Transgender Friendly Picture Books for Young Children

By: Elizabeth Rowell, Special to TRT—

Many transgender adults don’t remember any picture books from their early childhood years (3-8) that could have been supportive or made a difference in how they felt about their own gender identification. When asked, some either say none or share Luna (Peters 2006) or Parrotfish (Wittlinger 2011) which are wonderful books, but are for much older youths. One reason for this is that there have been so few children’s books with transgender main characters. However, from a four year old boy in his dream skirt (Mack 1979 & 84) to a Gender Wish Fairy and the planet Tenalp where everyone is transgender for a day (Bergman 2012), there have been some much needed new additions to the slowly growing genre of Transgender Friendly Picture Books for Young Children, pre-k to age eight. Some of these books can be very meaningful for young transgender children to validate their own feelings and for others to begin to learn about and understand those who are gender variant.  As transphobic bullying begins very early and escalates if not dealt with appropriately, resulting in many long term educational, psychological, and emotional problems, some of these books could also open up discussions about how young listeners could deal with bullying they might themselves experience or how others could stick up for and be supportive to gender variant children who are being treated unkindly because they are different.

However, young children will never know about these books unless caring adults obtain them, read them aloud to and discuss with them. Unfortunately, few are available in public or school libraries. Many reasons are given for their exclusion, including that library funds are tight and they need to get all the Caldecott/Newberry/King honor awards, that there are few requests for this type of book, or that they prefer hardcover books.  Check out which of these books are available in your libraries and advocate for the inclusion of specific ones so that they will be available for young children. You might have to request them many times and get others to do so as well. Lambda legal (www.lambdalegal.org) has suggestions on how to get and keep these books in libraries. Consider starting a lending library with a group of friends where each one donates a book or collectively the group has tag sales or other fund raisers. These books can play a vital role in enhancing gender variant childrens’ self concept and promoting other young childrens’ understanding of the transgender experience and proactive anti-bullying commitment which can help to make the world a better place.

It’s important to review these books prior to reading to young children so that you can provide a meaningful read aloud, discussion, and sharing experience. Even though most are intended for young children, some are interesting for older youths and transgender people of all ages who did not have access to books like these when they were younger. All are currently available in some way on-line usually either through Alibris, Amazon, or LULU.com.

Transgirls

10,000 Dresses (2008 & 2011) by Marcus Ewert, Seven Stories.

This hardcover book with colorful font, eye catching illustrations, and changing pronouns features a young child who quietly says “I don’t feel like a boy”.  Bailey dreams about beautiful dresses and asks his family members if they can get him one.  Unfortunately, his parents tell him repeatedly that he is a boy and boys don’t wear dresses. His brother even threatens him.  He eventually meets an older girl to create dresses with who says Bailey is the coolest girl she has ever met.  It has won a Stonewall Honor Book Award (2010) that was recognized by the American Library Association. ALA’s acknowledgment can be used to try to get this book into public libraries.  This was the author’s first children’s book. He is active in the gay community. (Ages 3-8)

The Adventures of Tulip, Birthday Wish Fairy (2012) by S. Bear Bergman, Flamingo Rampant, Toronto, Ontario.

In this very touching and engaging story, Tulip Birthday Wish Fairy, responds to all the birthday wishes of North American nine-year-olds. After receiving an unusual wish from David who wants to live as Daniela, Tulip learns how to help this child as well as her family so that she can become the person she really is. She makes sure that Daniela and her family have all the support, care, love, confidence, and bravery needed to educate the world around them. Tulip is then asked to be the Gender Wish Fairy and work with only these children.  S. Bear Bergman skillfully combines humor and creativity with the complexities of gender variance and the lively cartoon like illustrations help to convey the story’s message. Bergman is transgender and recently started his own publishing company to publicize gender variant books.  (Ages 4-8+)

Be Who You Are (2010) by Jennifer Carr, Author House.

