M is for Mahu

With everything in the news lately about the devastating fires in Hawaii on the island of Maui, I wanted to pick a Hawaiian themed book to review for this month and by chance, stumbled across this wonderful picture book which was a Stonewall Honor Book in 2022.

Long ago, before Kakuhihewa ruled Oahu, four Tahitians journeyed across the ocean from their home in Moaulanuiakea to Hawaii.

So begins Kapaemahu written by Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, Dean Hamer, and Joe Wilson, illustrated by Daniel Sousa, and published by Kokila (an imprint of Penguin Random House). The book is based on an animated short film also titled Kapaemahu created by the same team. The film was shortlisted for an Oscar at the 2021 Academy Awards, and has won critical acclaim and many awards worldwide.

The story continues sharing rich details about these four visitors who came to live in Waikiki. They were mahu. Mahu are dual-spirit people who encompass male and female. The leader of these mahu was named Kapaemahu. All four mahu possessed great healing powers and helped the Hawaiian people. To show their gratitude, the people erected a monument in the mahus’ honor.

Four large boulders were placed on the beach and during a ceremony, the mahu transferred their healing powers to the stones and then vanished. The stones continued as a sacred place for the people of Oahu for a long time. During the period when white settlers came to colonize the Hawaiian islands, the stones were forgotten and buried under new construction. Fortunately, the stones have been recovered and given a place of honor once again on Waikiki Beach.

This beautiful cultural story of Hawaii is shared by Wong-Kalu in both English and in Olelo Niihau (the only form of Hawaiian that has been continuously spoken since before the arrival of foreigners). Hawaiian, when spoken aloud, is a lilting and beautiful language. Sousa’s illustrations, rich with colors, are done in a style that evokes Polynesian sculpture and art.

Backmatter includes the history of the healer stones, information about Olelo Niiahu, author’s notes, and a glossary. Many of the islands of the South Pacific culturally embrace dual-spirit people. No one thinks twice about the concept of nonbinary. Unfortunately, Hawaii has gone through a period of gender minority discrimination, even suppressing the connection of the mahu with these ancient healing stones. Stories like this one can help show the link of gender diversity to our history and make the future more inclusive.

“Filled with cultural details and beautifully illustrated in vibrant tropical colors, the book pays homage to Indigenous Hawaiian healing traditions and affirms two-spirit people.” (Kirkus reviews)

Wishing all the peoples of Hawaii healing as they recover from the Maui fires.

Simply Skye

As a postscript to International Nonbinary Peoples Day, this month I am reviewing a brand-new rainbow picture book. Simply Skye is written by Pamela Morgan, illustrated by Heather Bell, and published by Amicus Ink.

“Skye wasn’t made to be a boy or a girl.” This is how main character, Avi, introduces us to the doll, Skye. Avi describes various reasons why Skye isn’t a girl and isn’t a boy. Skye and Avi participate in different types of play with Avi’s sister, Angela, and Avi’s brother, Andrew. Avi likes dressing up for tea parties and playing pirates with Skye, but knows neither activity defines who both Avi and Skye are. This is cause for concern. Will the family accept Skye as neither boy nor girl? Will they accept Avi? 

Pamela Morgan, herself the parent of a nonbinary child, handles this subject with sensitivity and care. While the family begins the story thinking in terms of binary gender, they come to understand that Avi and Skye do not fit in this construct. Mommy, Daddy, Angela, and Andrew all let Avi know it is okay to be whoever Avi is. Avi will be accepted and loved.

Heather Bell’s illustrations capture a softness appropriate for the topic, but also the whimsy of childhood play. Avi’s family is drawn as mixed race, with Avi’s (and Skye’s) race presented as an undefined shade. I love this – it really adds to the universality of the topic. Gender issues affect families from all races, backgrounds, and ethnicities. I think my favorite illustration is the final one. Avi is wearing a yellow t-shirt with the nonbinary flag emblazoned on it. Skye is also wearing a yellow shirt. Even though Skye’s back is to the reader, you can assume Skye’s t-shirt matches Avi’s. They are “Simply Avi. Simply Skye.”

My own Thing 1 did not come out as nonbinary until they were in their 20’s. Had they understood their gender dysphoria more as a young child, this is the book I would’ve wanted to have in our house – to let them know they could be whoever they wanted to be and we would always love them. Thanks to Pamela and Heather for creating this wonderful gem of a picture book.

