My Dad Thinks I'm a Boy?!

February 28, 2020

Gr 1-4-Stephie addresses readers directly with the story of her dad's inability to understand that she is a girl. Her dad takes her to fishing holes and to wrestling matches for "father-and-son activities." Her dad actually has a tantrum and is pictured banging on the costume store's floor crying when Stephie wants to be a space sorceress for Halloween. Another illustration shows Stephie's parents standing by her casket weeping, "because my dad feels like his son named Stephen died when I told them I was actually their daughter." Stephie still loves her dad, but she wishes he would be supportive. The cartoonish artwork is similar to Raina Telgemier's style, and the childish font is bolded or changes color to emphasize certain words. While the book successfully sends the message that being transgender is perfectly fine, its stereotypical portrayal of the mother being immediately accepting and the father being skeptical and stubborn is an unfortunate flaw. Discussion questions, examples of gendered toys and clothing, and further reading suggestions are listed at the end of the book.VERDICT This is a meager and didactic story featuring a transgender girl whose father cannot accept her as a daughter. Choose instead some excellent transgender and gender nonbinary books for young readers such as When Aidan Became a Brother and Tutus Aren't My Style.-Elaine Fultz, Oakwood City Schools, Dayton, OH

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