Status
Available
Publication
Kokila (2020), 32 pages
Library's review
"Aloving mother helps her daughter express herself and feel like a rainbow.
Trinity, an autistic, Black, transgender girl wishes she had long hair. But growing it out is a struggle because she hates hair touching her neck. Seeing her daughter’s sadness, Trinity’s mom, a Black cisgender woman
A revolutionary representation of joy and self-expression. (Picture book. 4-7)" www.kirkusreviews.com, A Kirkus Starred Review
Trinity, an autistic, Black, transgender girl wishes she had long hair. But growing it out is a struggle because she hates hair touching her neck. Seeing her daughter’s sadness, Trinity’s mom, a Black cisgender woman
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with natural hair cropped close, listens to Trinity’s concerns. At first, she tries to reassure Trinity that girls can wear their hair short, but Trinity still doesn’t feel happy. Honoring the truth that Trinity knows herself best, Trinity’s mom puts her love and devotion into creating a curly, teal, pink, and purple wig for Trinity, with some help from Trinity’s older sibling. Richly colored and invitingly detailed full-spread illustrations that complement the story’s title and theme accompany the text. The narrative centers a Black family whose members are depicted in the illustrations with skin that is a range of rich browns. In the midst of Trinity’s struggle with her gender expression, her mom models listening and affirmation. She acknowledges that her own experiences with societal expectations of gender expression as a cisgender woman are different from Trinity’s. Even as the story shifts to show Trinity’s cisgender mother’s perspective, Trinity’s feelings remain the focus and her happiness the motivation. Apart from the use of person-first language (“kids with autism”) instead of identity-first language, Neal and Neal emphasize that all aspects of Trinity’s identity deserve celebration and make her a masterpiece. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10.8-by-17-inch double-page spreads viewed at 60.9% of actual size.)A revolutionary representation of joy and self-expression. (Picture book. 4-7)" www.kirkusreviews.com, A Kirkus Starred Review
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Awards
Maryland Blue Crab Young Reader Award (Winner — 2021)
ALA Rainbow Book List (Selection — 2021)
Penn GSE's Best Books for Young Readers (Selection — Picture Books — 2020)
Picture This Recommendation List (Fiction — 2022)
Language
Original language
English
ISBN
1984814605 / 9781984814609