Be Who You Are: Exploring Representations of Transgender Children in Picturebooks

The publication of children's and young adult literature inclusive of LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer) characters has steadily increased in recent years (Möller, 2014; Naidoo, 2012; Sapp, 2010). Such texts provide windows and mirrors (Bishop, 1990) for children to see refl...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of children's literature Vol. 43; no. 2; pp. 28 - 41
Main Author Crawley, Stephen Adam
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Las Vegas Children's Literature Assembly 01.10.2017
Subjects
Adolescent Literature
Allusion
Authorship
Children & youth
Childrens literature
Childrens picture books
Christianity
Content Analysis
Diversity
Educational Resources
Exegesis & hermeneutics
Family Relationship
Gays & lesbians
Gender
Gender Differences
Gender identity
Ideology
LGBTQ literature
LGBTQ People
Literary characters
Longitudinal Studies
Misogyny
Multiculturalism & pluralism
Narrative techniques
Narratives
Parent-child relations
Pedagogy
Peer Relationship
Picture Books
Publishing
Publishing industry
Race
Readers
Self Concept
Sexual Identity
Social Class
Students
Studies
Teacher Student Relationship
Transgender persons
Writing
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Summary:The publication of children's and young adult literature inclusive of LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer) characters has steadily increased in recent years (Möller, 2014; Naidoo, 2012; Sapp, 2010). Such texts provide windows and mirrors (Bishop, 1990) for children to see reflections of themselves, to have their or their loved ones' identities validated, or to learn about others who may be different from them. Research points to the need for and benefits of heightened inclusion of books with LGBTQ characters and content in schools to foster increasingly welcoming and supportive spaces for all young learners (e.g., Ryan, Patraw, & Bednar, 2013; Schall & Kauffmann, 2003; Souto-Manning & Hermann-Wilmarth, 2008). A crucial first step is to consider what literature is available, which identities are being portrayed or excluded, and what explicit and implicit messages are conveyed. Conducting a critical content analysis, the author highlights picturebooks featuring transgender child protagonists and problematizes representations of race, social class, gender identity, and gender performance.
ISSN:1521-7779