Nicole Melleby, author of numerous acclaimed LGBTQ-inclusive titles for a variety of ages, here brings us a sweet story about the importance of inclusive representation, role models, and asking questions in order to drive change.
Poppy is always eager to get to school—not because she likes school so much, but because she gets to sit next to Ava, who shares her pencils and whose bouncy curls sometimes brush Poppy’s shoulder. Poppy doesn’t like it, though, when Ava wants to play house and insists that a boy play the daddy while Ava plays the mommy.
One day, the teacher tries to reinforce the idea that the letters “Q” and “U” go together by having a wedding for Mr. Q and Ms. U. The other children happily draw things that begin with “QU,” but Poppy just looks sad. When Ava asks why, Poppy explains that she doesn’t want them to marry, and she doesn’t want to play house with a boy as the daddy. Ava thinks she means that Poppy wants to be the daddy, but Poppy clarifies: “I want to be mommies together.”
Ava is on board with this. Hand in hand, they approach the teacher, Ms. Merrimack. Poppy asks if next time, Ms. Q can marry Ms. U. The teacher reflects that maybe, the letters shouldn’t be Mr. or Ms. at all. “They’re letters. You should be able to imagine them however you’d like,” she says.
If that was all that this book showed us, it would be enough: the message that not everything has to be gendered or wrapped in images of heterosexuality. But since the author is Melleby, it goes even deeper. Ms. Merrimack’s wife picks her up after school, and when Poppy sees them together, she “smiled her biggest smile.” Even LGBTQ people, it seems, aren’t immune from sometimes offering only limited representation (perhaps because of their own childhood models—see more below re: the Author’s Note). We also see, however, the importance of real-life representation, not just that in books and lessons.
A final page also shows Poppy and Ava side by side, arms around each other, sticking together “like Q and U,” a joyous and rare picture-book model of what can easily be seen as a crush between two young girls.
Melleby’s storytelling is spot-on, not over-explaining, and working perfectly in tandem with Forrest Burdett’s dynamic illustrations to convey the emotions of the characters. The young protagonist has agency, and finds the strength to ask a question and express her feelings, but is not burdened with finding a solution all on her own; the adult in the situation is perceptive enough to take appropriate action. There’s a message here, but it’s presented with nuance and care.
An Author’s Note explains that the idea for the book came from Melleby’s own wife, whose kindergarten teacher used to hold a wedding for Mr. Q and Mrs. U. There are many ways children learn about the world, Melleby explains, and she urges adults to “make more mindful choices so that every kid can see themself reflected as they grow into whoever they might be.” This highly recommended story should help both children and adults in those quests.
Poppy has white skin and black hair; Ava has curly, reddish-brown hair and tan skin.
