You Need to Chill!

by Juno Dawson, Laura Hughes (Illustrator)

Overview

A delightfully endearing debut picture book by bestselling author and activist Juno Dawson in which a sister proves to be an LGBTQ ally when answering everyone's questions about where her brother Bill has gone.

When Bill can't be found at school one day, the imaginations of the other children run wild. Is he on vacation? Is he lost in the park? Has he been eaten by a shark? It's up to Bill's sister to explain that everyone needs to chill.

Juno Dawson's debut LGBTQ children's book is a witty and fun-filled rhyming story about family, identity, and acceptance. Bold, joyful, and warm-hearted, this inclusive children's book's message shines through on every page.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781728275529
Publisher:	Sourcebooks
Publication date:	05/02/2023
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	9.80(w) x 11.00(h) x 0.30(d)
Lexile:	AD480L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Juno Dawson is the international bestselling author of fiction and nonfiction for young adults. She is a columnist for Attitude magazine and a key LGBTQ+ activist with the charity Stonewall. A former teacher specializing in behavior studies, Juno now writes full time and lives in Brighton, England.

LAURA HUGHES is the illustrator of Kelly Clarkson’s New York Times bestselling picture book RIVER ROSE AND THE MAGICAL LULLABY as well as the enormously successful ON THE FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN. Laura is based in the UK.

Editorial Reviews

"I love just how “chill” this (unnamed) sibling is about [her sibling’s transition] and how she helps others accept it as well." — Youth Services Book Review, STARRED review

"Worthwhile, fulfilling, and accessible." — Good Reads with Ronna

"Breezy, light and sets a firm boundary for a possibly thorny question." — Lavender Magazine

From the Publisher

2023-02-25
A young child tells their school friends about their sister’s transition.

The main character, a light-skinned, overalls-clad child with curly brown hair, is questioned by their diverse classmates about where their “brother” has gone. “Was he eaten by a WHALE or SHARK?” the kids ask. “Was he taken to Mars by aliens?” The narrator responds to each line of questioning with a firm “Hey, you need to chill” before finally revealing that their sibling has transitioned and is now their sister, Lily (light-skinned and brown-haired), who’s “still clever and funny and kind and cool.” While the message that other people’s gender transitions are really not that big a deal is an important one, the titular refrain seems unnecessarily defensive and even a bit callous given that the other children are confused rather than unaccepting. (Indeed, they don’t say anything when they find out, let alone anything mean, and they smile upon seeing Lily come to pick the narrator up from school.) Because readers don’t find out where Lily is until more than halfway through the story—after the kids have suggested a series of more and more outlandish scenarios—the revelation feels like a gotcha moment that inadvertently others and sensationalizes trans people. The book also features Lily’s deadname several times—another misstep. The meter is uneven but readable, while the cute, scribbly illustrations are a strong point. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

An attempt at a child-friendly explanation of gender transitioning that fumbles. (Picture book. 4-7)

Kirkus Reviews