Books for children*:
"Oliver Button is a Sissy" by Tomie de Paola
"The Sissy Duckling" by Harvey Fierstein
"It's Perfectly Normal" by Robie H. Harris and Michael Emberley
"Changing Bodies, Changing Lives: A Book for Teens on Sex and Relationships" by Ruth Bell et al.
* Recommended by the Outreach Program of Children with Gender-Variant Behaviors and Their Families at Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C.
E-mail Ilene Lelchuk at ilelchuk@sfchronicle.com.
From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 3-Elmer is not like the other male ducklings. "They boxed while Elmer baked. When they built forts, Elmer made sand castles. They had a football game, and Elmer put on a puppet show." When they call him a sissy, his mother insists that he is simply special, and "being special sometimes scares those who are not." Eventually, he is threatened by the local bully, Drake, and when he runs instead of fighting, his embarrassed father declares, "He's no son of mine!" Heartbroken, Elmer runs away and sets up house deep in the forest.
As the air turns cooler, he sneaks to the great pond to view his parents one last time before they fly south and sees his father shot by hunters. He takes him home and nurses him back to health, and when the flock returns in the spring, Elmer's father boasts about his son's bravery and loyalty. Fierstein's book, based on his award-winning animated HBO special, sends out a positive message about differences and acceptance. The cartoon images are bright and colorful. The characters are engaging, and their faces and body language are wonderfully expressive. Snappy dialogue and enhancing details abound, from Elmer's flowered backpack, to the framed picture of his parents he packs in his pillowcase before his departure. With its universal message, upbeat conclusion, and snappy illustrations, this book is sure to be a hit with children.