Calvin

By JR Ford, Vanessa Ford, Kayla Harren (Illustrator)

A transgender boy faces his first day of school, revealing his true self to family and friends.

4.5/5 Goodreads · 698 ratings

32 pages· 598 words· Est. 5 min read-aloud

$16.99Save 7%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

Calvin knows he's a boy, but the world sees him differently. As he prepares for his first day of school, he bravely tells his family, who support him wholeheartedly. With new clothes and a haircut, Calvin faces the 'what-ifs' of school life. Will his friends and teachers accept him? As he shares his true name, the warmth of acceptance begins to melt his fears. This heartfelt story of courage and identity encourages kindness and empathy, reminding us all that everyone deserves to feel safe and respected.

From the publisher

In this joyful and impactful picture book, a transgender boy prepares for the first day of school and introduces himself to his family and friends for the first time. Calvin has always been a boy, even if the world sees him as a girl. He knows who he is in his heart and in his mind but he hasn’t yet told his family. Finally, he can wait no longer: I’m not a girl, he tells his family. I’m a boy–a boy in my heart and in my brain. Quick to support him, his loving family takes Calvin shopping for the swim trunks he’s always wanted and back-to-school clothes and a new haircut that helps him look and feel like the boy he’s always known himself to be. As the first day of school approaches, he’s nervous and the what-ifs gather up inside him. But as his friends and teachers rally around him and he tells them his name, all his what-ifs begin to melt away. Inspired by the authors’ own transgender child and accompanied by warm and triumphant illustrations, this authentic and personal text promotes kindness and empathy, offering a poignant and inclusive back-to-school message: all should feel safe, respected, and welcomed.

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