02/01/2014
PreS-Gr 2—Jacob likes to play dress up with his friend Emily, but he prefers to pretend that he is a princess rather than a knight, firefighter, or policeman. The boys in his class tease him and wonder why he wears dresses. His teacher explains that "Jacob wears what he's comfortable in. Just like you do. Not very long ago little girls couldn't wear pants. Can you imagine that?" Jacob returns home from school to tell his mother that one of his classmates says that boys can't wear dresses. His parents support him as he makes his own dress with his mother's help, and she shares with him that "there are all sorts of ways to be a boy." An author's note explains how parents, educators, and counselors can make a difference in the lives of gender-nonconforming children. The warm cartoon illustrations convey the mood well and offer readers visual clues to the cruelty, teasing, and struggle with self-acceptance that can occur when children are different from their peers. Purchase this one to encourage discussions of gender, identity, and self-confidence.—Melissa Smith, Royal Oak Public Library, MI
2013-12-18
In a warmly illustrated picture book meant to comfort both boys who are gender-nonconforming and their parents, young Jacob asks his mom for a dress to wear to school. At first, Jacob's interest in wearing dresses is limited to playing dress-up. When his classmate Christopher tells him he ought to wear boys' clothes instead, Jacob's friend Emily answers with age-appropriate defenses ("Christopher, stop telling us what to do"). Jacob's mom hesitates when Jacob expresses interest in wearing a dress as school clothes, but eventually, both she and Jacob's dad agree to it. The segments with Jacob's mom and dad seem aimed at parents as much as at children. Jacob's mom's look of concern when he first asks about the dress is poignant, and his dad's words of acceptance ("Well, it's not what I would wear, but you look great") could easily serve as a model for fathers in similar positions. What rings less true is the story's rosy end. Faced with Christopher's bullying comments and other kids' laughter, Jacob is so buoyed by his new dress that he stands up to Christopher himself, then sprints triumphantly across the playground, "his dress spreading out like wings." Hopeful and affirming, but children familiar with bullying may find the conclusion too simple. (afterword, authors' note) (Picture book. 4-8)
One of 10 Best Indie Picture Books of 2014, ForeWord Reviews Runner-Up, 2014 New England Book Festival: Children's Books 2014 Distinguished List of the Association of Children's Librarians of Northern California CCBC Choices 2015
"An ideal companion for families and educators: upbeat yet realistic, astute about peer dynamics, and blessedly lacking in a sermonizing Big Moment."—Publishers Weekly
"A welcome addition to the recent uptick in picture books about gender nonconforming kids."—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"The warm cartoon illustrations convey the mood well and offer readers visual clues to the cruelty, teasing, and struggle with self-acceptance that can occur when children are different from their peers. Purchase this one to encourage discussions of gender, identity, and self-confidence."—School Library Journal
"A warmly illustrated picture book meant to comfort both boys who are gender nonconforming and their parents…Jacob's mom's look of concern when he first asks about the dress is poignant, and his dad's words of acceptance ("Well, it's not what I would wear, but you look great") could easily serve as a model for fathers in similar positions."—Kirkus Reviews
"Cute illustrations and realistic dialogue convey the struggles of this proud, determined young boy."—ForeWord Reviews
"Case's softly colored cartoonlike illustrations nicely expand the spirit of this important book, which—one hopes—will provide reassurance to children like Jacob and inspire thoughtful discussion."—Booklist