S is for Soccer, Sometimes

This month is the start of the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Anyone who knows me knows that I’m not a fan of soccer. I played one disastrous season when I was 10 and said, “Never again.” Thankfully, Thing 1 and Thing 2 only played a couple of seasons of AYSO. With one exception, I would rather rearrange my sock drawer than watch soccer on TV. That exception is the USWNT – the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team.

The strength, fortitude, ability, and teamwork of these women always blows me away. I also truly love that no one seems to care if any of the players are queer or straight. From rookies like Alyssa Thompson to veteran Megan Rapinoe (with her trademark pink hair), I can’t wait to see how our team does this year. 

In honor of the World Cup, I am reviewing Courage in Her Cleats: The Story of Soccer Star Abby Wambach written by Kim Chaffee, illustrated by Alexandra Badiu, and published by Page Street Kids, 2023.

Abby Wambach was an incredible soccer player who retired in 2015. As stated in the book’s backmatter, during her career on the U.S. Women’s National Team, Abby scored 184 international goals; more than any other U.S. soccer player, male or female. She’s won Olympic gold medals, the FIFA World Cup, and was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame. Abby is also lesbian and happily married to her wife, author Glennon Doyle.

Kim Chaffee’s text highlights Abby’s soccer journey from determined child to tough teenager to triumphant professional. Abby’s motto was always “be loud and clear”, and she used that motto to help lead the Women’s National Team. Chaffee includes several incidents during Abby’s life and career when things didn’t go her way – missed goals, lost games, and injuries. These were tough, “but Abby was tougher.”

Alexandra Badiu’s whimsical illustrations are vibrant and impart the energy and movement of the soccer players with showers of color and shooting stars.

“Though the book focuses solely on Abby’s soccer career—rather than her activism, published books, or other interests—it’s nevertheless a strong work, featuring lively onomatopoeia and threaded with a joyful spirit of perseverance.” (Kirkus reviews)

Wishing the entire USWNT the best of luck in the World Cup and hopefully, we will all be throwing up our hands, yelling, “GOAL!!!!!!!!” a whole heck of a lot. My sock drawer will just have to wait.

L is for Love

First off, thank you, my followers, for your patience as my broken arm heals. I’ve regained full mobility in my elbow and wrist which is a great improvement. However, there is nerve damage in my left hand, and right now, I cannot feel anything in my index finger and part of my palm. As I’m left-handed, this makes writing and typing a bit more challenging. As you can imagine, this has put me a bit behind regarding posts. So, here is the blog post I had planned to share back in March.

On February 27, I became the luckiest person in the world. My wonderful, amazing, nonbinary kiddo, Thing 1, got married. They found a true match for themself, and Doug and I couldn’t be happier. Every time I get to say “daughter-in-law”, my heart jumps and I let off a squeal of delight. As with my two kids, I will not be using my DIL’s actual name, but refer to her as “Sally” – continuing with my Cat in the Hat motif. The wedding was held in Canada (where Sally lives). Thing 1 plans to emigrate to Canada and the two of them will live there. Doug and I attended the wedding via Zoom (plane tickets were unbelievably expensive). It was a small ceremony with a Canadian Marriage Commissioner and a couple of witnesses. Watching my firstborn pledge themself to their true love was so beautiful. I was both grinning and crying at the same time – yes, you can do that. I’m so proud of the adult Thing 1 has become, and seeing them take this next step in their life was breathtaking. Our family has grown in a wonderful way, and Thing 1 and Sally are starting their own unique family together.

Sally & Thing 1 on their wedding day

In keeping with these feelings of love and family, I want to share a new picture book I found. Love Without Bounds: An IntersectionAllies Book about Families by Drs. Chelsea Johnson, LaToya Council, and Carolyn Choi and illustrated by Ashley Seil Smith is published by Dottir Press.

As the Letter to Readers at the beginning says, this book “celebrates the people we love and who love us.” The authors use a bouncy, rhyming text to present all types of families – big, small, straight, gay, black, brown, white, etc. The story includes families with adoption, families separated by military deployment or incarceration, interracial families, interfaith families, divorced families, and the families we choose when our given families can’t give us what we need. 

“So, what does family really mean?
They’re the people who love us and make us feel seen.

The folks who give us time and care
by sharing with us and just being there.

A shoulder to lean on, a space to be free –
whoever gives us that is our family.”

