May 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By M. Vangerwen, Family Care Office\/ Faculty Relocation Services Information and Communications Officer, Family Care Office, University of Toronto<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n As a staff member at the University of Toronto, I attended the “Foundations of 2SLGBTQ+ Concepts and Identities” training offered by the Sexual & Gender Diversity Office<\/a>. During the webinar, participants requested books they could read with their children on the topic of pronouns and gender expression. As many U of T staff and students are also parents, relatives, and\/or grandparents to tiny humans, we often wonder how workplace lessons on equity, diversity and inclusion can be brought into our homes and shared with the tiny humans in our lives. One of the simplest ways is through children\u2019s literature. Reading children\u2019s books celebrating a variety of gender identities can open the door to conversations with children about their own experiences, as well as principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Recently, at the U of T 2SLGBTQ+ Families Connect event, participants had an opportunity to share their favourite children\u2019s books about pronouns and gender expression. The Family Care Office also invited contributions from the wider UofT community to share book titles. Thank you to all who made contributions! Here is a non-exhaustive list of gender-affirming books for you to share with the tiny humans in your life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Check out the bottom of this post for upcoming events for U of T community members to learn about pronouns and gender expression and to celebrate our families.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Good Hair Day<\/em><\/a> by Christian Trimmer Both are joyful stories with beautiful pictures about kids who know exactly who they are inside and learn to defy others\u2019 expectations about them by figuring out how to express themselves to the world! They\u2019re great for kids of all ages. I am a Rainbow<\/em><\/a> <\/strong>by Mark Kanemura. Professional dancer, teacher and entertainer Mark Kanemura tells the story of his childhood as a boy who loves to dress up in colourful clothes and how he found a diverse community of friends who loved him for being himself. Another joyful story with beautiful and colourful pictures and lots of rainbows! My Shadow is Pink<\/em><\/a> by Scott Stuart This book had me in tears at the bookstore. It\u2019s a heartwarming narrative told from the perspective of a child who is navigating their self-awareness in a gendered world. We get a glimpse of their joy when playing with \u2018things not for boys\u2019, but also their sadness and shame when they sense the ambivalence from their father and classmates when they wear a dress to school. As a parent, I can relate to the initial fears of the father\u2014recognizing that your child will likely encounter certain challenges when their gender identity\/sexual orientation\/gender expression differs from the majority. But triumphantly, the father\u2019s ambivalence evolves into wholehearted acceptance when he allows himself to truly see his child\u2019s true self. His conscious decision to stand together with his child rather than shield them from perceived harm is a beautiful example of the ultimate form of love and protection that a parent can give. What Are Your Words?: A Book About Pronouns by Katherine Locke<\/a> “My favourite part was Ari \u2013 because it’s my brother’s name!” – age 5 <\/p>\n\n\n\n “I think young children could learn a lot from it – I even learned new pronouns I hadn’t heard before.” – age 12 <\/p>\n\n\n\n “I really liked that they included how each person felt each day and what their pronouns were.\u202f I learned new pronouns and I think it was good for younger kids to learn from” – age 10 <\/p>\n\n\n\n “It was pretty good.” – age 8 <\/p>\n\n\n\n Call Me Max by Kyle Lukoff Camp Quiltbag by Nicole Melleby & A. J. Sass<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\nBook Recommendations<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Molly\u2019s Tuxedo<\/em><\/a> by Vicki Johnson
Recommended by: U of T Staff <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Recommended by: U of T Staff <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Recommended by: U of T Staff <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Recommended by: U of T staff member\u2019s children <\/p>\n\n\n\nAdditional Book Recommendations from the U of T Community <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Picture Books <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>The Best Bed for Me by Gaia Cornwall
<\/a>Except When They Don\u2019t by Laura Gehl
<\/a>My Shape is Sam by Amanda Jackson
<\/a>My Shadow is Purple<\/a> by Scott Stuart <\/p>\n\n\n\nMiddle-Grade Readers<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Melissa by Alex Gino<\/a>
Rick by Alex Gino<\/a>
Small Town Pride by Phil Stamper<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\nAdditional Book Lists<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Additional Resources<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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U of T Events <\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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