Be You.

You know what I love? The new voices, the new stories, the new courage among children's book writers. When I was a child, these pictures books would not have been published. When Heather Has Two Mommies came out way back in 1989, it stirred up a lot of controversy. There was no way these books would've hit the shelves. So, bravo to those who are telling the stories that kids have waited to hear for so long. 

The Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish, Swish, Swish by Lil Miss Hot Mess, illustrated by Olga de Dios

I love a good book put to the tune of another song. It means I know just how to read it. More than that, this glorious version will have your kid out of their seat moving all around. Lil Miss Hot Mess is one of the founders of Drag Queen Story Hour, something we had in Boston but don't have, yet, here in Buffalo. And while it may have featured some beautiful queens, they weren't the only ones with their fingers going snap, snap, snap. Oscar and I may have paraded around the living room a time or two after reading this book.

The town comes alive and in full color as the queens make their 
way...all through the town. 

Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress by Christine Baldacchino, illustrated by Malenfant

Morris Micklewhite loves school. He especially loves the tangerine dress in the dress up box. The other kids tell him that wearing the dress is for girls only and all of a sudden school is not so fun for Morris. As someone who has been an early childhood teacher for years, I can assure you, this book addresses something very common. Over the past few years, I have happily relied on Morris Micklewhite to get conversations started about how it might feel when someone tells you you can't play a certain way. Kids get it and they appreciate having a book that presents a perspective they may not have considered. As soon as we read this, kids would chime in about their own stories of not being included and we come to realize we are all equal parts of community.

Such a beautiful illustration.

Julián is a Mermaid by Jessica Love

This will be one of the next books I buy. I've blogged about it before but I want you to buy it too so I'm reblogging. Julián sees some mermaids while he is out with his grandma. He comes home and pretends to be a mermaid while his grandma is showering. When she comes out and sees him all dressed up, her reaction surprises him...and the reader. A gorgeous story about accepting those you love because that is who they are.