Smith’s collage-style illustrations present a smorgasbord of colors to go with all these different, beautiful families shown. I particularly love how the drawings are done in a minimalistic style. All colors, ethnicities, races, and abilities are presented, adding to the universality of the words “love” and “family”.

A discussion guide and bibliography at the back of the book makes a great jumping off point for continued learning between child and reader. 

A terrific addition to any family library. I will be sure to give a copy to Thing 1 and Sally when they have children. As we approach Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and Pride Month, I wish you, and whatever form your family takes, nothing but love.

Kind Like Marsha

Kind. Inventive. Determined. Inclusive. Creative. These are just some of the adjectives used in Kind Like Marsha: Learning From LGBTQ+ Leaders written by Sarah Prager and illustrated by Cheryl “Ras” Thuesday. This brand-new picture book leads the reader on a journey exploring fourteen diverse, global, queer leaders throughout history.

Prager has chosen one affirmative adjective to represent each of the fourteen; along with a micro-biography and a quote from that person. The reader is urged that they, too, can be like this person:

• Kind like Marsha P. Johnson
• Inclusive like Harvey Milk
• Creative like Leonardo Da Vinci
• Smart like Lynn Conway

Each queer leader is accompanied by one of Thuesday’s Caribbean/Asian influenced illustrations. Their vibrancy captures the reader’s imagination and echoes Prager’s text descriptions, including visual hints to each person’s lifework.

“Avoiding any discussion of violence against LGBTQ+ communities and the resulting trauma, this collective biography is a helpful starting point for children who would benefit from a gentler entry point into sensitive histories. Older readers may find this survey too simple to be engaging, but caregivers, educators, and librarians can use it to prime younger children for eventual deeper dives into the lives and struggles of LGBTQ+ icons.” (Kirkus reviews)

Kind Like Marsha is a beautiful addition to our ever-expanding treasury of queer picture books. A must-have for all families, queer and otherwise.

It Feels Good to Be Yourself

“Some people are boys. Some people are girls. Some people are both, neither, or somewhere in between.”

So begins the captivating 2019 picture book It Feels Good to Be Yourself: A Book About Gender Identity written by Theresa Thorn, illustrated by Noah Grigni, and published by Henry Holt and Company.

Throughout the book, four different children are presented with a description of each child’s gender identity. The gender identities – transgender, cisgender, and non-binary – are explained in simple language readers of all ages can understand. Author, Theresa Thorn, tells us that genders are assigned when a baby is born, based on the baby’s body. But that gender assignment isn’t always correct. We don’t always know a child’s gender identity until that child is able to tell us how they see themself. Gender can be fluid, and how a person feels today may not be how that person feels in the future. Noah Grigni’s vibrant illustrations reinforce the uplifting message that gender is a spectrum where a child can identify themself anywhere they feel is right for them. All types of families, skin shades, ethnicities, and ableness are represented, providing a mirror for all children to see themselves in.

“Among gender-centered picture books, this one stands out for its dazzling #ownvoices art and its simple yet nuanced phrasing—particularly when Ruthie shares her true gender with her family, and her parents (an interracial couple) respond with a loving group hug. “Oops! Ruthie was a girl all along—they just didn’t know it at first.” Giving kids and adults a hopeful model for discussing (and embracing) one another’s gender is just one of the gifts offered by this valuable narrative.” (Kirkus Reviews)

The goal of It Feels Good to Be Yourself is to assure readers the most important thing regarding their gender is to be true to themselves and know they are okay exactly the way they are. Backmatter includes an age-appropriate glossary, a note about pronouns, and helpful resources. This picture book is a wonderful treasure for families looking to teach and learn about gender. I highly recommend adding it to your library.

Troublemaker for Justice

In honor of Black History Month, I’m reviewing the middle grade/YA book Troublemaker for Justice: The Story of Bayard Rustin, the Man Behind the March on Washington by Jacqueline Houtman, Walter Naegle, and Michael G. Long, published by City Lights Press in 2019. 

Bayard Rustin was one of the key figures in the American Civil Rights Movement and a close associate of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He was African American, he was gay, and he was unapologetic about both.

I found this to be an incredibly informative book about a man of whom I knew little. The prose is written in a clear, straightforward style, and the pages are filled with historical photos and sidebars of additional details. Rustin’s entire life is chronicled by Houtman and Long with input from Rustin’s longtime partner, Naegle.

The book spans Rustin’s Quaker upbringing through Civil Rights to his work in later years helping refugees around the world. With every page, my respect and admiration for Bayard Rustin grew. I highly recommend this book for kids and adults wanting to learn more about one of the most important activists of the 20th century. 

