Books That Heal Kids: gender role stereotypes

Showing posts with label gender role stereotypes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gender role stereotypes. Show all posts

Book Review: I Love My Colorful Nails

Author: Alicia Acosta and Luis Amavisca
Illustrator: Gusti

From the Book Jacket: Ben liked painting his nails, until some of the kids at school started teasing him. When Dad realized why Ben was sad, he decided to paint his nails too.  

Why It's On My Bookshelf: Ben likes to paint his nails but is teased at school by boys telling him that painting your nails is only for girls. They start calling him a "girl" as a putdown. Ben feels horrible and can't understand why they would tease him. It makes him incredibly sad. He shares what happened with his family and his dad paints his own nails to support him. But the teasing continues at school. A girl tries to get people to stop teasing him by telling them to leave him alone. Ben decides he will now only paint his nails on the weekend because he doesn't want the kids at school to laugh at him. But on Ben's birthday he goes to school and is met with the kids shouting "Happy Birthday!" And everyone, even the teacher, has their nails panted in support of Ben. 

I really loved this book and although it's hard to see Ben be treated this way - sadly it happens everyday to kids. I love how the class decides to support him. This is an important one to share!

A Link to This Book: 
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Book Review: Jacob's Room to Choose

Author: Sarah and Ian Hoffman
Illustrator: Chris Case

From the Book Jacket: What's the worst part of the day for Jacob, a boy who wears a dress to school? Using the bathroom. Jacob loves to go to class and the library. But when he tries to use the boys' bathroom, other kids mistake him for a girl and chase him out. Scared and confused, Jacob confides in his friend Sophie, a classmate, who had the same thing happen when she tried to use the girls' room. 

When Jacob and Sophie join forces with their teacher, they give everyone at their school the idea to choose which bathroom feels right for them! Jacob's Room to Choose is an empowering
book that encourages change to open (bathroom) doors everywhere and create safe spaces for all kids. The need for open access bathrooms is more urgent than ever before. This book will start meaningful discussions to spark action. 

Why It's On My Bookshelf: This has been a very supportive and helpful book for students at my school. It feels so great as a school counselor to be able to pull this resource off my shelf to make sure students' may use the bathroom they choose based on their own gender expression. It also helps to establish expectations of kindness and empathy from other students. It's important kids feel safe at school and once we help take down the stereotypes - these issues really start to become non-issues. 

A Link to This Book: 
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Book Reviews: Pink is For Boys and Want to Play Trucks?

From the Book Jacket: Pink is for boys. And girls. And for lots of other things, too! Boys can like colors other than blue, and girls can like colors other than purple. Every color is for everyone! This is a celebration of every girl, every boy, and all the colors of the rainbow. 


From the Book Jacket: Jack likes trucks - big ones, the kind that can wreck things. Alex likes dolls - pink ones, with sparkles. And tutus. What will they play in the sandbox? Their new favorite game, of course!

Why They Are On My Bookshelf: I'm always searching for books that display positive examples about gender stereotypes. These are two awesome resources that gently approach this situation. I've used both of these in the kindergarten setting. A lot of the responses from kids were- of course girls and boys can like whatever colors or toys they want! I'm happy to see kids are already getting this message but it's good to have reinforcing stories to encourage acceptance and to respect others. 

A Link to These Books: 

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Book Review: Sparkle Boy and Julian is a Mermaid

Author: Leslea Newman
Illustrator: Maria Mola

From the Book Jacket: Casey loves to play with his blocks, puzzles, and dump truck, but he also loves things that sparkle, shimmer, and glitter. When his older sister, Jessie, shows off her new shimmery skirt, Casey wants to wear a shimmery skirt too. When Jessie comes home from a party with glittery nails, Casey wants glittery nails too. And when Abuelita visits wearing an armful of sparkly bracelets, Casey gets one to wear, just like Jessie. The adults in Casey's life embrace his interests, but Jessie isn't so sure. Boys aren't supposed to wear sparkly, shimmery, glittery things. Then, when older boys at the library tease Casey for wearing "girl" things, Jessie realizes that Casey has the right to be himself and wear whatever he wants. Why can't both she and Casey love all things shimmery, glittery, and sparkly? Here is a sweet, heartwarming story about acceptance, respect, and the freedom to be yourself in a world where any gender expression should be celebrated. Sparkly things are for everyone to enjoy! 


Author/Illustrator: Jessica Love

From the Book Jacket: Every Saturday morning, Julian and his abuela go swimming. But the day Julian spies three women on the subway, everything changes. He is entranced by their beautiful hair, their swishy, shimmering mermaid gowns, ant their total confidence. When Julian gets home, all he can thing of is becoming a mermaid himself. But what will Abuela think? 





