There is another book you can check out if you are looking for a non-gender conforming book, Felix’s New Skirt. Felix is a boy. He likes skirts. He likes how it feels and how easy it is to move in them. He even borrows his sisters. But, of course, people in the neighborhood and his classmates do not accept it. It is not until Felix’s dad finds a solution that things start to work out for everyone.
This for the reader who likes books about being yourself, even if that means you are not “in the norm” when it comes to your dress. Literally. While I do not think that any of these books will necessarily change your mind on the subject, they might make people think about the theme a bit.
It reminds me of 1972’s William’s Doll by Charlotte Zolotow or 1979’s Oliver Button Is a Sissy by Tomie dePaola in telling a needed story about being different.
Overall, Kerstin Brichzin’s book is not overly preachy and mostly realistic (i.e.: I am not sure how realistic it is that most people who eventually start to accept Felix do as quickly as they did. Or if all dads would do what Felix’s dad does). It is interesting how all of Felix’s immediate family (mom, dad, sister) do accept him. Perhaps there was some build-up “behind the scenes” that is not really needed, but you know it probably was there.
Igor Kuprin’s illustrations are nice. Nice colors. Nice presentation. Nice cures and lines and expressions. There are not overpowering, or too bold. They are soft. Therefore, this is a nice book. There is nothing “wrong” with it. It is just a book telling its story.
If there is an issue for me, I would like to see less acceptance of the family (at first) and then working up to the acceptance. Yet, that might be a longer book and not a picture book.