Neither

November 20, 2017
Anderson (Cat’s Colors) tackles exclusion, difference, and identity in a sweet-tempered fable. Cute blue bunnies and yellow birds stay with their own kind: “these and those.” One day, a green bird with rabbit ears hatches. “I’m both!” it announces. “You can’t be both!” the birds and bunnies chorus. “You must be neither!” Pushed out of both groups, the winged, long-eared creature takes the name Neither and flies off dejectedly in search of a place to call home, soaring first over regimented blue and yellow fields, then over a verdant forest of blended colors and natural contours. There, other hybrid fantasy animals appear in every color—except green. “I’m different from everyone here,” worries Neither. “I’m neither red nor orange nor yellow nor blue.” The other creatures see it differently. “Exactly!” they cheer—their new friend offers them something they don’t have. Anderson’s candy-colored palette and adorable cast of creatures reflect a spectrum of states of being, creating a book that works as a resource for conversations about race, blended identities, gender norms, and more. Ages 4–8. Agent: Sara Sciuto, Fuse Literary.

December 15, 2017
In a world with only This or That, being Neither is a lonely existence, but it's also a launch pad for seeking acceptance in a vibrant and colorful community in Anderson's newest picture book (Cat's Colors, 2016)."Once upon a time, there were two kinds: this and that": blue bunnies and yellow birds, with no other options. Until one day, an unusual egg hatches something that's a bit of both--it's a bright green creature with ears and tail like a bunny's on a body like a bird's. An animal that's both, or Neither, does not really fit in anywhere, not quite "rabbity" nor "birdy" enough. So Neither flies off for Somewhere Else and stumbles upon a friendly community with lots of other "neither" sorts. Anderson's bright gouache illustrations depict fantastic, rainbow-hued creatures that don't quite fit into any neat box, not even those of well-known mythical creatures. Wings, spots, unicorn horns, and beaks, in any combination, all are welcome in the Land of All. Overtly a celebration of nonbinary identities, this parable is well-suited for any shelf seeking positive diversity titles for preschoolers and early-elementary students. Reminiscent of other recent titles in the same vein (Michael Hall's Red, 2015, and Andrea J. Loney and Carmen Saldana's Bunnybear, 2017, are just two), this stands out for its accessibility to even very young read-aloud audiences.A sweet story of acceptance for all those who are this, that, neither, either, and everything in between. (Picture book. 2-6)

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February 1, 2018

K-Gr 2-This relatable tale of not fitting in begins in the Land of This and That where one is either a blue bunny or a yellow bird. When a green bird-bunny hybrid is hatched, it declares itself Both. In the Land of This and That one must be one or the other, being both is not acceptable. So Both is instead declared Neither and it is suggested in no uncertain terms that as "not one of us" it should find "Somewhere Else." Both flies away and alights in the The Land of All where myriad creatures in all colors, shapes, and sizes live and all are welcome. Both even welcomes some of his former Landmates who don't fit in the Land of This and That. Featuring lots of bright bold colors, plenty of word balloons, and a ton of fantastic critters (like a purple butterfly cat) Anderson's illustrations are a perfect match for the message of her text. Who knew a bird-bunny face could be so expressive? Cleverly, Anderson never specifies a name or gender, so her bird-bunny is a perfect avatar for all. VERDICT This less-than-subtle tale of belonging hits all right notes and is filled with fun, fantastical creatures to boot. The last line of the book sums it all up-"Once upon a time there were many kinds...and all were welcome!"-Catherine Callegari, Gay-Kimball Library, Troy, NH

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