{"id":36346,"date":"2019-07-07T18:13:05","date_gmt":"2019-07-07T22:13:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=36346"},"modified":"2019-07-07T18:13:05","modified_gmt":"2019-07-07T22:13:05","slug":"review-of-when-aidan-became-a-brother-by-kyle-lukoff-illustrated-by-kaylani-juanita","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=36346","title":{"rendered":"Review of When Aidan Became a Brother, by Kyle Lukoff, illustrated by Kaylani Juanita"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>When Aidan Became a Brother<\/em><\/p>\n

by Kyle Lukoff
\nillustrated by Kaylani Juanita<\/p>\n

Lee & Low Books, 2019. 32 pages.
\nStarred Review
\nReview written July 2, 2019, from a library book<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve read several picture books that explain children being transgender, but I like this one the best. Maybe it helps that the focus is not completely on the child Aidan\u2019s transition, but more on Aidan\u2019s new baby sibling.<\/p>\n

Still, I love the way Aidan\u2019s story is introduced. I\u2019m going to quote the text of the first several pages, because I think it\u2019s explained so perfectly. It\u2019s even better with the accompanying pictures:<\/p>\n

When Aidan was born, everyone thought he was a girl. His parents gave him a pretty name. His room looked like a girl\u2019s room. And he wore clothes that other girls liked wearing.<\/p>\n

But as Aidan got bigger, he hated the sound of his name. He felt like his room belonged to someone else. And he always ripped or stained his clothes accidentally-on-purpose.<\/p>\n

Everyone thought he was just a different kind of girl.<\/p>\n

Some girls had rooms full of science experiments and bug collections.<\/p>\n

Lots of girls didn\u2019t wear dresses.<\/p>\n

But Aidan didn\u2019t feel like any kind of girl. He was really another kind of boy.<\/p>\n

It was hard to tell his parents what he knew about himself, but it was harder not to.
\nIt took everyone some time to adjust, and they learned a lot from other families with transgender kids like him.<\/p>\n

Aidan explored different ways of being a boy. He tried out lots of names until one stuck. They changed his bedroom into a place where he belonged. He also took much better care of his new clothes.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

All this is only the introduction \u2013 but I thought it was wonderfully done.<\/p>\n

The main part of the book is about Aidan\u2019s family expecting a new baby, so Aidan\u2019s going to be a big brother. He does all sorts of things to prepare for being a big brother (but decides he can wait on learning to change diapers).<\/p>\n

Aidan worries, though, when everyone asks his mother about whether the baby will be a boy or a girl. What if they get it wrong, like people had with him? He doesn\u2019t want the baby to feel bad about that. They choose a gender-neutral name and paint the baby\u2019s room with a sky and clouds. When Aidan\u2019s mother is asked if the baby is a boy or a girl, she answers, \u201cIt\u2019s a baby!\u201d<\/p>\n

Now, I\u2019m not so sure I agree with the idea of giving a baby a gender neutral name \u2013 after all, most babies really do turn out to be the gender you think they are at birth.<\/p>\n

However, since the story is told from Aidan\u2019s perspective, it would make sense that his loving parents would be sensitive to his concerns. They are being good parents to Aidan when they acknowledge that babies aren\u2019t always the gender you think they are at first.<\/p>\n

They do remind Aidan that even though they made mistakes with him, they were able to make them right.<\/p>\n

Maybe everything wouldn\u2019t be perfect for this baby. Maybe he would have to fix mistakes he didn\u2019t even know he was making. And maybe that was okay.<\/p>\n

Aidan knew how to love someone, and that was the most important part of being a brother.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

We never are told what gender Aidan\u2019s new sibling appears to be. But we do know the baby is deeply loved and that Aidan will be a great big brother.<\/p>\n

This story is beautifully told and a wonderful way of explaining gender to children. I also enjoyed the Author\u2019s Note at the back, where he explains that his experience was similar to Aidan\u2019s, though not exactly the same. I especially like this paragraph:<\/p>\n

You might also feel like Aidan in other ways. He knows what it\u2019s like to not quite belong, and you might feel that way sometimes too. People don\u2019t always see Aidan how he wants to be seen, and you might know what that feels like. Maybe you worry about making mistakes. Aidan is a transgender kid, but he\u2019s also just a kid. Like you.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

kylelukoff.com<\/a>
\nkaylanijuanita.com<\/a>
\nleeandlow.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Buy from Amazon.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Find this review on Sonderbooks<\/a> at: www.sonderbooks.com\/Picture_Books\/when_aidan_became_a_brother.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.<\/p>\n

Source: This review is based on a library book from Fairfax County Public Library.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but I maintain my website and blogs on my own time. The views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.<\/p>\n

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