Not He or She, I'm Me

by A. M. Wild, Kah Yangni (Illustrator)

Overview

A Stonewall Book Award Honor Book

"The warmth of everyday gender euphoria is burnished to brilliant radiance" (BCCB, starred review) in this joyous picture book about a day in the life of a non-binary child.

A child gets ready for a wonderful day. They gleefully get dressed, hug their parents, go to school, and play with friends. All the while, unapologetically reminding themselves that they are and can only be themselves.

The non-binary experience is brightly illustrated as we follow our main character through their typical day. The story's bouncy and fun refrain reminds all readers of gender neutral pronouns and affirms the identities of non-binary children—encouraging readers to practice empathy for themselves and others.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250357267
Publisher:	Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Publication date:	10/17/2023
Sold by:	Macmillan
Format:	eBook
Pages:	32
File size:	59 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	3 - 6 Years

About the Author

A.M. Wild is a queer, nonbinary writer of children’s books, poetry, and creative non-fiction. They look within and to their communities for fresh inspiration. Each project they work on is a unique reflection of the world as they see it or dream it could be.

Kah Yangni is an illustrator living in Philadelphia, PA. They make heartfelt art about justice, queerness, and joy. Kah’s artistic mission is to heal themself and others by making art that focuses on radical optimism, and the power we have to make the world a better place.

Editorial Reviews

★ "Amid a growing landscape of gender-focused picture books, this title shines for its effervescent illustrations and simple, utterly normalizing narrative. A perfect addition to any school, public, or home library, this story will delight young readers of any gender...How refreshing to see nonbinary joy so lovingly depicted." – Kirkus, starred review

★ "Not He or She, I’m Me would be at home among Todd Parr’s many affirming titles, and vitally promotes empathy, understanding, and validation as it normalizes nonbinary identities and experiences. Books such as this allow us to foster a world where every child can proudly say, “I’m me.”" – Booklist, starred review

★ "The warmth of everyday gender euphoria is burnished to brilliant radiance in this visually resplendent picture book...In holding the commonplace as remarkable and vice versa, the book invites readers to see and revel in everyday gender euphoria, and so better celebrate those little galaxies that contain multitudes." – BCCB, starred review

From the Publisher

★ 2023-09-09
A day in the life of a nonbinary kid.

From the first page, Yangni’s mixed-media art sets a dynamic tone for this exuberant story. Accompanied by rich layers of acrylic paint, newsprint, crayon, watercolor, and more, gently rhyming text follows the young narrator as they get dressed, eat breakfast with Mom, and ride the bus to school. Throughout, the child repeats the titular mantra: “Not he or she, I’m me.” Instead of offering an explicit definition of nonbinary, Wild opts to represent one child’s version of it through a day brimming with wonder, connection, and play. An afternoon spent riding bikes with friends depicts young people embracing differences without fanfare. And how affirming it is for the protagonist when they get to be “them with friends / and them at home / them even when alone.” Amid a growing landscape of gender-focused picture books, this title shines for its effervescent illustrations and simple, utterly normalizing narrative. A perfect addition to any school, public, or home library, this story will delight young readers of any gender. The child at the heart of this charming story is Black, with a puff of coily hair; their mom is Black, with darker brown skin and long red hair, and the child’s classmates are racially diverse.

How refreshing to see nonbinary joy so lovingly depicted. (Picture book. 3-9)

Kirkus Reviews