Why They Are On My Bookshelf: Be true to yourself. That is the message in both of these books. I love to read stories to kids that challenge gender stereotypes and let kids know it's perfectly okay to be whatever and whoever you want to be. PERIOD!

A Link to These Books: 
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Book Review: I am Jazz

Authors: Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings
Illustrator: Shelagh McNicholas
Interest Level: Ages 5 and Up

From the Book Jacket: From the time she was two years old, Jazz knew that she had a girl's brain in a boy's body. She loved pink, and dressing up as a mermaid and didn't feel like herself in boy's clothing. This confused her family, until they took her to a doctor who diagnosed Jazz as transgender and explained that she was born this way. Jazz's story is based on her real-life experience and she tells it in a simple, clear way that will be appreciated by picture book readers, their parents, and teachers.  

Why It's On My Bookshelf: So happy to see Jazz's book published. I have seen her interviews with Barbara Walters and Oprah. She is so inspiring. I think a lot of kids who have gone through this probably wished they had a book like this growing up. The book does such a great job helping kids understand what it means to be transgender. She also shares the challenges she faced with teachers and kids. But she overcomes it because she stays true to her IDENTITY. Such a great resource. Thank you, Jazz, for helping kids!










Learn more about Jazz here:
www.transkidspurplerainbow.org

A Link to This Book and Others You Might Find Helpful:
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Book Review: Jacob's New Dress

Authors: Sarah and Ian Hoffman
Illustrator: Chris Case
Interest Level: Ages 4 and Up
Book Website: http://www.sarahandianhoffman.com

From the Book Jacket: Some kids say boys can't wear "girl" clothes - but why not? Jacob loves playing dress-up, when he can be anything he wants to be - a pirate, a bird, a fireman! But he also wants to just be himself and wear his favorite thing... a dress!

Now Jacob has a new dress that he made himself and what he wants most of all is to wear it to school. Will Mom and Dad let him? This heartwarming story speaks to the unique challenges faced by boys who don't identify with traditional gender roles.

Why It's On My Bookshelf: This is such a supportive and wonderfully written book for gender nonconforming children. I was delighted to see it was published and can only imagine what a wonderful help it will be to children and families. 

As a school counselor, I'd like to not just see this on my bookshelf but on the shelves in school libraries and teachers' classrooms. We are part of these kiddos support teams. We have a responsibility to educate kids that there is not a single thing wrong with gender nonconformity. Books have power and can teach acceptance. I think this is a book to be shared with ALL children. 

A Link to This Book and Others You Might Find Helpful: 
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Book Review: Pink!

Author: Lynne Rickards
Illustrator: Margaret Chamberlain
Interest Level: Ages 5-9

From the Book Jacket: When Patrick finds out he's turned bright pink, he sees RED! "Whoever heard of a pink penguin?" he cries. "And boys can't be pink!" The doctor checks her big medical book, but cases of pink penguins are very rare indeed. Patrick has soon had enough of being teased at school. "I don't fit in here anymore," he tells his parents. Then he packs up his pajamas and sets off on a long journey to a land where there are lots of pink birds, both boys and girls! Does Patrick belong with them?

Why It's On My Bookshelf: Okay, hold onto your hats people. I found a PINK penguin to go along with this wonderful book. You see....this is what makes a story come alive! And this is what helps deliver the important message of acceptance. We recently had a new student start at our school who looked VERY different from other kids. I went around speaking to classes about this particular child and how to be a kind caring friend. Lots of kids started naming books and characters we have studied in books that also face challenges because of their physical differences. Warms my heart to know they REMEMBER. I'm pretty sure Pink! is going to have the same effect. Now I just gotta get some black and white penguins to really put on a show.
not my best photography work

A teacher over at the blog Just Add Clipart had her students make these adorable pink penguins:
image via Just Add Clipart
 I'm thinking I am going to tweak this lesson a little bit next year to add an element of social/emotional writing.  

We can get so caught up in physical differences and even to the point where we start seeing it as a negative thing which often can lead to bullying. I use books like this throughout the school year - not just once. Glad to add this one to my collection. 

A Link to This Book:
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Book Review: My Princess Boy


Author: Cheryl Kilodavis
Illustrator: Suzanne DeSimone
Book Website: www.myprincessboy.com
Interest Level: Ages 4-8

From the Book Jacket: This little boy loves the color pink, and Sparkly things. Sometimes he wears dresses, and sometimes he wears jeans. He likes to wear his princess tiara crown, even when climbing trees. He's a Princess Boy, and his family loves him exactly the way he is. Inspired by her son, and by her own struggles to initially understand, this is one mother's story about unconditional love, and one remarkable family. 

