Anne Passchier

There are more and more picture books coming out about gender identity. This one focuses on a child named Ari who is not sure of their pronouns. The child feels like their pronouns can change from one day to another -- which I interpreted as a genderfluid identity. "My pronouns are like the weather. They change depending on how I feel. And that's okay, because they're my words."

Ari experiences a lot of anxiety about choosing pronouns in this book. It actually made me feel a bit anxious myself, like stop pressuring this kid to pick a label! But no one is actively pressuring Ari. The pressure is coming from inside Ari. "It shouldn't take this long to find my words. Everyone else seems to know theirs!"

The emphasis is on how labels, adjectives, and pronouns feel to you. Do they feel like they fit? He, him, she, her, ey, and eir don't feel right for Ari on the day this story takes place. In the end, with much excitement, Ari declares that they/them feels "warm and snug" and perfect.… (mehr)