The Loudest Bark

by Gail Schwartz, Lucie Gagnon, Amélie Ayotte (Illustrator)

Overview

Samuel knows that their real name is Simone, but things at their house are too quiet to think about how to tell their parents. When Chloe the costume designer moves in across the street with a dog about to have puppies, life becomes bigger, more colourful, and louder. And so does Simone.Teacher resources available on publisher website: rebelmountainpress.com/the-loudest-bark-quel-jappements-teacher-resources

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781989996126
Publisher:	Rebel Mountain Press
Publication date:	09/01/2022
Pages:	36
Product dimensions:	8.75(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.10(d)
Age Range:	6 - 10 Years

About the Author

Gail Marlene Schwartz and Lucie Gagnon are writers, mothers, queer women, and best friends. Lucie loves drawing, game night with her family, and the feel of a chickadee in her hand. Luci lives in Montreal, QC. Gail is passionate about learning the cello, making collage books, and going kamikaze sledding with her son. Gail currently lives in both Montreal and Vermont. Authors available for school and other venue readings and presentations.

Gail Marlene Schwartz and Lucie Gagnon are writers, mothers, queer women, and best friends. Lucie loves drawing, game night with her family, and the feel of a chickadee in her hand. Luci lives in Montreal, QC. Gail is passionate about learning the cello, making collage books, and going kamikaze sledding with her son. Gail currently lives in both Montreal and Vermont. Authors available for school and other venue readings and presentations.

Amélie Ayotte is an illustrator and animator living in the Montreal area in Quebec. Her favourite mediums are watercolor and colored pencils, which she uses to create colorful images inspired by nature. Her first short film, Koi, was presented at the Fantasia and Animaze festivals.

Read an Excerpt

"Samuel, I think Piano might be ready to have her babies."
Chloe was right!

A few hours later, Piano is the proud mama of four tiny puppies.
"There's one girl and three boys. Let's put different coloured ribbons around their necks to tell them apart. We should give them glamorous names..."
"How about Little Miss?"
Chloe laughs. "Perfect!"

"I hope we gave the puppies the right names."
"Not sure I understand, lovely one."
"When I was born, the baby fairy whispered my name to my parents. They thought she said Samuel but she really said Simone."
"I see. Did you tell your parents?"
"Not yet."

Editorial Reviews

"This delightful story encourages children to defy traditional gender norms and explore their identity, and serves as a wonderful resource for parents and teachers who want to start a conversation with young children about gender identity." -Canadian Children's Book News

"With the support of a caring babysitter, a child longing for connection and self-expression fulfills their dream of owning a puppy. A sweet and upbeat celebration."~-Kirkus Reviews

"A delightfully sweet story about a family coming out and alive with the help of a furry friend and a wonderful neighbour."~Darby Love, Librarian-VIRL

"A heartwarming story with dazzling artwork about family, friendship, puppies, love, acceptance, and the exciting discovery of identity. If these characters were real, I would love to know them!"LS Stone, author of What's in it for Me?

"A sweet and beautiful picture book that could be used to start a conversation about gender identity with young children. My primary students love this book and it is hard to keep it on the shelves of my library." Lesley Bell, teacher librarian.

From the Publisher

2021-06-29
With the support of a caring babysitter, a child longing for connection and self-expression fulfills their dream of owning a puppy.

Quiet fills the house where Simone lives with their busy parents. It’s the complete opposite of the noisy house across the street, where Simone’s new babysitter, Chloe, lives with her pregnant dog, Piano. Amid the color and bright energy at Chloe’s, Simone has a blast playing dress-up in the costumes Chloe designs for TV and theater productions. When Simone falls in love with a “dazzling” silk dress, they dream of wearing one just like it and having a puppy of their own too. Narrated by Simone, the text never indicates pronouns for Simone or explicitly discusses their gender identity. However, sharing their true name plays a significant role in the story’s positive resolution. Characters use Simone’s old name several times before Simone introduces their true name, but once they know it, neither Chloe nor Simone’s parents hesitate to use it. Illustrations depict Simone, their dad, and Chloe with brown skin and dark hair, and Simone’s mom with pale skin and blond hair. The use of color in Simone’s surroundings matches their shifting emotions, capturing sadness with muted shades and happiness with bright, contrasting ones. Ultimately Simone’s feelings are centered in the narrative, and the resolution emphasizes the joy of belonging and self-expression.

A sweet and upbeat celebration. (Picture book. 4-7)

Kirkus Reviews