I Am Jazz

This is a great first look into being transgender. It is the true story of a girl named Jazz who, when she was younger, didn't feel like the boy body she was born with fit how she felt.
This is kind of a hard topic to fit into a picture book because it is such a hard feeling to describe. I think

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that even though it reinforces gender binaries a bit, it's still a good, solid overview of one girl's journey to becoming a female.

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I loved this book so much, because it is books like these that need to be in children's libraries, because of the need to spread awareness. The main message of the book is that people want to feel comfortable in their own skin, and to feel like they are accepted for who they are. I loved how the

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author talked about her own experiences, and challenges. These are the things that will make children feel safe and accepted.

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In my opinion this is a book all children should read. The language used in this book is very easygoing and simply to understand, with no confusing jargon or run on sentences. The descriptions were clear and concise, making the story easy to understand. The main character, Jazz, is a believable and

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well developed character. We listen as she describes her tough childhood and the moments where she felt sad and misunderstood. I couldn't help but feel empathetic for Jazz when her parents made her wear clothes she didn't like or her brothers wanted her to join in games she didn't want to play. Finally, this book pushes readers to think about tough issues. Transgender children is a topic rarely discussed, so I was very happy to see that this book explains it all is such simple terms. The big idea of this story is to be who you want to be and to accept others' differences.

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I absolutely loved this book. I think it is a very important book for teachers to have in their school classrooms and to read to themselves. It was very interesting that the child the story was about (Jazz) helped to co-write the book as only a young teenager. The book was written using very simple

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language and sentences, but I think that was really helpful when dealing with such a difficult topic. The illustrations helped keep the book light and cheerful while again dealing with a topic that involved sadness and bullying. Although it is a simply written picture book, I think it would be beneficial for older students to read it as well because they may not have been exposed to the topic before. The main message of this story is that no matter how difficult it may be, the most important thing to do is to stay true to yourself.

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I thoguht this was a really interesting and cool book. I had no idea that there were children's books on such diverse topics. In this book, there is a boy who is born, however isn't like the other boys in his class. Instead of playing with trucks and sports, he likes to play with dolls. And instead

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of dressing in manly, macho clothes, he decides to dress in a ballerina costume. There is an obvious distinction between him and "normal" boys of his age. He finds out that he is transgender. The books does a great job at depicting what transgender means and putting it in children's terms. His parents still love him no matter what and he is happy which the book shows is all that matters. I liked this book because it helps children become aware of an issue that not many children might know about. I think it is god for the children to be exposed to this controversial topic through children's literature with basic and simple terms. I really enjoyed this book and think it is a helpful resource for many children. It teaches a great moral of being happy with who you are, even if you aren't like other people around you.

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Jazz is a girl born in a boy's body. A simplified but enlightening introduction to transgendered people for younger readers. The pink-hued watercolor illustrations oozing with cheerfulness are a bit overdone.

Accepting people for who they are and yourself for who you are on the inside. Beautiful.

I decided to celebrate Banned Book Week by reading a small pile of frequently challenged books. I can see how intolerant people would have a problem that this book even exists. It succeeds with nice art and a story that educates and gets its point across quite simply. This is a good introduction to

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a complex issue for kids or even adults like me who live pretty sheltered lives.

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Yet another controversial book I was interested in reading was Jazz. It tells the true story of Jazz Jennings, a child with gender dysphoria who learns about being transgender and finally gets to embrace on the outside how she feels on the inside. Already, I watch the TLC show of the same name.

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Maybe had I learned of her through this book I would feel differently, but I just could not connect with her here. As I was reading it, I felt like other stories have told the important message of being yourself much better. In conclusion, if someone is trying to learn about Jazz’s story or just what it like to be transgender in general, they should definitely watch her show over reading this book.

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It promotes stereotypes. This book conveys a message that liking "girl things" makes Jazz a girl, where he is actually a boy.

Under the surface, Jazz is going to great lengths to alter his body because being a male doesn't align with sexist notions that only girls like pink.

A sweet informative book on a subject not easily talked about.

I think this book is very well done. It’s not really a biography, more of a this is me and could be you, and that is okay. It’s a story to read that show differences as natural and accepted. This book is not preachy and is not trying to turn more kids trans (as is sometimes suggested). It is a

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sweet picture book about a child who experienced something other kids may experience as well.

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