When Felix paints a picture in class to welcome a visiting firefighter, he has so much fun that he wants to paint more, and soon his fingernails are red, orange, and yellow. He worries, however, that the other kids will laugh or that the teacher will be upset, and keeps his hands in his pockets during the firefighter’s presentation.
When it’s time for the students to present their artwork, however, Felix can no longer hide—but his classmates are delighted by his fire-colored nails! The firefighter praises him for making himself into a work of art.
The other students happily follow Felix and paint their own nails, each choosing a color that is meaningful to them. The firefighter then pulls off his gloves to reveal a surprise of his own (which readers of this review can likely guess).
While there are now several picture books that show boys painting their nails (see below), this one uses a refreshingly light approach when it comes to detractors. Felix does have some concerns about what people may think, but in fact, all he experiences is support and affirmation. That makes this an upbeat and recommended story of self-expression and gender creativity.
Backmatter includes instructions for making one’s own nail polish with non-toxic paint and glue—easy to peel off when one wants a new color!
Felix has tan skin and brown hair. His teacher is Black and the firefighter is Asian. Other students reflect a range of racial/ethnic identities. One student is in a wheelchair (which unfortunately looks like a hospital wheelchair rather than one designed for autonomy).
