What’s Inside Children’s Books | January 23, 2023
This is the first part of a series describing some of the numerous books about gender identity and transgenderism that are available for children of preschool age and older. I will begin, today, with 3 such books. As you read the following, keep these three things in mind:
1. The young reader (or one being read to) generally relates to the main character—whether this is a person, animal, or object.
2. There is limited information. If a character in a book for juveniles, for example, begins taking puberty blockers, the long-term consequences of doing so are usually omitted.
3. As a result of #1 and #2, the young child—who has limited information—formulates a particular take away from the story.
As the children read more and more of these stories, these new ideas begin shaping their developing views of the world. School curriculums, television, cartoons, movies, music, and video games either plant or reinforce these same ideas.
Red: A Crayon’s Story by Michael Hall 2015
Accelerated Reader LG 1.6 (Lower Grade Interest Level, First-grade, sixth-month reading level)
385 words
Greenwillow Books (a children’s book imprint of HarperCollins); Illustrated edition (February 3, 2015)
40 pages
Preschool-Grade 3
Overview:
The label on the crayon says that he is red, but he knows he is blue.
One of the kids (crayons) begins to wonder whether he is really red:
“Don’t be silly. It says red on his label.”
Another kid comments: “He came that way from the factory.”
Everyone (the objects—such as tape and scissors) wants to fix him, but alas! He can’t be fixed, because he is really blue.
A new friend recognizes this and shows him that he is perfect the way he is.
Now, all the others acknowledge that he is blue.
Awards
Australian Family Therapists' Award for Children's Literature, 2017, Picture Book
Cybils Awards, 2015, Nominee, Fiction Picture Book
Donna Norvell Oklahoma Book Award, 2017, Winner, Picture Book
E.B. White Read Aloud Award, 2016, Honor Book, Picture Book
Goodreads Choice Award, 2015, Nominee, Picture Book
Irma Black Award, 2016, Honor, Picture Book
Northeastern Minnesota Book Award, 2009, Nominee, Children's Literature
Amazon Editors' Picks: Best Books of the Year, 2015 Ages 3 to 5
Best Children's Books of the Year, 2016 Ages 5 and under
Booklist Book Review Stars, 2015
Choices, 2016 Picture Books for Babies, Toddlers, and Preschooler
Distinguished Books, 2015 Children's Picture Books
Lasting Connections, 2015 Language Arts
Notable Children's Books in the Language Arts, 2016
NYC Reads 365, 2015 Pre-Kindergarten
Rainbow List, 2016 Picture Book
Minnesota Book Awards, 2016, Winner, Children's Literature
Star of the North Picture Book Award, 2016-2017, 1st Place, Picture Book
100 Magnificent Children's Books, 2015 Picture Book
Neither by Airlie Anderson 2018
Accelerated Reader LG 1.5 (Lower Grade Interest Level, First-grade, fifth-month reading level)
224 words
Little Brown Books for Young Readers
40 pages
Preschool-Grade 3
Overview:
“Once upon a time there were two kinds”:
The blue rabbits and the yellow birds ask the green bird what kind it is, to which the green bird replies, “Both.” Of course, the others tell it that it can’t be both, so it must be neither.
The green bird flies away to a different land.
“I’m from the land of This and That, but I’m Neither.”
This is the “Land of All” so the green bird fits in.
Now the blue rabbit and the yellow bird show up to the land of all where they learn that “everyone fits in here.” . . . “All were welcome.” (This page shows the green bird described as neither and both. A sign at the end of the book shows the animals fleeing the Land of This and That and going to the Land of All.)
When Aidan Became a Brother by Kyle Lukoff 2019
Accelerated Reader LG 3.3 (Lower Grade Interest Level, Third-grade, third-month reading level)
780 words
Lee & Low Books
32 pages
Overview:
“When Aidan was born, everyone thought he was a girl.”. . . “But Aidan didn’t feel like any kind of girl.” “He was really another kind of boy.”
After telling her parents, there is an adjustment period, but Aidan's parents learned much from other parents of transgender children. When Aidan’s mom announces that she is going to have a baby, Aidan is excited to be a big brother, but gets upset when others ask Mom whether it is a boy or a girl. Dad and Aidan paint the baby’s room in sky blue with clouds, so the new baby won’t have to feel trapped like Aidan did.
Awards:
Winner of the 2020 Stonewall Book Award
Best Books of 2019, Kirkus Reviews
Best Books of 2019, School Library Journal
Editors' Choices for Books for Youth, Booklist
Best of the Best Books of 2019, Chicago Public Library
Starred review, Kirkus Reviews
Starred review, Publishers Weekly
Starred review, Booklist
Starred review, School Library Journal
How many books such as these will it take to convince a child that boys can be girls, girls can be boys, and boys or girls can be both or neither? Is it a surprise that some are now identifying as animals?
Note: All three of these books are read by various individuals on YouTube. Just click on the book title link.
Also: These books are available on the Accelerated Reader website. Accelerated Reader supports Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion:
. . . Another focus when choosing titles is Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Our goal is to select books that portray characters of differing cultures, races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, gender identities, abilities, and religions. To that end, we seek out books with diverse characters and settings. We want to ensure that students are able to choose books that reflect their lives and experiences—and help them to better understand other people’s lives and experiences, too.