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librariandest's review
4.0
There are more and more picture books coming out about gender identity. This one focuses on a child named Ari who is not sure of their pronouns. The child feels like their pronouns can change from one day to another -- which I interpreted as a genderfluid identity. "My pronouns are like the weather. They change depending on how I feel. And that's okay, because they're my words."
Ari experiences a lot of anxiety about choosing pronouns in this book. It actually made me feel a bit anxious myself, like stop pressuring this kid to pick a label! But no one is actively pressuring Ari. The pressure is coming from inside Ari. "It shouldn't take this long to find my words. Everyone else seems to know theirs!"
The emphasis is on how labels, adjectives, and pronouns feel to you. Do they feel like they fit? He, him, she, her, ey, and eir don't feel right for Ari on the day this story takes place. In the end, with much excitement, Ari declares that they/them feels "warm and snug" and perfect.
Ari experiences a lot of anxiety about choosing pronouns in this book. It actually made me feel a bit anxious myself, like stop pressuring this kid to pick a label! But no one is actively pressuring Ari. The pressure is coming from inside Ari. "It shouldn't take this long to find my words. Everyone else seems to know theirs!"
The emphasis is on how labels, adjectives, and pronouns feel to you. Do they feel like they fit? He, him, she, her, ey, and eir don't feel right for Ari on the day this story takes place. In the end, with much excitement, Ari declares that they/them feels "warm and snug" and perfect.
maya_b's review
4.0
I really liked this book. It’s great in introducing how normal different pronouns are. There are no big explanations, which I guess could be really confusing or could be something one could look for in a book about pronouns, but I liked it anyway. The story just shows a lot of different people with a lot of different pronouns and words, and I personally also really liked how pronouns and other words are mixed together. Nobody was ever asked about just their pronouns, but also about other words to describe them, and I think that’s great. It shows that pronouns are just other words to describe people, and yeah, those can change, or not change, depending on the person. It felt like a very welcoming book with cute art.
(I do however think it might be confusing for some kids, and since the book is lacking any explanations, questions a child might have will likely have to be answered without the book.)
(I do however think it might be confusing for some kids, and since the book is lacking any explanations, questions a child might have will likely have to be answered without the book.)
poorashleu's review
I'm torn. I enjoy this book, but for a picture book, I do find it to be a bit bulky.
waterviolite's review
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
popthebutterfly's review
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Disclaimer: I bought this book for my honorary Hamtaro! Support your authors! All opinions are my own.
Book: What Are Your Words?
Author: Katherine Locke and Anne Passchier
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Trans MC, Trans characters, various LGBT characters, POC characters and trans/other LGBT POC characters
Recommended For...: children’s readers, picture book lovers
Publication Date: May 25, 2021
Genre: Children’s Picture Book
Age Relevance: 0+
Explanation of Above: It’s a picture book about pronouns and how useful they are for respect and loving others.
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Pages: 40
Synopsis: Whenever Ari's Uncle Lior comes to visit, they ask Ari one question: "What are your words?" Some days Ari uses she/her. Other days Ari uses he/him. But on the day of the neighborhood's big summer bash, Ari doesn't know what words to use. On the way to the party, Ari and Lior meet lots of neighbors and learn the words each of them use to describe themselves, including pronouns like she/her, he/him, they/them, ey/em, and ze/zir. As Ari tries on different pronouns, they discover that it's okay to not know your words right away--sometimes you have to wait for your words to find you.
Filled with bright, graphic illustrations, this simple and poignant story about finding yourself is the perfect introduction to gender-inclusive pronouns for readers of all ages.
Review: I thought this was an adorable little book! I loved that the book focused on pronouns and who they can change daily. The book also focused on how pronoun use is respectful and a key part of fully loving someone. The book did so good so show many different pronouns and people using them.
Verdict: I loved it so much! Highly recommend!
Book: What Are Your Words?
Author: Katherine Locke and Anne Passchier
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Trans MC, Trans characters, various LGBT characters, POC characters and trans/other LGBT POC characters
Recommended For...: children’s readers, picture book lovers
Publication Date: May 25, 2021
Genre: Children’s Picture Book
Age Relevance: 0+
Explanation of Above: It’s a picture book about pronouns and how useful they are for respect and loving others.
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Pages: 40
Synopsis: Whenever Ari's Uncle Lior comes to visit, they ask Ari one question: "What are your words?" Some days Ari uses she/her. Other days Ari uses he/him. But on the day of the neighborhood's big summer bash, Ari doesn't know what words to use. On the way to the party, Ari and Lior meet lots of neighbors and learn the words each of them use to describe themselves, including pronouns like she/her, he/him, they/them, ey/em, and ze/zir. As Ari tries on different pronouns, they discover that it's okay to not know your words right away--sometimes you have to wait for your words to find you.
Filled with bright, graphic illustrations, this simple and poignant story about finding yourself is the perfect introduction to gender-inclusive pronouns for readers of all ages.
Review: I thought this was an adorable little book! I loved that the book focused on pronouns and who they can change daily. The book also focused on how pronoun use is respectful and a key part of fully loving someone. The book did so good so show many different pronouns and people using them.
Verdict: I loved it so much! Highly recommend!
bardicbramley's review
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
sleepyshelves's review
5.0
Did I cry? No, but I would have if I wasn't in the living room. This is a personal private bedroom sob fest
missprint_'s review
3.0
Good and we need more books in this vein but omg so much text. I think the illustrations are stronger than the text here--very inclusive and covering a variety of people including those with/without disabilities, different skin tones, clothes, and gender expression. The text is really dense and feels denser with the way every person's words (pronouns but also identifiers like "friend" or "loyal") appear above their heads. It feels like Locke wanted to write an informational book about pronouns but then decided to do a story instead and, combined together, neither is quite as effective or smooth as it could be.
lynn_perry's review
reflective
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
This book is a wonderful introduction to a variety of pronouns. It also explores how people can change their pronouns and that we might not always know what words we want people to use for us, but that is ok. We can let people know when we are ready.
pib003's review
3.0
I think this book is a little too all-over-the-place to actually explain the concept of pronouns well. I'd rather see a story in which characters use diverse pronouns, but it's not the central aspect of the story. It would be easier to explain to a young reader that way.