Are you a boy or are you a girl book

[RevolvingPivot]

My kids know about transgender / being born in the opposite sex (I've probably not used those definitions correct but I don't know the terminology) etc but i don't think a lot of 8 year olds would understand the point of the book.

They read it in school yesterday.

Thoughts?

This is not a bashing thread I know kids how to be educated about these things.

Oh yes - I forgot that. Send a copy to my littlest niece. Older ones for the ickabog.

My dd has these

We've got that book at home and it's shite. Everyone in the entire book is a walking gender stereotype apart from Tiny. There's no challenge to a heavily gendered worldview - Dad is a bus driver, Mum pushes the pram; Dad builds a bed, Mum washes Tiny's top ready for school; Mum and sister have long hair and dresses, Dad has short hair and trousers. The children are surprised by a "lady firefighter" (FFS).

I thought it was actively the opposite of what it hopes to be - the message is meant to be "cast off the shackles of gender," but unfortunately what comes across is "everyone happily conforms to gender stereotypes except the very unusual child who gets bullied and feels they have to keep their sex a secret."

DD was just nonplussed by it.

Can anyone recommend any other books

I thought it was actively the opposite of what it hopes to be - the message is meant to be "cast off the shackles of gender," but unfortunately what comes across is "everyone happily conforms to gender stereotypes except the very unusual child who gets bullied and feels they have to keep their sex a secret."

Seems also to lay the responsibility to "change" the bully onto a child who despite their efforts still gets grief at the end so the bully effectively learns nothing

Books that do what OP?

Written by Fox Fisher but not to do with being transgender? Pull the other one.

My Body is Me by Rachel Rooney would be a much better choice.

Ohhh. And I’m going to write a book about eating steak.

@RevolvingPivot

Can anyone recommend any other books

My body is me is great but it's a bit young for your daughter (as is this one I'd have thought).

What do you want your child to learn? That they can be anything they want?

Accidental Pirates books are great - well written and no one is constrained by their sex

@RevolvingPivot

Can anyone recommend any other books

It's Okay To Be Different, Todd Parr - it's easy enough for a tiny child but could prompt some interesting conversations with an older child

My Body Is Me - Rachel Rooney - and Girls Can Do Anything - Caryl Hart although they're a bit young for an 8yo (mind you, so is Am I A Girl or Am I A Boy)

Bill's New Frock - Anne Fine

Any of the Little People, Big Dreams books.

We have the little people big dream books. They don't like reading though!!!

Why does the sister ask "are you a girl or a boy today?" I can't imagine anyone's sibling giving two hoots, they are more interested in whether their big brother will play with them and share.

Someone mentioned disability images in books. I've found they give a very shiny gloss to disability - like the cousin in Fireman Sam who uses a wheelchair but seems to be completely unimpaired in any way. The kids in our family in wheelchairs aren't winning at football, they took surgery and a month of physio to do even a kick. But it wouldn't make a good book to say "actually disability is hard work and can be exhausting, but I still want to play and be accepted".

Why does the sister ask "are you a girl or a boy today?"

It seems that the answer lies in what stereotypes the main character is adopting.

@KarmaViolet

We've got that book at home and it's shite. Everyone in the entire book is a walking gender stereotype apart from Tiny. There's no challenge to a heavily gendered worldview - Dad is a bus driver, Mum pushes the pram; Dad builds a bed, Mum washes Tiny's top ready for school; Mum and sister have long hair and dresses, Dad has short hair and trousers. The children are surprised by a "lady firefighter" (FFS).

I thought it was actively the opposite of what it hopes to be - the message is meant to be "cast off the shackles of gender," but unfortunately what comes across is "everyone happily conforms to gender stereotypes except the very unusual child who gets bullied and feels they have to keep their sex a secret."

DD was just nonplussed by it.

Yes this is absolutely true. How depressing