, MD and Molly Haggerty aims to reframe that message by emphasizing the importance of finding sources of joy, confidence and friendship in one’s body and making that enthusiasm contagious in one's community.

Chasing a Dream, Not a Shape or Size inspires younger readers to learn how to appreciate their body shape through movement. The children’s book is based on the story of twin sisters Harper and Paige. Harper has a larger body than her twin and she avoids physical activity. That is, until she receives encouragement from a new middle school gym teacher willing to share her own story of living in a larger body.

“Children require narratives that empower them to grasp and navigate all the challenges life may present,” says co-author Dr. Rebello. “Our book emphasizes that the body is meant to be celebrated for what it can do, not criticized for how it may look in the mirror.”

As the story unfolds, Harper feels inspired by the personal recounting of the gym coach’s own struggles with a bigger body. Slowly, Harper transforms her experience into advocacy, modeling how her friends and younger peers can develop pride in themselves rather than limiting themselves by perceived shame.

“As a medical student and competitive triathlete, I’ve seen firsthand what eating disorders and body dysmorphia can do,” says co-author Haggerty. “I want young readers to learn how exercise and athletics can be sources of empowerment and support.”

The new book provides a valuable resource for parents, educators and health professionals to highlight the profound impact that compassion and meaningful participation in physical activity can have on the lives of young people. Those messages are brought to life through deeply emotional and engaging illustrations of Joel and Ashley Selby.

Chasing a Dream, Not a Shape or Size is available in paperback, hardcover and eBook on Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble and from SDP Publishing Solutions, LLC. The book rejects the extremes of fat-shaming and fat-apologizing, written by authors who champion anyone joyfully embracing their unique journey towards feeling safe in their bodies. Readers will find themes on how being supportive of one another brings out the best, a message to be passed onto others seeking support.

About Gleeson Rebello, MD – Dr. Rebello is a pediatric orthopedic surgeon at Massachusetts General Hospital. He has been a member of the Harvard Medical School faculty since 2008. His published works include three other children’s books: Darebone’s Big Break, Joe Some-More and Lily Learns a Life Lesson. Besides writing children’s books, blog articles and practicing medicine, Dr. Rebello is a songwriter for the band The Fever Breakers.

About Molly Haggerty – Molly Haggerty attended Northeastern University as an undergraduate and is now a medical student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is an avid triathlete and distance runner, with experience in the field of eating disorders and body dysmorphia. Her messages of resilience and desire to help young people learn to appreciate their bodies lends a compassionate voice to the writing.

About Joel & Ashley Selby – Illustrators Joel and Ashley Selby have a long history of creating visually engaging, approachable artwork that resonates well with younger audiences. Their use of style and color reinforces more inclusive storytelling.

http://www.sdppublishing.com

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