“In today’s political landscape, this volume is a lesson in the courage to live according to one’s truth and the dedication it takes to create a better world.” (Kirkus Review)

Voted a Best Book of the Year by School Library Journal and Kirkus Reviews

Fast Facts about Bayard Rustin

• Bayard was raised by his grandparents (Julia and Janifer Rustin) whom he believed for many years to be his parents. His mother was actually, his older “sister” Florence. 
• When his school teachers tried to convert Bayard from left-handed to right-handed (as was the custom at that time), Julia told the school to leave Bayard left-handed.
• Bayard had a beautiful tenor singing voice. It won him scholarships, membership in a blues group, and even a short stint on Broadway!
• In 1942, Bayard protested segregation on public buses by sitting in the “whites only” section on a bus from Kentucky to Tennessee. This was 13 years before Rosa Parks.
• Bayard was a strong supporter of Israel and became friends with Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir. She once made him chicken soup when he had a cold.
• A lifelong pacifist (a product of his Quaker upbringing), Bayard registered as a Conscientious Objector during WWII, and was sentenced to three years in prison for refusing to fight in the military.
• It was Bayard who taught Martin Luther King Jr about non-violent protest. Bayard had learned the value of non-violence from Julia and the teachings of Gandhi.

Adventures with my Daddies

This year has seen a flood of new Rainbow Reads (LGBTQ books) for children. It’s wonderful to have more and more stories for our queer children to see themselves and their families represented in. Adventures with My Daddies, written by Gareth Peter and illustrated by Garry Parsons, is one of these new picture books.

The light and bouncy rhyming text keeps the story flowing as a young child explains why they love their daddies so much as the three of them journey through their bedtime ritual. “Adventures” is the perfect word for the title, as the bedtime stories that are read lead this family on all kinds of adventures – from battling dragons to blasting off to the moon. The daddies’ favorite story, not surprising, is the one of their child’s adoption.

Gareth Peter’s words reveal the love this family shares, and Garry Parsons’ vibrant drawings are filled with detail – the adorable family dog appears in every spread, adding to the fun. A variety of families, ethnicities, and races are shown throughout the book. One of the daddies is white and the other is African American. The child is illustrated as mixed race. Families are presented with two mommies, a mom and a dad, and, of course, two daddies.

“The story is simple and treads familiar ground, but it does so in such a tender way that readers will enjoy returning to it again and again. Those with pajama storytime programs and families looking for their next great bedtime read will find this book particularly useful. A sweet adventure.” (Kirkus reviews)

Book review

“Most mommies are girls. Most daddies are boys. But lots of parents are neither a boy nor a girl. Like my Maddy.”

So begins My Maddy (written by Gayle E. Pitman and illustrated by Violet Tobacco), my next 2021 ALA Rainbow List picture book read. 

In this book, we are invited into a young child’s beautiful relationship with her nonbinary parent, her Maddy (mash-up of Mommy and Daddy). Readers are introduced to the concept of a parent whose gender identity and outer expression don’t fit the typical mommy or daddy, but are something special, “in between, and kind of both”. As the story unfolds, this in between-ness is seen and celebrated in nature, eye color, even eating utensils!

“Particularly noteworthy is the heartwarming scene when the Maddy kisses their kid goodbye before dropping them off at school: Beside a glowing portrait of the beaming family, the text reads, “Maddy’s kisses feel like sandpaper against my face.” Such positive images of gender-nonconforming presentations are rare in children’s literature, making this a valuable addition to any school, public, or personal library for its engaging art and accessible representation for a wide age range.” (Kirkus review)

Violet Tobacco’s illustrations are vibrant and colorful yet contain a softness that exudes the love between the Maddy and their child. The book’s backmatter is full of helpful information on nonbinary, intersex, parent transitions, and resources. This book is perfect for any parent, caregiver, or educator trying to explain the concept of nonbinary to a young child.

This book grabbed my heart the minute I saw the cover. The Maddy reminds me so much of my nonbinary adult child, Thing 1. Thing 1 has brownish-blonde hair, hazel eyes, wears glasses, and is tall – just like the Maddy in this story. I felt as though Gayle Pitman and Violet Tobacco were speaking directly to me, sharing a potential future of Thing 1 with a child of their own and the complete joy of their relationship.

Another terrific read that I recommend for all.