The author’s daughter transitioned when she was six and this book reflects the understanding, acceptance, and expressed love by their families that is needed by transgender youths.  Nick always felt like a girl and his parents supported him. When his teacher doesn’t understand his girl brain, both parents meet with the educator and school gets better.  They also have him see a doctor who talks to children who feel they were born in the wrong body.  When Nick thinks he is the only child who feels this way, his parents find a group of families with transgender children. Soon the child is wearing girl clothes all of the time and gets a library card with her new name, Hope. The creative illustrations clearly convey the feelings of all and the positive steps that parents and even a younger sibling can take to provide a positive environment for their transgender child.  This outstanding paperback book should be in all elementary schools and libraries and readily available for parents who have transgender young children.  It is also on the 2012 Rainbow list. (Ages 3-8+)

Transboys

Backwards Day (2012) by S. Bear Bergman, Flamingo Rampant, Toronto, Ontario.

This fascinating book with colorful, full page, modern style illustrations and text with some Dr. Seuss like words is set on the planet Tenalp. Tenalp has seventeen seasons, including one where for a single day everything is backwards. Young Andrea always looked forward to this season, so she could turn into a boy even if just for that day. One year she doesn’t change and she’s very dejected.  However, the following day, she turns into a boy and happily stays that way! His worried parents take Andy to meet with some Backwardsologists who decide that Andy didn’t change on Backwards Day because as Andrea he was already backwards.  They convince his parents that this was a Backwards Day Miracle and they now have a wonderful son. In future Backwards Days, Andy turns into a girl for just that day. This captivating paperback book can open the door for some fruitful discussions.  The author is a married, transmasculine person, lives in Toronto, and has a son. Bear prefers to use gender independent when referring to young children instead of gender variant or transgender. (Ages 4-8+)

Rough Tough Charley (2007) by Verla Kay, Tricycle Press.

Based on a true story told in rhyme with minimal text and illustrated with detailed paintings, this is a unique nonfiction hardcover children’s book complete with an outline of facts about Charley Parkhurst.  Charley is first pictured at about 8 or 9 years of age but his transgender status is not revealed until the end of the book.  He was orphaned as a young child, lived and worked in stables in New England, fought bandits, voted, and later became a stagecoach driver in the Old West at a time when women did not do things like this.   It wasn’t until his death that a doctor discovered that Charley was really a biological woman. The author has written other children’s books about historical events and figures. It’s a wonderful book to use to discuss gender variance throughout the ages and is found in some libraries. (Ages 6-8+)

When Kathy Is Keith (2011) by Wallace Wong,   Xlibris.

This is the first book about a little girl who knows and tells others that she is really a boy.  Unfortunately, no one believes her. Her family and teacher say she is silly or will outgrow this feeling, and her friends make fun of her. However, after Kathy’s mom overhears her daughter’s request of Santa, her parents find support in different groups, realize that there are other children like Kathy, and help her to transition.   Keith realizes that although not everyone will understand what he is going through, his family will always be there for him. This book shows how some parents and siblings often have to go through stages of understanding prior to accepting and advocating for their transgender child. This paperback with large eye catching illustrations should be readily available for all young children and their parents. If Santa Claus is a problem, those pages could be omitted and Kathy’s mother could hear her making a birthday candle wish or one on the first star seen at night.  The author is a clinical psychologist who has worked with children and youth with gender issues. He is openly gay and actively involved in the Transgender community. (Ages 4-8 and for all adult transmen who wished for a book like this when they were young.)

Gender Variant Boys

Jesse’s Dream Skirt (1979 & 1984) by Bruce Mack, Lollipop Power.

