LEO'S LAVENDER SKIRT

The tale of a young boy and his beloved skirt.

Leo, a brown-skinned boy with close-cropped black hair, enjoys dressing up in all manner of costumes; he especially loves to wear his skirt, a lavender, midi-length garment. While he’s out one day with his mother, who has peach skin and orange hair, a well-meaning stranger misgenders him, resulting in a tantrum back at home and a declaration that he will never again wear his skirt. His father, brown-skinned and dark-haired, calmly reassures Leo that there have always been places where men wear dresses and skirts, prompting Leo to picture peaceful scenes of him and his dad wearing hanbok under cherry blossom trees and kilts while listening to a bagpiper. Heartened, Leo prepares for school the next day wearing his skirt, armed with confidence (“If they say I’m a girl, I’ll tell them I’m a boy”). Mom tells him about times when women were not allowed to wear trousers and about some of the individuals who “defied the rules.” Without going into heavier discussions of gender presentation versus identity, this sweet, simple story, translated from Spanish, encourages children to dress as they like without being burdened by societal expectations about gender. Readers don’t get to find out how Leo’s day at school goes, but the love and support of his family may be the most important thing in this case. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Warmly empowering.