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4.67 AVERAGE
4.67 AVERAGE
SO ADORABLE! But more than that, it feels so authentic. Yes, it's #ownvoices, and the illustrator brings another layer to this intersectionality of this title. But also, it's not 'on the nose'. It teaches lessons without feeling like you're in a classroom. It shows how we can accept all kiddos for who they are, and that it's not difficult when you love someone. Add this one to your personal library ASAP.
When Aiden Became A Brother by Kyle Lukoff is a picture book that has definitely landed a spot on my future classroom's bookshelf. Kyle Lukoff tells an important story of a young child finding them true selves. Aidan finds his true self after years of not feeling comfortable in his own body and while his parents are accepting of it, some people in society are still a little confused/slow at catching on. When Aidan finds about his new sibling he doesn't want them to feel forced to fit one gender stereotype! Lukoff does an amazing job showing how we can break the gender stereotypes at even a young age, and we should allow students to explore themselves and find what makes them most comfortable. This book would definitely help children feel more comfortable in their own skin and expose them to a sotry/walk of life they may not have experience with. Lukoff uses a story that is simple for students of any age to understand and is an amazing way of introducing this story to young readers. The colorful illustrations are amazing in following along with the text and telling the story as well.
Very cute story about families! The child in the story is trans and I loved that because there are so few good stories that provide representation for trans kiddos.
I LOVE Aidan, with his excellent outfits and his plants, I love all the fun little details in the illustrations (gonna need that lady's watermelon romper, thanks), and most of all I love having these beautiful words to share with readers, whether they're getting ready to become a a big sibling, thinking about who they are, or just looking for a sweet and uplifting read!
I love this book! Unlike a lot of trans books for children, this is an #ownvoices book, and eschews a lot of the harmful stereotypes you see perpetuated in other trans picture books.
Take this passage, for example,
"Everyone thought he was just a just a different kind of girl. Some girls had room full of science experiments and bug collections. Lots of girls didn't wear dresses. But Aiden didn't feel like any kind of girl. He was really another kind of boy."
Picture books books by non-trans authors often reduce gender to a set of outside gender expectations that a kid doesn't want to conform to, thereby making them a different gender. In Jack not Jackie (written by a cis white woman), for example, one of the reasons Jack is "not a girl" is that he likes to play with bugs. When Aiden Became a Brother is a more nuanced portrait, showing that while outside gender norms play a role in identity, defying or playing with those norms is not what makes a person trans.
Another passage I like, "It was hard to tell his parents what he knew about himself, but it was even harder not to. It took everyone some time to adjust, and they learned a lot from the other families with transgender kids like him."
A recognition that transition, even with supporting and loving family is still that--a transition that takes time, work, and community. I love Julian is a Mermaid (again written by a cis, white woman), but I also understand that there is a reductive narrative in its depiction of immediate and unconditional acceptance that can be painful for a person who has experienced rejection or even just a period of confusion and resistance during their transition. For a much more detailed essay on this, I recommend checking out Dr. Laura Jiménez's article, Trans People Aren't Mythical Creatures. I can't find the link to the full article, but excerpts from it can be found on De Colores: The Raza Experience in Books for Children blog here
The story of When Aiden Became a Brother is charming and sweet, about some of Aiden's anxieties about his future sibling and the ways he worries they, too might be reduced by their gender. This aspect of the book is dealt with with style and humor, as when a woman asks his mother, "Are you having a boy or a girl," and she replies with, "I'm having a baby." Later someone asks Aiden, "Are you excited for your new brother or sister," to which Aiden says, "I'm excited to be a big brother."
Illustrator Kaylani Juanita's drawings are perfect! Soft, loose, and squiggly and colorful, they fill the book with a humor and tenderness that perfectly match the text. We love to see a black illustrator depicting black joy. Five Stars
Take this passage, for example,
"Everyone thought he was just a just a different kind of girl. Some girls had room full of science experiments and bug collections. Lots of girls didn't wear dresses. But Aiden didn't feel like any kind of girl. He was really another kind of boy."
Picture books books by non-trans authors often reduce gender to a set of outside gender expectations that a kid doesn't want to conform to, thereby making them a different gender. In Jack not Jackie (written by a cis white woman), for example, one of the reasons Jack is "not a girl" is that he likes to play with bugs. When Aiden Became a Brother is a more nuanced portrait, showing that while outside gender norms play a role in identity, defying or playing with those norms is not what makes a person trans.
Another passage I like, "It was hard to tell his parents what he knew about himself, but it was even harder not to. It took everyone some time to adjust, and they learned a lot from the other families with transgender kids like him."
