The Bravest Knight Who Ever Lived (1999), written by Daniel Errico and illustrated by Shiloh Penfield, follows Cedric, a young quick-witted boy who begins life on a pumpkin farm as he grows up, becomes a knight, and falls in love with a prince. Cedric is given the opportunity to serve […]
Margaret Baker-Street’s Michael and Me (2014) is a first-person narrative focused on a second-grade boy named Brian and his reaction to a classmate’s gender transition. The story opens at the start of a new school year. One of Brian’s classmates comes to school post-transition using the name Michael as well […]
Written and illustrated by Andrea U’Ren, Pugdog (2001) uses animal characters to to challenge gender stereotypes by revealing their absurdity. Mike loves Pugdog, who he refers to as a boy for the first quarter of the picture book. The two have a great relationship. Pugdog enjoys belly rubs, squirrel chasing, […]
Written by Michael Genhart, PhD and illustrated by Anne Passchier, Rainbow: A First Book of Pride (2019) is a colorful celebration of rainbow families that introduces very young readers to the symbolism behind the Pride flag. The first page proclaims: “Every color means something.” The corresponding image shows a racially […]
The story is definetely engaging enough to warrant multiple readings and the personalization of image and text will make the book a family treasurer! My family enjoys our copy, and my son was thrilled to share it with his grandparents. This will make a lovely gift for many children! I […]
Written by Toshia Stelivan and illustrated by Dan Rebegea, Horse of a Different Color is clearly a labor of love. The picture book begins with the silhouette of a horse and a heartfelt message to the author’s daughters, Madison and Morgan, as well as a message of gratitude to other […]
Ilyasah Shabazz & Renée Watson’s Betty Before X reads like the labor of love it clearly is. Both intimate and deliberately political, Shabazz and Watson humanize a larger than life American icon. Readers are introduced to Betty as an eleven year old girl with a complex past. She has experienced […]
I recently received a book bundle from Macmillan that subtly highlights diversity while joyfully teaching messages of inclusion. Ways to Welcome (2020), written by Linda Ashman and illustrated by Joey Chou, and All Welcome Here (2020), written by James Preller and illustrated by Mary GrandPre, both explore the awkwardness of […]
I just finished Kate Moore’s young reader’s edition of The Radium Girls. Wow! I was emotionally engaged from beginning to end. Moore tells the story of hundreds of young women who found financial freedom and empowerment by painting watch dials for a generous wage in the 1910s and 20s. Sadly, […]
Mamie on the Mound: A Woman in Baseball’s Negro Leagues, written by Leah Henderson and illustrated by George Doutsiopoulos, is a wonderful biography of a fascinating character, but that’s not all. Henderson subtly explores the race and gender context that both enables and constrains Mamie’s professional baseball career. Mamie was […]
