A Song for Nolan

by Rushie Ellenwood, Sally Chen (Illustrator)

Overview

Get ready to roll with Nolan! Boys' skate! Girls' skate! Leave it to Nolan, who is nonbinary, to bring everyone together to sing, dance, and groove in this celebration of being yourself.

"Chen's thin-lined, saturated artwork is an ideal partner to Ellenwood's characterization in this uplifting tale about making room for oneself-and all." - Publisher's Weekly

"A useful reminder about the importance of inclusion for anyone planning group events." - School Library Journal


When Nolan is invited to a birthday party at the roller rink, they are so excited. They pick out the perfect, sparkling outfit, tie on their snazzy skates, and join their friends for a day of roller skating bliss. But when the DJ calls for a boys skate followed by a girls skate, Nolan feels left out. With courage and a strong sense of self, Nolan bravely requests a song for EVERYONE. This powerful and joyful picture book uplifts and celebrates nonbinary children.

Published in partnership with media advocacy organization GLAAD, this empowering book positively represents LGBTQ families.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781499815238
Publisher:	little bee books
Publication date:	06/11/2024
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	11.00(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	3 - 6 Years

About the Author

Rushie Ellenwood (she/they), has worked in copywriting and screenwriting, but nothing has brought them more joy than writing for kids—particularly those who feel unseen. When Rushie isn't writing or trying to make somebody laugh, they can be found roller skating at Oaks Park, shooting hoops with her kids, or walking their dog around Mount Tabor, which is a dormant volcano near her house in rainy Portland, Oregon. This is their first book, inspired by a true story.

Sally Chen (they/she/he) is a queer, non-binary, second-generation Chinese (specifically Taishanese!) American multidisciplinary artist who's born, raised, and based in Brooklyn, NYC. Through their work, they seek to create joy, laughter, instill softness, and maintain resiliency in a world that often feels too tough to be in. Whether this takes the form of whimsical, textured, and immersive illustrations awash with poetry, sculptural pieces, or silly animations, it's important to them to create work that speaks to their identity and culture whilst uplifting those around them.

Editorial Reviews

04/01/2024

Wearing a carefully chosen outfit (suspenders and a feather boa), brown-skinned, pink-haired Nolan, who is nonbinary, arrives at a friend’s skating-rink birthday party. Following an incident of misgendering, getting stuck on the rink during a binary “boys’ ” skate session interrupts Nolan’s carefree dance under the colorful lights, and leads to a tumble and feelings of distress (“DO I EVEN BELONG HERE?!”). But Nolan makes a request to the DJ that both saves the day and results in an invite for everyone to skate. Chen’s thin-lined, saturated artwork is an ideal partner to Ellenwood’s characterization in this uplifting tale about making room for oneself—and all. Background characters are portrayed with various abilities, body types, and skin tones. Ages 3–6. (June)

Publishers Weekly

03/15/2024

PreS-Gr 1—Nolan is excited to attend their friend's birthday party at the roller rink, but their enthusiasm fades when the DJ announces a "Boys Skate" followed by a "Girls Skate." With neither category matching their identity, gender-nonconforming Nolan just wants to go home. Instead, a wordless multi-panel spread shows Nolan whispering into the ear of the DJ before the DJ announces that for the next song, "everyone is welcome to skate!" The jump from Nolan's moment of exclusion to the moment when they approach the DJ is abrupt; readers won't know why or how Nolan determined to speak up for inclusion. The illustrations don't entirely fill in the gaps for a more complete view of Nolan's internal experience. Nolan has brown skin and pink hair, and other characters show a variety of racial backgrounds and body types. Chen's vibrant, jewel-toned illustrations capture the chaotic sensory environment of the roller rink. As in a real rink, the crowds of skaters and colorful reflections from the disco ball make it difficult for the eye to settle and some of the smaller blocks of text get lost among the illustrations.VERDICT Not an essential purchase, but a useful reminder about the importance of inclusion for anyone planning group events.—Amy Reimann

School Library Journal

2024-04-20
A nonbinary kid carves out space for themself (and everyone!) at the roller rink.

Decked out in a pink feather boa to match their hair, Nolan feels a little nervous as they arrive at their friend Chloe’s roller-skating birthday party. That’s when the gender-based microaggressions begin. First, a party guest whispers to Chloe, “I thought you weren’t inviting boys?” Then Nolan gets stuck out on the rink when the DJ calls out, “This next song is for the guys! Boys skate only!” No one notices when Nolan takes a spill. The child’s distress heightens when “Girls skate!” is announced. “DO I EVEN BELONG HERE?!” Nolan wonders. In a series of wordless panels, Nolan’s dejection turns to determination as they approach the DJ and whisper a request. The story ends with the DJ dedicating the next song to Nolan and adding, “Everyone is welcome to skate!” Chen’s thick-lined, appealingly solid images are alive with rich color and detail that will draw in readers. Though the book comes to a happy ending, with Nolan learning to advocate for themself, the conclusion feels abrupt; it isn’t clear why or how Nolan summons the courage to assert themself. As a result, the narrative has less sparkle than its vibrant illustrations. Nolan is brown-skinned, while Chloe is light-skinned; their peers have a range of hair and skin tones.

An unevenly paced tale of self-worth and identity, buoyed by dynamic visuals. (Picture book. 4-7)

Kirkus Reviews