About the Author

Lesléa Newman is the author of eighty books for readers of all ages. She has received numerous awards for her work, including two Stonewall Book Award Honors, two National Jewish Book Awards, the Massachusetts Book Award, and a creative writing fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts. From 2008--2010, she served as the poet laureate of Northampton, MA. Visit her online at lesleakids.com.

Maya Gonzalez is an award-winning children's book artist, author, activist and progressive educator. Their work addresses systemic inequity in relation to race/ethnicity, sexism, and cissexism using children's books as radical agents of change and healing, both personally and culturally. Gonzalez co-founded Reflection Press, a POC, queer and trans owned independent publishing house that uses holistic, nature-based, and anti-oppression frameworks in their books and materials for kids and grown-ups. They are also the creator of the Gender Wheel, a tool to express the dynamic, infinite and inclusive reality of gender, and provides lectures and workshops to educators, parents and caregivers. Visit them online at mayagonzalez.com.

Reviews

"Children having fun without the onus of expectations is really what this book is about. Any child can aspire to anything, and their gender is not one of the conditions of the outcome. . . This is an engaging read-aloud told in rhyme where young children can see themselves as they explore and enjoy playing with their friends." -- School Library Journal "Chipper couplets promote empowerment through dress-up and play in this inclusive excursion...Newman's energetic first-person verse emphasizes self-acceptance as the speaker describes embracing a wide range of activities...The cumulative cheerleading effect is a powerful affirmation of self." -- Publishers Weekly "Six children diverse in skin tones, whose genders are never specified but could be variously read as boys, girls, or nonbinary, play, create, feel, and interact. . . They show the joy inherent in being themselves, and let readers know that they can do so, too. Gonzalez's colorful characters move, frolic, and express themselves in their signature style as Newman's words offer inspiring, affirming examples of the possibilities open to any child." -- Mombian