A variety of children with diverse gender identities and expressions introduce themselves in this book. One likes shorts, t-shirts, and short hair, but tells us, “I am not a boy. I am a girl.” One has short hair, and likes makeup, skirts, and sports, and “I am a boy.” Another says, “Some days I’m a girl. Some days I’m a boy.” One wants to be an astronaut and is not just a boy or girl, but both. One is neither a girl nor a boy, but joyously tells us, “I am loved, I am happy, I am everything in between. My gender does not define who I am.”
The book then reassures readers that it’s okay if they don’t know who they are yet, but no matter what, they are “Beautiful, brave, smart, and awesome.”
The intent of this book is admirable, but unfortunately, two characters tell us, “I was born a boy, but I am a girl” and “I was born a girl, but I am a boy.” This language (“born a [gender], now a [different gender]”) is offensive to many transgender people, who consider themselves born as the gender with which they identify, just mis-assigned by doctors at birth. (See GLAAD’s Media Reference Guide for more, where this phrasing is listed under “Terms to Avoid.”) This book might work for some people who do feel that their gender has changed, but in general, it is likely to give children language that has the potential to offend and will confuse them about what it means to be transgender. Not recommended.
