Who Are You?: The Kids Guide to Gender Identity by Brook Pessin-Whedbee

Who Are You?: The Kids Guide to Gender Identity Reviews

• 
  Stephen N.

  I picked this book up when killing time with my children in a museum library.
  
  I have to say, I found the content troubling. There is a division to be made between the 0.005% of people born with some form of gender identity disorder, due to hormonal or biological anomalies and the wider group of people who are broadly non-sex conformist and whose identity is more often 'chosen'.
  
  This book through its ultra diverse colourful imagery is clearly aimed at young children. Puberty is a confusing enough time, with many children fluctuating between different behaviours (such as the older, better-known occasional girlish tendency to tomboyism) as they look for solidity and self-awareness without this type of distortion adding to the issues of their navigating their sexual development.
  
  I also found the authoritarian tone of some of the statements: "grown ups guessed right about their body and their gender. This is called cisgender" as if it's a random happy eventuality and parents input is guesswork, to be both factually wrong and immoral, not to say insulting for introducing into children's vocabulary this ideological word, often used disparagingly by the trans community about straights.
  
  This might conceivably be useful in a workshop scenario, for those who have a medical condition similar to those outlined above, to enable them to come to terms with their predicament, but otherwise it's clearly an ideological book with the intention to add to a cultural shift, masquerading as a children's book and one best not to put in front of the vast majority of children.
  
  P.S. Is it me or are the majority of reviews here self-declared from reviewers cherry picked by the publisher(s)?
• 
  Jae

  I love the gender wheel at the back. I think this is a great intro and overview to the basics of gender identity and expression for kids and grown-ups (and lord knows there are plenty who need it). I do wish people (both the authors of this book and many other educators) would specify that two-spirit is a term specific to indigenous peoples and not available to just anyone to casually identify with, as rattling it off in a list of other western gender terms can make it seem.
  
  ETA 12.14.17 my official professional review for our newsletter:
  
  Who Are You? is hands down the best title on the subject of gender identity available for young children today—and for grown-ups who could use a simple introduction. A truly diverse cast of kids play joyfully around the never over-complicated text. An interactive wheel at the back helps break down the distinction between body, identity, and expression, and the whole book is designed as a tool to help kids think about who they are and what they like.
• 
  Danika at The Lesbrary

  This seems like a great book for starting a conversation about gender with young kids! There's not a lot of text per page, and it's very general ('gender is how you feel inside'), but this looks like an awesome way to start that discussion. I loved the illustrations (lots of kids of colour are also represented) and the interactive wheel. There's also more information in the back about what questions you might ask when you read the book, and resources for what to read as a parent/educator and movies and books to continue the conversation with a kid. This is sorely needed in classrooms, homes, and bookstores!
• 
  ♥♣Mary♦♠ If She So Pleases

  To be clear, this is not a "hate" review. Opposing views should not be silenced. I read this book and wholly disagree with it. Let's just agree to disagree. To be clear, I do not hate people or any group of people.
  
  The scientific and medical world does not go by "girl," "boy," "man," or "woman." It identifies sex/gender (male/female) and stages of maturity in humans by observable reality. This book says that sex and gender are separate.
  
  This book is not only aimed towards children with gender dysphoria, body dysmorphia, and/or autogynephilia, autoandrophilia, etc. It is being put into curriculum although"gender identity" is just self perception and not based on measurable biological facts. It will confuse all the children and adults that read it. There are males that can be more feminine than the average male and there are females that can be more masculine than the average female. That does not change their gender.
  
  This book can cause confusion to children who would otherwise never be confused. And this confusion can translate to blockers (which are hormones) and cross-sex hormones, which will affect development, at which point they'll never be able to have an understanding of who they truly are because puberty was blocked.
• 
  Laura

  Ah, this is one of those books that I want so much to like, but am more like "eh", about it.
  
  I love the premise, a picture book for children about gender identity. And yes, this is an important book to have out there, and yes, it needs to be discussed, and it is well discussed, and the pictures are bright an colorful.
  
  So what is to "eh" about it? Despite all that, I find it very preachy. I don't think this is a book that children will read over and over again, and look at the pictures. I think this is more of a story read to them, as a jumping off point to read other books that will speak to them, such as
  The Story of Ferdinand the Bull, one of the books suggested in resources. That is a classic, and I loved it as a kid, and I never stopped to think that it was odd that the bull did not want to do things that bulls were supposed to do. It is just a good story about following your own path. And that is what a good picture book on gender should be.
  
  So, perhaps use this as a resource, as a jumping off point? But I don't think kids will love this on their own.
  
  Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
  
  
• 
  Dill Werner

  I received a DRC copy of this book from Edelweiss for review. I feel like this book should be marketed more as a discussion guide than a kid's guide because most of it is geared toward the adults having a conversation with the children. There are topics to go over, questions to ask, and answers given. But there are also open-ended questions no one has the answers to. It's a great resource for someone who is looking to open up a discussion with children about the gender spectrum, finding themselves, and for learning about the different terms. It also lists several resources adults and kids can turn to for more information. I'd definitely use this as a jumping-off tool for anyone looking to explain the non-binary gender spectrum to children and to discuss gender identity with a young child.
• 
  Maggie Ignasiak

  This is a wonderful resource for both children and adults learning about gender identity. The interactive wheel is lovely: easy to use with both interesting and amusing options. The wheel is also openly worded in a way that ignites conversation and provokes thought. The illustrations, though at first glance seem simplistic, are quite striking, including many different races and gender representations. The only reason that I didn't give the book a 5 out of 5 is there there isn't a glossary of terms. I speculate that was intentional, as many of these terms change and evolve rapidly, however there is an entire page that lists many of the variances of the gender spectrum. I would recommend this book to anyone.
• 
  Kris - My Novelesque Life

  RATING: 4 STARS
  (I received an ARC from the NETGALLEY)
  (Review Not on Blog)
  
  I have been reading more children's books on gender identity, because I feel like in this world of technology you have to talk with kids at a younger age. You want a book that is simple yet explains the main concept to young children. I liked this book for its message, knowledge and story.
• 
  E

  Even aside from my philosophical disagreement with how this book defines “gender,” I found this a lackluster read. It’s just not engaging.
  
  Books like I Am Jazz and It Feels Good To Be Yourself promote the same postmodern, woke concept of “gender identity” but at least they have an interesting storyline and good illustrations...
• 
  Jeimy

  Fantastic picture book that explains the difference between sex, gender, identity, and expression.
• 
  RachelAnne

  When babies are born, grown-ups make a guess by looking at their bodies: who is this child going to be? Sometimes, that guess is right. Sometimes it isn't. Using straightforward, kid-appropriate language, Pessin-Whedbee explains the basic ideas of gender identity in language even an adult can understand. "There are lots of ways to be a boy. There are lots of ways to be a girl. There are lots of ways to be a kid. Be who you are!" An interactive wheel in the back provides a useful way to explore the ways that body, identity and expression layer to make every individual different. End material presents a discussion guide and further resources for adults.
• 
  Ivy Moser

  A wonderful picture book that helps kids learn about gender. Very affirming and inclusive and helpful for all ages to understand gender identity. I liked the pages of pictures that let kids point out things they like, and it also comes with an "identity wheel"--an interactive, colorful paper wheel that shows some of the many ways kids can identify.
• 
  Amy K

  This caught my eye at our public library. I skimmed it and it looked like a good book to take home. This is a topic I briefly discuss with my 6 and 8 year old when opportunities present themselves. This book helps to keep the conversation going and introduce them to the concept and terminology beyond a discussion with mom.
• 
  BiblioKel

  A great introduction to gender diversity and gender expression for primary school aged children. Comes with a really handing wheel to that clearly shows the difference between body, identity, and expression.
• 
  Abby

  A great way to open up discussion on gender and self-identity with kids. Very excited to have this as part of my home and public library collections
• 
  Mima

  Lyhyt kuvitettu tietokirja lapsille sukupuolista, sukupuolen ilmaisusta, kuinka puhua omasta sukupuolesta, omasta kehosta ja identiteetistä. Kirjan kuvitus huomioi erilaisia lapsen kehoja mukavalla tavalla. Kuvittaja on huomioinut hyvin kaikenvärisiä ja -näköisiä lapsia.
  
  Kirja on tarkoitettu luettavaksi lapsen kanssa. Aikuiselle on esipuhe ja lopussa oma osio jossa opastetaan miten voi ottaa puheeksi kirjan asiat lapsen iän- ja kehitystason mukaisesti. Lisäksi kirjan mukana tulee "Gender Wheel" jossa lapsi voi sanoittaa omaa kokemustaan niin kehon, identiteetin kuin sukupuolenilmaisunkin saralla.
• 
  Gurton Buster

  The actual picture book portion of this left a little to be desired, however, the guide in the back is extremely helpful! This book would be better used as a discussion guide for adults talking to kids about gender/sex/expression, while the pictures and parts to read aloud to kids would just be a teeny stepping stone that couldn’t be used alone. Additionally, intersex individuals weren’t mentioned in the picture book portion unfortunately, though they were included in the guided discussion.
  Overall still a great resource! I loved the colorful identity wheel included at the end as well.
• 
  Mary Lee

  "There are lots of ways to be a boy. There are lots of ways to be a girl. There are lots of ways to be a kid."
  
  Very direct explanation with lots of support for parents/adults. Nice interactive wheel really SHOWS the above quote tells. No matter what guesses adults make about your body, not matter what you identify as, there are lots of ways to express yourself.
• 
  Rowan

  Amazing, approachable book about gender identity that emphasizes that each of us knows ourselves best and that there’s no wrong way to be a kid. Kids of all ages were captivated when I read it aloud. It spoke to some of the kids in ways that other books about gender don’t.
• 
  Marissa Elera

  A marvelously done book about gender identity that is open, clear, and respectful.
• 
  Kristina

  Finally a straightforward take.
• 
  Yapha

  Excellent conversation starter about gender identity! It uses language that is accessible to kindergarten and up. Includes a discussion help for parents and teachers, additional resources, and a gender wheel.
• 
  Zara

  Very disappointed to learn about the plagiarism and oversimplification of Maya Christina Gonzalez’s gender wheel