A charming rhyming book in which two parents tell their newborn that they will accept and love them no matter what their gender expression.
The book opens as the expectant parents explain:
Before you were born, we all wanted to know
who you would be and how you would grow.
“Nursery in pink? Or nursery in blue?”
Everyone always asked about you.
The parents are either a nonbinary parent and a mom or two moms, depending on how you read them. (The publisher’s blurb is happily vague.) Notably, we see that it is the more masculine-looking parent, with short hair and tattoos, who was pregnant. (I am tagging the book with multiple identities, not to dictate, but so that those seeking various representation can find it.) Despite questions from others about nursery decor and baby clothing, they insist, “That’s up to her, or them, or him.”
Now that the baby is here, the parents say that they love all the things the baby chooses. The book shifts nicely into an exploration of the colors of the rainbow (plus pink), each color getting a spread that offers a choice of two activities, e.g.:
Sunday, Sunday, baby in red.
Bow on your collar
or bow on your head?
After going through all the colors, the parents assert that it’s okay if the baby doesn’t yet know the answers, but that “We’ll love you no matter what you say!”
The message is powerful but kept appropriately simple for the age group—though it also lays important foundations for the future. Readers should note that the concept of “choice” is applied here (correctly) only to gender expression, not gender identity, which is not a choice—although the parents’ use of “her, them, and him” pronouns indicates an openness to their child’s gender identity as well.
Stacey Chomiak’s illustrations capture the fun, silliness, and love of everyday family moments, and give us needed representation of a masculine-of-center pregnant person.
A highly recommended title that might be especially appropriate as a gift for new or expectant parents.
One parent has medium-brown skin and dark brown hair; the other has light tan skin and light brown hair; the baby has pale skin and light brown hair.
