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ironicallylovely's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
susancalvillo's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
5.0
caseythecanadianlesbrarian's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.25
This is such a great picture book about gender! Four kids, one trans, one cis, and two nonbinary, are introduced as a way to explain different gender identities. I love the bright and detailed illustrations with lots of fin kid life details. Not too pedantic, but also introduces new concepts. One page is a bit repetitive, but that's my only complaint.
kayleeacton's review against another edition
5.0
It Feels Good to Be Yourself if a book all about describing and maybe defining your gender. There are many ways to express who a person is, and this book describes it very well. Some may identify as transgender, she/her, he/him, they/them, etc., but no matter what they identify as, they are being true to themselves. I would include this book in my future library for all children, so they have an understanding of the different identities and genders around them, even if they do not know it. I would use this book while doing a lesson or small group conversation about accepatance and finding who we are.
katnortonwriter's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
fast-paced
3.5
I have mixed feelings about the text (it's okay, and may be helpful for some kids/parents) but I want to LIVE in the world of the illustrations. It's so bright and beautiful and hopeful.
lsparrow's review against another edition
4.0
a great basic explaination for children around gender.
bickie's review against another edition
Simple discussion of gender identity (not gender expression) accompanied by lush and gorgeous illustrations. Introduces a trans girl who told her family that she is a girl when she was 5 and her cisgender brother who told his family he liked being a boy when he was 3 and a half. Also introduces two non-binary children, Alex, who is both a boy and a girl, and JJ who is neither a boy or a girl. All the trans kids introduced seem to have known about their identities since they were very little even though many trans people come to this understanding later in life.
The book mentions several times that "there are so many different ways to be..." "a boy or a girl," or "non-binary - too many to fit in a book!" "There are a never-ending number of ways to be yourself in the world." The book also acknowledges that "some kids feel that their gender identity isn't always the same - it's often changing," and that "even with all these possible ways to be, some kids don't feel any of the words they know fit them exactly right." The book also acknowledges that "you might not be sure yet. Maybe you're still figuring it out" and affirms "Your feeling about your gender are real. Listen to your heart."
When the book says that people "looked at you and made a guess" about the reader's gender identity when they were born, they say "maybe they got it right, maybe they got it wrong." It seems like it might have been better to say that they "made an assumption based on whether you had a penis or a vulva" or even "based on what your body looked like." The could also say that "usually, they are right" so that the message is more accurate while being inclusive.
Near the end, there is a statement above an illustration of Alex that says "No matter what your gender identity is, you are okay exactly the way you are. And you are loved." Unfortunately, the "you are loved" statement may or not be true, depending on the situation of the reader.
This book would benefit from pairing with a discussion about gender stereotypes and gender expression. Not all gender-stereotype-busting kids are transgender. At the same time, some are, and this book is a helpful explanation about the wide variety of gender identities people can have and develop.
The book mentions several times that "there are so many different ways to be..." "a boy or a girl," or "non-binary - too many to fit in a book!" "There are a never-ending number of ways to be yourself in the world." The book also acknowledges that "some kids feel that their gender identity isn't always the same - it's often changing," and that "even with all these possible ways to be, some kids don't feel any of the words they know fit them exactly right." The book also acknowledges that "you might not be sure yet. Maybe you're still figuring it out" and affirms "Your feeling about your gender are real. Listen to your heart."
When the book says that people "looked at you and made a guess" about the reader's gender identity when they were born, they say "maybe they got it right, maybe they got it wrong." It seems like it might have been better to say that they "made an assumption based on whether you had a penis or a vulva" or even "based on what your body looked like." The could also say that "usually, they are right" so that the message is more accurate while being inclusive.
Near the end, there is a statement above an illustration of Alex that says "No matter what your gender identity is, you are okay exactly the way you are. And you are loved." Unfortunately, the "you are loved" statement may or not be true, depending on the situation of the reader.
This book would benefit from pairing with a discussion about gender stereotypes and gender expression. Not all gender-stereotype-busting kids are transgender. At the same time, some are, and this book is a helpful explanation about the wide variety of gender identities people can have and develop.
libwinnie's review against another edition
4.0
It is crucial that kids have language around gender identity and this book definitely provides that. I really want this book to go further in explaining the concept of gender, but that comes from a cis point of view wanting cis kids to get a better understanding. Talk about centering. It's not about us.