Jack (Not Jackie)

by Erica Silverman, Holly Hatam (Illustrator)

Overview

In this heartwarming picture book, a big sister realizes that her little sister, Jackie, doesn't like dresses or fairies-she likes ties and bugs! Will she and her family be able to accept that Jackie identifies more as "Jack"?

Susan thinks her little sister Jackie has the best giggle! She can't wait for Jackie to get older so they can do all sorts of things like play forest fairies and be explorers together. But as Jackie grows, she doesn't want to play those games. She wants to play with mud and be a super bug! Jackie also doesn't like dresses or her long hair, and she would rather be called Jack.

Readers will love this sweet story about change and acceptance. This book is published in partnership with GLAAD to accelerate LGBTQ inclusivity and acceptance.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781499807318
Publisher:	little bee books
Publication date:	10/09/2018
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	450,469
Product dimensions:	9.20(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Erica Silverman is the author of the Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa early reader books, the first of which received a Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor. Her other titles include When the Chickens Went on Strike, Big Pumpkin, The Hanukkah Hop!, Don't Fidget a Feather, and Wake Up, City! She loves writing, reading, and researching. She has a master's of library and information science and is a librarian and a children's book author. She lives in Los Angeles, California. Learn more about her at ericasilverman.com.

Holly Hatam is the illustrator of the #1 New York Times Bestseller, Dear Girl. Her other picture books include Made by Maxine and Tree Song. Holly lives in Whitby, Ontario, where she can be found hugging trees with her husband, Stephen, and son Linden, stuffing her pantry full of tea, and sticking her nose in the occasional book.

Editorial Reviews

12/10/2018

Silverman offers a perspective on gender dysphoria through the eyes of an older sister. Susan, whose tastes tend toward fairy wings, tutus, and unicorns, is disappointed that sibling Jackie prefers mud puddles and pants over sparkles and dresses. Susan and Jackie’s mother supports Jackie from the get-go: “That’s okay. She can wear whatever feels right.” After getting a short haircut, Jackie announces, “I am a boy!” Susan mourns the sister she thought she had—and then realizes that whether Jack or Jackie, she can love her sibling for who they are. Hatam illustrates in warm collages filled with playfully mismatched, cheerful patterns. While the book seems to portray gender as binary, an author’s note provides a more inclusive perspective. An empathic depiction of how unconditional love sometimes means tweaking expectations. Ages 4–8. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

This is arguably the only male transgender story for younger children and important accordingly. Silverman handles her sensitive material extremely well, with a light, non-didactic touch. The spirit of the story is nicely augmented by Hatam's sprightly cartoon illustrations. A helpful appended author's note offers context for the story, which belongs in every library.

STARRED REVIEW Booklist

"This is arguably the only male transgender story for younger children and important accordingly. Silverman handles her sensitive material extremely well, with a light, non-didactic touch. The spirit of the story is nicely augmented by Hatam's sprightly cartoon illustrations. A helpful appended author's note offers context for the story, which belongs in every library." - Booklist, starred review p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times} span.s1 {font: 12.0px Helvetica; font-kerning: none} span.s2 {font-kerning: none}

Booklist

11/01/2018

K-Gr 3—Susan thinks that her new little sister, Jackie, has the best giggle and such big, beautiful eyes! She can't wait until Jackie grows up and they can wear frilly dresses and play princesses together. As Jackie gets older, Susan notices that Jackie hates all things "girly" and wants to play in mud, wear boy clothes, and be called "Jack." As Susan struggles to accept these traits in her sister, she is afraid and upset—natural reactions to what she doesn't understand. Susan's mom reminds her that Jackie—now Jack's—preferences are not wrong but "different," and whether Jack is a sister or brother, boy or girl, Susan sees that Jack still has the best giggle and big, beautiful eyes. Told in clear prose with no hint of sentimentality, this timely picture book addresses gender identity in a way that allows children to understand the differences on the outside while remembering what is on the inside is what counts. Vividly illustrated pages with astute details will capture the audience's attention and invite closer appreciation of their wordless support of the narration. The author includes a note in the back as well as an appendix of further resources, including books, articles, online resources, and picture books on the subject of children's gender identity. VERDICT A can't-miss addition to any collection that is looking to offer more inclusive resources.—Amanda C. Buschmann, Carroll Elementary School, Houston

School Library Journal

2018-09-02

A big sister learns a lesson about loving her transgender brother for who he is.

Susan dreams of playing forest fairies and explorers with a little sister. She loves to hear her baby sibling giggle. However, as the baby grows up, Susan struggles to accept their differences in self-expression. Despite their mother's gentle admonition to let her sibling be, Susan thinks it's wrong that the person she sees as a sister wants to wear clothes from the boys' section. After her sibling asks for a short haircut, she feels betrayed when Jack (not Jackie) tells the family he's Susan's brother. Remembering how much she loved Jack as a baby helps Susan accept the new transition. Narrated in first person, the story focuses on the feelings of the cisgender sister of a transgender boy. For most of the text, Susan calls her brother "Jackie" and uses she/her pronouns to refer to him. While Susan struggles, their mother offers refreshing acceptance throughout the story with reassurances such as "We wear what feels right." The characters adhere to gender stereotypes, but the author's note offers a less binary discussion of gender identity. Illustrations that combine digital line drawing and realistic textures accompany the text and depict Susan, Jack, and their parents as white.

Although this picture book provides a necessary message of acceptance and representation for transgender boys, the narrative remains rooted in a cisgender perspective. (further reading) (Picture book. 3-7)

Kirkus Reviews