I saw the title on my online reader list (though it is available), My Guncle and Me. Okay, (I thought) another gay uncle story. Cool. There are a few for kids, usually the uncle is pretty flamboyant, and that’s the moral of the story (it’s okay to be you), but let’s see if this is different. And, it is. Yes, the uncle is still flamboyant (not “as flamboyant” as say the drag queen uncle in the book, Auntie Uncle: Drag Queen Hero by Ellie Royce and Hannah Chambers, which was one of my first reads in the gay uncle genre for picture book readers/listeners, but I swear I saw that scarf sashay….) but this time the uncle is also Christian. He mentions God. They very openly and proudly go to church. It talks about how God made you (the narrator of the story) different. Yet, it does not dwell on the Christian/religious elements. It shows how the uncle and child talk things out, how the child comes to understand that they are special and meant to be the way they are. And yes, their uncle understands how the child feels. They will root for a sports team together, dance, have a tea party. This is what makes you happy, so he’s right their with the child.
Well, dang. That is cool. Okay, I am not a religious person. I mean I don’t believe in God, but I respect you if you do. I am more “spiritual” and take a humorous approach (after all, if there is a God and they made me, they made my off-beat sense of humor and it would be a shame not to use it). Therefore, I like a nice story that shows me the “other side” of things, of my personal journey and/or beliefs. This book does that. I enjoyed that Jonathan Merritt (author) and Joanna Carillo (illustrator) are not condemning the fact the narrator is also queer or that the uncle is proud and out.
Now, maybe things were not my all time favorite way of presenting the subject. Yet, I appreciate the time, effort and work that went into the creation of everything, especially the illustrations, but they just were not my “thing.” They had nice details and colors, but felt a bit choppy for my personal tastes. It is a solid book. Do I like the word Guncle? Not particularly, but hey, you do you, and lets be buddies. It is a good read, not for everyone, but I think everyone could find something likable.