A little girl’s dog Biff, whom she refers to with male pronouns, “is not like other dogs.” He “doesn’t do dog stuff” and in fact “thinks he’s a ballerina.” The girl’s father refuses to let the dog attend ballet classes with her. When Biff follows her there anyway, the teacher shoos him away. Biff is despondent. Then one day at a ballet concert, when the prima ballerina falls and cannot continue, a surprise understudy steps in, tutu and all—and receives rousing applause. “Biff IS a ballerina after all!” exclaims the girl’s dad.
Cute, but some readers may prefer a book with a human gender-creative character. And while it’s great that the book is supporting Biff’s gender creativity, it also may give young readers the impression that all boys who want to do ballet must be ballerinas and wear tutus, when in fact they can also just call themselves ballet dancers and wear tights like male ballet dancers usually do.
