It Feels Good to Be Yourself

“Why is that dad wearing a dress?”

It wasn’t the first time my toddler commented on someone’s appearance in front of them, but I was convinced that his question sounded like a judgment. We have never left our grocery store so fast. I was angry. He was worried. Had he done something wrong? Yes! Maybe? I didn’t know. Had I? Yes. I wanted my family to be cool with all forms of gender expression, but I hadn’t built the common ground or the vocabulary to make that vision a reality. I’d projected my own fears, ignorance, and self-consciousness onto my… show more.

Theresa Thorn accomplishes something remarkable in this beautiful book: she clearly and simply explains key concepts about gender and pronouns in a way that both kids and parents will understand. I know exactly how hard that is! This book is a perfect introduction to transgender identity. Even if you don’t feel like an expert on this topic, this book will help you have important conversations with your child. I wish it were around when I was a little kid trying to express my own gender. 

Gender identity isn’t complicated, but adults tend to think it to be that way. With this book, Thorn does an amazing job at teaching us how simple it can and should be. This book and its bright illustrations helped me tremendously to teach my child the importance of not assuming gender or pronouns. This book gives scenarios of cisgender, transgender, non-binary, and more.