Why It's On My Bookshelf: I applaud author and mother Cheryl Kilodavis for writing such an important and beautiful book. Kids learn stereotypes at a very young age. When we put someone in a stereotypical role, out the door goes acceptance and understanding and in comes judgment and division. 

My Princess Boy is an encouraging story that helps kids to not take part in stereotyping behavior. One of the important parts of this book is when the put-downs and teasing happen. It's very hurtful.  Right away students said, "That is not okay to bully him!"  

The author writes:
If you see a Princess Boy...
Will you laugh at him?
Will you call him a name?
Will you play with him?
Will you like him for who he is?

WOW. Powerful. I didn't even have to create discussion questions. They are right there in the pages. I'm so thankful I am able to use literature like this to break down stereotypes. Lets connect kids now at a young age so they don't have to experience pain or hurt each other as they grow up. It doesn't matter if boys like pink, if girls play with trucks, or if boys want to play with dolls. All that matters is that we are loved, respected, and accepted for who we are inside and out. 

Other Children's Books Breaking Down Gender Role Stereotypes:

William's Doll
Author: Charlotte Zolotow

More than anything, William wants a doll. "Don't be a creep," says his brother. "Sissy, sissy," chants the boy next door. Then one day someone really understands William's wish, and makes it easy for others to understand, too. 




Oliver Button Is a Sissy 
Author: Tomie dePaula
A little boy must come to terms with being teased and ostracized because he'd rather read books, paint pictures, and tap-dance than participate in sports.
 


Amazing Grace (Reading Rainbow Books)
Author: Mary Hoffman
Grace loves to act out stories. She eventually overcomes restrictions of gender and race to play the part of her dreams, Peter Pan, in the school play. 



The Story of Ferdinand (Reading Railroad Books)Author: Munro Leaf
All the other bulls would run and jump and butt their heads together. But Ferdinand would rather sit and smell the flowers. So what will happen when our pacifist hero is picked for the bullfights in Madrid? 


Ira Sleeps Over
Author: Bernard Waber
When Ira is invited to sleep over at Reggie's house, he must decide whether to take his beloved teddy bear. In the end, he learns that it is acceptable for boys to have teddy bears. 


When I Grow Up (Little Critter) (Look-Look)
Author: Mercer Mayer
Little Critter’s sister dreams about all the wonderful things she’s going to do when she grows up. She imagines being a great ballet dancer, a world-famous doctor, a race-car driver, and more! 



Author: Todd Parr
It's okay to need some help. It's okay to be a different color. It's okay to talk about your feelings. It's okay to make a wish... It's Okay to Be Different.


Pinky And Rex And The Bully (Ready-To-Read Level 3)
Author: James Howe
Pinky's favorite color is pink, and his best friend, Rex, is a girl. Kevin, the third-grade bully, says that makes Pinky a sissy. Deep down, Pinky thinks Kevin is wrong, but he's still worried. Does Pinky have to give up his favorite things, and worse, does he have to give up his best friend? 


Best Friends for Frances (I Can Read Book 2)
Author: Russell Hoban

Frances doesn't think her little sister, Gloria, can be her friend. But when Frances's friend Albert has a no-girls baseball game, Frances shows him a thing or two about friendship—and a thing or two about what girls can do. Along the way, Frances discovers that sisters can indeed be friends . . . maybe even best friends.

Players In Pigtails (Scholastic Bookshelf)
Author: Shana Corey
In a delightful tribute to the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League created during World War II - this story focuses on Katie Casey, who preferred "sliding to sewing" and "batting to baking" and is a "baseball-mad" girl! Determined Katie makes it all the way to the big leagues and finds a sisterhood of friends and players. 

Sam Johnson and the Blue Ribbon Quilt
Author: Lisa Campbell Ernst
When Sam Johnson inadvertently discovers how much fun sewing can be, he tries to join the Rosedale Women's Quilting Club. "Don't be silly," the club president says. "We can't have a man here bungling everything!" But Sam Johnson won't take no for an answer. 
Author: James Howe
Horace, Morris, and Dolores have been best friends forever. They do everything together -- from sailing the seven sewers to climbing Mount Ever-Rust. But one day Horace and Morris join the Mega-Mice (no girls allowed), and Dolores joins the Cheese Puffs (no boys allowed). Is this the end? Or will Horace and Morris but mostly Dolores find a way to save the day -- and their friendship? 

If you have book suggestions, please put the title in the comments section below. Thanks! 
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