You Be You!

You Be You! is a much needed honest, inclusive and respectful guide that should be read by all kids and adults alike! The author’s comprehensive approach including discussions about discrimination, intersectionality and privilege make this book an exceptional and timely resource. – Kimberly Zieselman, JD, Executive Director, interACT: Advocates for Intersex Youth

A great book of real power, this will be useful in schools, at home, and just about anywhere.We learn the meaning of words like: gender and gender identity, intersex, cisgender, asexual, gay and lesbian, straight (hetrosexual), bisexual (pansexual), orientations (sexual or romantic), discrimination, sexism, transgender and transphobia, and homophobia. All these are described in simple but truthful terms with easily understood and enjoyable vignette picture to go with them. I must say, I learned a lot!

– Branfman, Jonathan and Benbassat, Julie * healthyBooks *This conversational primer on gender, sexuality, and family supports and affirms all identities, urging readers to see, human experiences. The author posits that the narrow and conventional ideas many children are taught-born a boy or girl, marry someone of the “opposite” sex, have children, conform to gender roles-are untrue, and “that’s great news!” Instead, a world of possibility is open to all children. Full of joyful, bright, comic-style illustrations, this brief guide touches on assigned sexes, people who are intersex, stereotypes, and gender identity. The author clarifies that marriage and children are a choice, not an expectation, and explains discrimination (looking specifically at sexism, transphobia, homophobia, and biphobia), privilege, intersectionality, and what it means to be an ally. Readers learn definitions for identities and orientations like genderqueer, nonbinary, gender-fluid, transgender, cisgender, asexual, aromantic, bisexual, and pansexual. This supportive, educational look at identities offers constant reminders that no matter your chosen identity, whoever you love is great. A varied depiction of ethnicities, races, abilities, ages, and body shapes are shown in the vibrant illustrations. This guide could easily be read together with younger readers; certainly many older readers, including adults, could benefit from this quick and easy look at acceptance. VERDICT This inclusive and respectful guide should be part of all curricula about family, gender, and sexuality. Short, accessible, and important. – School Library Journal

Jonathan Branfman is a PhD candidate in Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies at the Ohio State University, Ohio. He has experience of teaching in schools and has been a camp counsellor.

Julie Benbassat is a student at the Rhode Island School of Design.