More Parts

Name: More Parts
ISBN: 9780803714175

Parts Series · Book 2 of 4

For the child who takes everything literally, this silly rhyming story helps ease the worry that common idioms like 'give him a hand' are actually happening.

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About This Book

Reach for this book when your child is going through a literal phase or seems particularly anxious about their physical safety and body integrity. It is an ideal choice for children who find common idioms confusing or frightening, as it helps bridge the gap between abstract language and concrete reality. Using Tedd Arnold's signature zany illustrations and rhyming text, the story follows a boy who fears his body is literally falling apart after hearing adults use phrases like 'laugh your head off' or 'break a leg.' It normalizes the anxiety of not understanding social nuances while providing a safe, humorous space to discuss how language works. For parents of neurodivergent children or highly sensitive kids, this book serves as a gentle tool to laugh away common childhood worries about 'falling to pieces.'

The Human Body Anxiety & Worry Humor Creativity & Imagination Writing & Storytelling

What Parents Should Know

Scary ScenesMild

Exaggerated cartoon drawings of detached body parts may startle very sensitive children.

Read plot summary

A young boy becomes increasingly paranoid about his physical safety after hearing various idioms that suggest body parts can be removed or damaged. He spends the book collecting 'safety gear' and worrying about his loose tooth, only to eventually realize that these phrases are just silly ways of talking. SENSITIVE TOPICS: The book deals with body integrity anxiety in a secular, metaphorical way. The resolution is hopeful and humorous, grounding the child's fears in the safety of his home and family. EMOTIONAL ARC: The book starts with high tension and absurdist anxiety, building as the protagonist collects more protective gear. It ends with a warm, comforting resolution when his parents tuck him in, shifting from panic to security. IDEAL READER: A 5 or 6-year-old child who is a very literal thinker, perhaps on the autism spectrum or experiencing 'scrupulosity' about safety, who needs to see that idioms aren't instructions. PARENT TRIGGER: A parent might notice their child getting upset or confused by common phrases, or a child who is excessively worried about a loose tooth or minor scrape. PARENT PREP: None required, though parents should be prepared to explain what each idiom actually means after the laugh. AGE EXPERIENCE: Younger children (4-5) will enjoy the slapstick visuals of body parts flying around. Older children (7-8) will appreciate the irony and the cleverness of the wordplay as they begin to master figurative language. DIFFERENTIATOR: Unlike many 'idiom books' that are purely educational, this one centers on the internal emotional world and genuine worry of the child, making it a powerful tool for validation.