As with [b:Perfectly Norman|35892618|Perfectly Norman|Tom Percival|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1501588490s/35892618.jpg|57411252], this picture book aims to comfort young children who fear being bullied for being different. I think it succeeds.

I'm a big fan of any beautifully illustrated book that encourages self-acceptance and inclusion. Also books that celebrate a parent's unconditional love for their child. ( )

A child is born one night to a mother in a little blue house on a hill. This child is neither a boy nor a girl, but can change into any shape they can imagine! The only problem is they can’t decide what to be. "From the Stars in the Sky to the Fish in the Sea" is an exploration of gender, love, and learning to be yourself.

This is a fantastic book for children who feel like they don't quite “fit in,” whether or not they identify as gender fluid. It is ALSO a fantastic book for children who do feel like they fit within the binary but may know someone who doesn’t. "From the Stars in the Sky to the Fish in the Sea" does an incredible job of celebrating the beauty of being yourself! ( )

This book is about a child named Miu Lan who was born when both the sun and the moon were in the sky, so the child could not decide what to be. Miu Lan's mother loved and supported them nonetheless. Every night Miu Lan's mother would sing them a song when tucking them into bed which made Miu Lan feel loved. Miu Lan grew up to be a strange and magical child who always changed into whatever Miu Lan wanted to change into. When it finally came time for Miu Lan to go to school, they were so excited that they grew a tail of peacock feathers and a coat of tiger stripes. However, when Miu Lan got to school, all of the children were either boys or girls, questioned Miu Lan of what they were, and didn't invite Miu Lan to play. Later that night, Miu Lan's mother sang to them and Miu Lan felt loved, but also worried. The next day Miu Lan wore a turtle shell and porcupine spines so no one would poke or pull Miu Lan, but the children still wouldn't play with them. That night Miu Lan's mother sang to them before bed again and Miu Lan felt loved, but also sad. The next day Miu Lan tried to be like the other children and didn't wear any feathers, sparkles, scales, etc. Miu Lan was invited to play baseball with the boys and nobody made fun of them! But, when Miu Lan played hopscotch with the girls, a girl called Miu Lan out for playing hopscotch because "boys don't play hopscotch." Then all the children started to question Miu Lan asking Miu Lan what they're supposed to be. This upset Miu Lan because he didn't know. When Miu Lan's mother asked how school was, Miu Lan told her everything. Miu Lan's mother comforted Miu Lan and Miu Lan felt loved. The next day Miu Lan was just himself and the children finally accepted him.

Miu Lan would be considered a dynamic character because Miu Lan went through changes throughout the story. In the beginning, Miu Lan was confident in who they were. However, when Miu Lan began school and the children treated Miu Lan differently due to Miu Lan's differences, they became less and less confident in who they were. At one point, Miu Lan even tried to become more like the other children in order to fit in. However, in the ending Miu Lan gained their confidence back and the children finally accepted Miu Lan because Miu Lan was no longer seeking their approval.

This story is such a sweet and symbolic story for the LGBTQ+ community. I didn't realize that this story was symbolizing non-conforming gender identities until I noticed that Miu Lan was never referenced as she or he, but as they instead. I think this is a great story, especially in today's society with the increasing number of children that are choosing to neither identify as he or she. This is a story that should definitely be read in classrooms today in order to teach children to accept those that are different, instead of teasing them due to differences. ( )

The meaning and message behind this book is very deep. The book acknowledges and accepts non-conforming gender identities; I say this because the main character in the book is gender neutral. In the beginning of the book it reads "so, the baby couldn't decide what to be. boy or girl? bird or fish?" At first I did not realize what the book was trying to portray, until I read further into the book and the author kept referring to the main character as "they" instead of he or she. The main character has troubles in school because no one likes him/her because "they" were different than the other students. The main characters mother was the one who kept "they" going; her love was unconditional and she told "they" to be who ever she wanted. The students then realize "they" is a really great person no matter who he/she is. The book gives a message to be whoever you want to be, anything is possible if you put your mind to it. It also sends a message to children to be nice and kind to people, there is no reason to make fun of someone because they seem different. In the end, that person could be a very nice friend just as the children in the book noticed about "they." ( )

This was a different book. A child was born into a blue house and they could be whatever they imagined. Their mother always tucked them into bed and sang them a song about expressing who they were. When the child went to school and looked different from the other children they were scared and not very nice. This made the child sad until they went to school dressed as a little boy and the entire class started questioning them as to who they were. The child did not even know. They broke down to their mom that night at bed time and the mother told them that they were different from everyone else and that was OKAY! So the next day they got up confidently put on sparkles, feathers, fur, scales, and leaves and went to school. People finally accepted them and they made friends because they were comfortable in their own skin now. ( )