serendipity421's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
koikoi97's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
liketheflower7's review against another edition
4.75
Gorgeous. I love the art style, I love the story it tells. It reads almost like a folktale and is all about owning every little piece about you, no matter how different it may make you. The main character doesn’t have a gender or even a species, but is loved unconditionally by their mother anyway. There’s a sweet rhyme that is repeated throughout the book as well as a generally beautiful story and artwork.
misscalije's review against another edition
4.0
There is a pervasive transphobic logic that suggests that 'allowing' trans people to exist peacefully will allow others to claim they are '''''actually''''' animals and other ridiculous things. It's a false equivalency mess that I don't care to go into at this point. It was and is used a lot in conversations about trans people's right to pee in public restrooms.
This book wholeheartedly ignores that mess, and I've decided that if Thom wishes to use a character who can perform fantastical shapshifts as a metaphor for existing outside the box in many ways, that's cool with me.
I also enjoy how the narrative employs the same lullaby technique as other picture books (I'll Love You Forever comes to mind).
My main critique is of the cover art. I don't know if I would have bought this book if it hadn't been recommended to me. It just doesn't represent the content of the book; I thought it was a story about a transgender sea slug (which is fine, but the book is more complex than that).
This book wholeheartedly ignores that mess, and I've decided that if Thom wishes to use a character who can perform fantastical shapshifts as a metaphor for existing outside the box in many ways, that's cool with me.
I also enjoy how the narrative employs the same lullaby technique as other picture books (I'll Love You Forever comes to mind).
My main critique is of the cover art. I don't know if I would have bought this book if it hadn't been recommended to me. It just doesn't represent the content of the book; I thought it was a story about a transgender sea slug (which is fine, but the book is more complex than that).
theshenners's review against another edition
5.0
I first found and read this in a bookstore in the Bay Area in 2017 and teared up in the bookstore. I bought it on the spot. A beautiful love letter to trans/nonbinary and gender-nonconforming kids :')
augustgreatsword's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
toasternoodle's review against another edition
This was a magical, sweet little children's story about a child who doesn't want or have to choose their identity. The author uses they/them pronouns in the book and the child's mother is a supportive and loving figure throughout.
nafu's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
to read to the children in my life
kieran317's review against another edition
5.0
I bought a number of books by non-binary, trans, and queer authors for Pride month, including this children's book. I cannot stress enough HOW ADORABLE AND PERFECT THIS BOOK IS. It's about a genderfluid / non-binary child (using they/them pronouns) and the love their mother has for them. Despite being bullied in school and struggling with who they are (bc they can also shapeshift :) ), their mother always sings a resounding chorus of- I believe in you, I love you, I believe in you; embrace you. And is this not the message we want to give younger folks?? Why keep having them painstakingly weed through layer upon layer of society's ideas of who they are and who they should be when we can start introducing them to the idea that they don't have to be anything or anyone but themselves. Not to mention the representation matters and could mean the world to a nonbinary, genderfluid, trans, and gender-bending folks. Introduce them to accepting others early- all while enjoying a sweet story and beautiful illustrations.