Written by: Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings
Illustrated by: Shelagh McNicholas
For Ages: 4-8 years
Language: English
Topics Covered: Trans youth experience, gender identity, self-acceptance, self-love, courage.
Summary: Jazz is just a regular girl! She loves dancing, the color pink, and mermaids. Jazz also has a “girl brain but a boy body”. Jazz explains that she is transgender, and she has always felt like a girl (even if her family was confused and thought she was a boy). Jazz explains that when she was young, she would feel sad when her parents would make her wear “boy clothes” outside of the house. Jazz tells us that one day her parents took her to meet a new doctor that asked lots of questions, and then told her parents that Jazz was transgender. Jazz then tells the reader how happy she was that her parents supported her, and let her start wearing “girl clothes” to school. She says that she feels good when she does things like play on the girls soccer team, and ignores kids in her school that make fun of her. The book closes with Jazz saying she doesn’t mind being different, because she is special and proud to be who she is.
This book is great for readers of any age, introducing the real-life experiences of of trans youth in a thoughtful, understandable way. The prevailing notion of living your own personal truth has been a very strong narrative most recently, and Jazz’s story adds her valuable experience. The idea of hormone blockers or surgery is not addressed. The last page of the book also includes information about the TransKids Purple Rainbow Foundation as well as photos of Jazz as a young child.
Reflection Questions:
- How do you think Jazz feels in the beginning of the book when she can’t wear the clothes she wants to?
- How do you think you would feel if you parents insisted you were something that in your heart and brain you knew you weren’t?
- Have you ever had to fight to make people believe something about yourself?
- What could you say to a friend that tells you something about themselves that they might be nervous about or afraid that you wouldn’t believe them?
Continuing the Conversation:
- Talk about what it means to be “normal”and “different”. Why do you think people tease others that seem different?
- How do you deal with people that aren’t kind to you? How could you help a friend that was feeling frustrated that people were making fun of them?
- Write a plan as a classroom or group of how everyone treats each other. Have everyone sign the pledge, and post it in the classroom.
About the Author & the Illustrator:
Jessica Herthel is the co-author of the critically acclaimed children’s picture book about a transgender girl, entitled I Am Jazz. The American Library Association recently ranked I Am Jazz number 3 on its list of the country’s Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2015, and it is consistently named a Best Seller in Amazon’s children’s sections. Today, Jessica travels around the country speaking to students, parents, teachers, politicians, and non-profit groups about how to use the book as a teaching tool, and why it is imperative to make schools and communities a safer place for all children. Her mix of booksmarts and humor can put even the most reluctant audiences at ease. And because Jessica comes to this work as a straight ally, no question is off-limits or too personal. A session with Jessica provides audiences with a better understanding of what it means to be transgender or a transgender ally in today’s rapidly changing world; and how to support unconditionally the friends, students, coworkers, or family members in our lives our lives who, for whatever reason, need to be reminded that “different is special.”
Jazz Jennings is an American YouTube personality, spokesmodel, television personality, and LGBT rights activist. Jennings, a transgender teenage girl, is notable for being one of the youngest publicly documented people to be identified as transgender, and for being the youngest person to become a national transgender figure. Jennings received national attention in 2007 when an interview with Barbara Walters aired on 20/20, which led to other high-profile interviews and appearances. Christine Connelly, a member of the board of directors for the Boston Alliance of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Youth, stated, “She was the first young person who picked up the national spotlight, went on TV and was able to articulate her perspective and point of view with such innocence.” Her parents noted that Jennings was clear on being female as soon as she could speak. Jennings is an honorary co-founder of the TransKids Purple Rainbow Foundation, which she and her parents founded in 2007 to assist transgender youth. In 2013, she founded Purple Rainbow Tails, a company in which she fashions rubber mermaid tails to raise money for transgender children. Jennings hosts a series of YouTube videos about her life, titled “I Am Jazz”, making her one of the youngest trans women in history to speak out on issues publicly. Jennings stars in the TLC reality TV series, I Am Jazz, which focuses on her life with her family as a teenager and as a transgender youth. The series premiered on July 15, 2015.
Shelagh McNicholas studied Illustration at Kingston Polytechnic and now lives in Liverpool with her daughter Molly…her constant inspiration, and their cat ‘Jelli’. She specializes in Children’s Book illustration including picture book, educational and special needs work. She is passionate about drawing and painting, always having a sketch book in her pocket to capture the moment. These include sketching behind the scenes at Wimbledon Theatre, ballet classes and farm yards. Shelagh is happiest when surrounded by children in their own little worlds, sketching them just being themselves, never spending more than seconds on catching the pose or scenario. Returning to the peace and quiet of her studio to draw and paint where she develops the characters to fit a specific brief. Most of her picture book artwork is created using a 3b soft pencil and watercolors. She is currently illustrating picture books for the USA and Australia working with publishers such as Scholastic USA, Random House, Tiger Tales and Hinkler and I am working on a few stories of my own!
Fran Pintadera is a storyteller, theater director and an award-winning author of more than a dozen books for children. He lives in Spain.
Ana Sender was born in Terrassa (Barcelona), Spain in 1978. She studied Fine Arts and illustration at the Massana Art School in Barcelona, and completed her studies at the Francesca Bonemaisson school. She draws, writes, and imagines all sorts of stories. Her works have appeared both in many books and newspapers. Ana lives near the forest. Many of her illustrations are inspired by her dreams. She likes werewolves, wild things, and green swampy places.