This was the first gender variant book and it is discouraging to note that some of the same hurtful things are happening today. Jesse likes to dress up in his mom’s clothes but wants a skirt of his own size that he can wear everywhere and twirl around.  He and his supportive mother sew his “dream” skirt together.   Before he wears it outside, his mother warns him that some people might not like it and could even make fun of him, but Jesse wears it proudly to his multicultural daycare. When he is ridiculed by some of the children, he is very upset.  However, his sensitive teacher, Bruce, compliments his skirt and comforts Jesse. Bruce then has a discussion with the children about why some are making fun of Jesse’s skirt.  Many of the stereotypes and biases still present today come out but eventually some children agree that people should be able to wear what they want. The illustrations carefully convey the different feelings of the children regarding Jesse’s skirt.  Unfortunately, this book is out of print and very expensive to purchase. However, the words are available on Crossing Paths Where Transgender and Religion Meet (http:www.uua.org/documents/obgltc/crossingpaths) and the cover showing Jesse in his dream skirt is available on Google images.  The book could be shared in these ways and children could create their own pictures about it.  This very meaningful paperback book should be reprinted and read by parents and every daycare, preschool, K-2nd grade teacher. (Ages 3-7)

My Princess Boy (2010) by Cheryl Kilodouis, Aladdin/Simon Schuster.

This hardcover nonfiction book was inspired by the author’s son and by her own struggles to understand his choices. Dyson loves the color pink, sparkly things, wears dresses as well as jeans and often his princess tiara when climbing trees. He calls himself a Princess Boy and the family including his brother loves him exactly the way he is.  Unfortunately, sometimes he gets laughed at when he goes shopping for and wears girl clothes.   This is also the first gender variant picture book that features an African American child. A picture of Dyson can be obtained from Google images so that children can see that this is about a real little boy as the imaginative illustrations all with a pink background do not include facial characteristics. The text conveys the importance of not making judgments or bullying, and acceptance of people for who they are. On one page the reader/listener is asked “If you see a princess boy, will you laugh at him, call him a name, play with him, or like him for who he is?” This book should be shared with all children and be in all libraries.  (Ages 3 to 8)

Gender Variant Girls

Are You a Boy or a Girl? (2000) by Karleen Jiminez. Green Dragon Press, Toronto, Ontario.

This paperback book with black-and-white drawings and photos of real children tells the story of a child who identifies as a girl but doesn’t enjoying doing girl things like playing with dolls.   She prefers to do boy things and with her short hair cut and boys’ clothing she looks somewhat like a boy.  She is sad when she is continually asked if she is a boy or girl and teased about her appearance and activities. Her understanding mother tells her that since the beginning of time there have been girls who like boy things and vice verse. However, now it’s hard because too many people don’t know about girls like her. Tomboy, an award winning 13 minute animated video based on the book, explores a day at home and school where Alex, a Hispanic child, is teased because some of her classmates think she acts like a boy. This book and video (http://vimeo.com/10772672) originated from the author’s own experiences as a Tomboy and volunteering in a kindergarten class. She finds that when she can express with humor, hurt, and honesty stories of variant gender expression, children and teachers respond with their own. Finalist, Lambda Literary Award, 2000. (Ages 4 to 8+)

A Book about Gender Variant and Transgender Children of Different Ages

All I Want to Be is Me (2011) by Phyllis Rothblatt, Self Published.

This small paperback book written in catchy rhyme with repetitive phrases that children will enjoy saying is unique in that it shows from personalized perspectives many diverse ways that children experience and express their gender identity and just want to be free to be themselves.  The emphasis is on being who you want to be and don’t mess with me! Bullying, courage, and self identification are colorfully illustrated in this multicultural book featuring children of different ages and abilities.  The author who includes MFT after her name on the cover is an artist, writer, educator, and has worked with families with gender non-conforming and transgender children and youth. A very moving and powerful song by the same title can be downloaded on the book’s website www.alliwanttobeisme.com (Ages 5-8 +).

A Fairy Tale with a Message

GoblinHeart-A Fairy Tale  (2012) by Brett Axe,  East Waterfront.

Julep has wings like the fairies rather than claws, but feels like a goblin on the inside, and wants to live and be accepted by the tribe as a goblin. Julep encounters many of the same problems of acceptance that transgender children often have. This small paperback with black and white fanciful illustrations contains no gender pronouns.  It could be used to convey messages about issues that are encountered by gender variant people. The author has four children and this is his first children’s book.  (Ages 5-8)