Being You: A First Conversation About Gender - Hardcover

Madison, Megan; Ralli, Jessica

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0593521870 ISBN 13: 9780593521878

Publisher: Rise x Penguin Workshop, 2022

Synopsis

A picture book edition of the bestselling board book about gender, offering adults the opportunity to begin important conversations with young children in an informed, safe, and supported way.

Developed by experts in the fields of early childhood and activism against injustice, this topic-driven board book offers clear, concrete language and beautiful imagery that young children can grasp and adults can leverage for further discussion.

While young children are avid observers and questioners of their world, adults often shut down or postpone conversations on complicated topics because it's hard to know where to begin. Research shows that talking about issues like race and gender from the age of two not only helps children understand what they see, but also increases self-awareness, self-esteem, and allows them to recognize and confront things that are unfair, like discrimination and prejudice.

This second book in the series begins the conversation on gender, with a supportive approach that considers both the child and the adult. Stunning art accompanies the simple and interactive text, and the backmatter offers additional resources and ideas for extending this discussion.

About this title

About the Author

Dr. Megan Pamela Ruth Madison is a political educator and a lifelong student of radical Black feminism. She earned her PhD in Social Policy from Brandeis University. As a scholar-activist, her approach to research and practice is guided by the Sociopolitical Ecology of Development, a theoretical framework that she developed as a part of her dissertation. Megan has served on the boards of the National Association for the Education for Young Children and Jews for Racial and Economic Justice. With Jessica Ralli, she co-authors First Conversations–an award-winning series of anti-bias books for young children and their grown-ups.

Jessica Ralli is the Early Literacy Programs Coordinator at Brooklyn Public Library where she develops & manages grant-funded programming including Books Unbanned Storytimes. She has an M.A. in Early Childhood Special Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, and has taught in museums, schools, and libraries. Jessica is a contributor to School Library Journal, and in 2020, she received the Library Journal Movers and Shakers Award for her advocacy work in libraries. Jessica is currently co-authoring the award-winning First Conversations series with Megan Madison, published by RISE X Penguin Workshop.

Reviews

K-Gr 4—A sunny, straightforward book guiding children through what gender is, how it can fluctuate, and how it's used throughout social structures. From using accurate genital names to discussing unfair male advantage, Being You raises important issues and the accompanying discomfort associated with their discussion. The authors' note points out that "young children need support from trusted grown-ups in their lives to help them make sense of what they're seeing, hearing, and feeling." This book is an excellent way to generate conversation! Most pages have a question at the bottom to encourage discussion. Some are softballs, asking children about their favorite color or what they like about themselves. Later questions increase in complexity, asking about feminists in their family, or unfair systems they notice. A helpful glossary of terms at the end expands those points, letting readers and listeners dig deeper into gender vocabulary and theory. These messages are supported with bold illustrations. They're simple, but inclusive and gorgeous in the range of skin tones, ages, dress, and abilities. VERDICT A clear, well-constructed gender guide, to be used with supportive adults already immersed in the myriad talking points and deeper dives of this conversation.—Cat McCarrey

Edition details

• Publisher: Rise x Penguin Workshop
• Publication date: 2022
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0593521870
• ISBN 13: 9780593521878
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Passchier Anne/Andy
• Number of pages: 40