A recognition that transition, even with supporting and loving family is still that--a transition that takes time, work, and community. I love Julian is a Mermaid (again written by a cis, white woman), but I also understand that there is a reductive narrative in its depiction of immediate and unconditional acceptance that can be painful for a person who has experienced rejection or even just a period of confusion and resistance during their transition. For a much more detailed essay on this, I recommend checking out Dr. Laura Jiménez's article, Trans People Aren't Mythical Creatures. I can't find the link to the full article, but excerpts from it can be found on De Colores: The Raza Experience in Books for Children blog here
The story of When Aiden Became a Brother is charming and sweet, about some of Aiden's anxieties about his future sibling and the ways he worries they, too might be reduced by their gender. This aspect of the book is dealt with with style and humor, as when a woman asks his mother, "Are you having a boy or a girl," and she replies with, "I'm having a baby." Later someone asks Aiden, "Are you excited for your new brother or sister," to which Aiden says, "I'm excited to be a big brother."
Illustrator Kaylani Juanita's drawings are perfect! Soft, loose, and squiggly and colorful, they fill the book with a humor and tenderness that perfectly match the text. We love to see a black illustrator depicting black joy. Five Stars
Aidan, a trans boy, is about to become a big brother and wants everything to be perfect for his new sibling's arrival. Kyle Lukoff's message of love and affirmation is one that all readers can appreciate, and Kaylani Juanita's lovely, colorful illustrations are a perfect match.
Love the story, love the art, love the message! Affirming and inclusive and a great way to learn and grow for all ages.
Please read it!
Please read it!
Aidan was born a girl, but he is really a boy, and the first half of this picture book is Aidan's story of telling his parents that he's not a girl. The second half is how he helps his parents prepare for the new sibling: buying clothes, painting the room, practicing reading, etc. But then, Aidan starts to worry about all the work he's done to prepare: what if it's all wrong and Baby feels uncomfortable in their own skin, like Aidan was? Aidan's parents comfort him, and then everything turns out okay.
This Stonewall Award winner is really well done and has lots of appeal to younger kids who may also be going through the same experience(s) as Aidan. Bonus: Readers never find out the gender of Baby, so it's a perfect story for those who kids whose parents are having another kid but that preparations don't have to be gendered!
Diverse reads: Aidan is African-American.
This Stonewall Award winner is really well done and has lots of appeal to younger kids who may also be going through the same experience(s) as Aidan. Bonus: Readers never find out the gender of Baby, so it's a perfect story for those who kids whose parents are having another kid but that preparations don't have to be gendered!
Diverse reads: Aidan is African-American.
At birth, everyone thought Aidan was a girl. But as Aidan grew up, he didn’t like his name, the way his room was decorated, or wearing girl clothes. Aidan cut his hair off, realizing that he was a boy. He told his parents, and they learned from other families what having a transgender child is all about. Aidan picked his new name, they changed his bedroom into one that felt right, and he liked his new clothes. Then Aidan’s mother got pregnant. Aidan loved helping pick clothes for the baby, paint colors for the nursery, and even the baby’s name. But when people asked Aidan if he wanted a little brother or little sister, Aidan didn’t know how to answer. As the big day approached, Aidan worried about being a good big brother. Happily, his mother was there to explain that no matter who the new baby turned out to be, they would be so lucky to have Aidan as a brother.
Lukoff has created an #ownvoices picture book that truly celebrates a child who deeply understands their gender identity to be different from the one they were assigned at birth. The reaction of the supportive parents is beautiful to see in a picture book format as they work with Aidan not only to be able to express himself fully but also to be able to work through natural fears with a new baby. Those fears and the inevitable discussions of gender of a baby are vital parts of the story and allow readers to realize how deeply ingrained gender is in so many parts of our lives.
The illustrations by Juanita are full of energy and show a child with a flair for fashion who expresses himself clearly as a boy. His facial expressions change from his deep unhappiness when he is being treated as a girl to delight at being able to express himself as the boy he truly is. The depiction of a loving family of color handling these intersectionality issues so lovingly is also great to see.
As the parent of a transgender person, this is exactly the sort of picture book our families need and other families must read. Appropriate for ages 4-7.
Lukoff has created an #ownvoices picture book that truly celebrates a child who deeply understands their gender identity to be different from the one they were assigned at birth. The reaction of the supportive parents is beautiful to see in a picture book format as they work with Aidan not only to be able to express himself fully but also to be able to work through natural fears with a new baby. Those fears and the inevitable discussions of gender of a baby are vital parts of the story and allow readers to realize how deeply ingrained gender is in so many parts of our lives.
The illustrations by Juanita are full of energy and show a child with a flair for fashion who expresses himself clearly as a boy. His facial expressions change from his deep unhappiness when he is being treated as a girl to delight at being able to express himself as the boy he truly is. The depiction of a loving family of color handling these intersectionality issues so lovingly is also great to see.
As the parent of a transgender person, this is exactly the sort of picture book our families need and other families must read. Appropriate for ages 4-7.
I love Aidan and the drawings are astounding. What a magnificent book!