Jacob loves playing dress-up, when he can be anything he wants to be. Some kids at school say he can’t wear “girl” clothes, but Jacob wants to wear a dress to school. Can he convince his parents to let him wear what he wants? This heartwarming story speaks to the unique challenges faced by boys who don’t identify with traditional gender roles.
An ideal companion for families and educators: upbeat yet realistic, astute about peer dynamics, and blessedly lacking in a sermonizing Big Moment.
A welcome addition to the recent uptick in picture books about gender nonconforming kids.
The warm cartoon illustrations convey the mood well and offer readers visual clues to the cruelty, teasing, and struggle with self-acceptance that can occur when children are different from their peers. Purchase this one to encourage discussions of gender, identity, and self-confidence.
A warmly illustrated picture book meant to comfort both boys who are gender nonconforming and their parents…Jacob’s mom’s look of concern when he first asks about the dress is poignant, and his dad’s words of acceptance (“Well, it’s not what I would wear, but you look great”) could easily serve as a model for fathers in similar positions.
Cute illustrations and realistic dialogue convey the struggles of this proud, determined young boy.
Case’s softly colored cartoonlike illustrations nicely expand the spirit of this important book, which—one hopes—will provide reassurance to children like Jacob and inspire thoughtful discussion.
