My Rainbow

September 1, 2020

PreS-Gr 2-A lively #OwnVoices picture book tribute to a family's unwavering support of their transgender daughter, written by a mother-daughter advocate duo and based on their experiences. Trinity, who is a Black transgender girl, liked to play with her siblings, her dolls, and her pet pig, Peter Porker. One day, Trinity expressed frustration that she couldn't be a girl because she didn't have long hair. She needed long hair to feel like herself. When Trinity's mother pointed out her own short hair, Trinity explained, "People don't care if cisgender girls like you have short hair. But it's different for transgender girls. I need long hair!" The family took a trip to the beauty store. None of the wigs seemed to be the best choice for Trinity. Mom took matters into her own hands and crafted a one-of-a-kind rainbow wig just for her daughter. Trinity loved it: "It's me, Mom. My hair has finally come!" The text's frank and refreshing usage of terms such as cisgender will spark necessary conversations between children and caregivers. Twink's digital illustrations are vibrant and colorful just like Trinity and feature small but important details, including a beauty store employee named Maya wearing a "they/them" pronoun name tag. Some readers may feel that a few details could have been expanded on, such as Trinity's autism, which is acknowledged throughout the book but is not the main focus. VERDICT There are very few books widely published and readily available that spotlight Black trans girls and women; this picture book is an affirming, uplifting story to add to school and public library collections.-Allison Staley, Lake Oswego P.L., OR

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from September 7, 2020
In their #OwnVoices picture book debut, mother-daughter duo and transgender rights advocates DeShanna and Trinity Neal center a Black transgender girl looking for hair that suits her gender expression. Inspired by the younger coauthor, protagonist Trinity’s gender “was part of what made her a masterpiece, just like her autism and her Black skin.” Trinity feels a keen desire for long hair like that on the dolls she shares with nonbinary sibling Hyperion, despite hating “how it made her itchy when it was growing out.” With inspiration from sibling Lucien, their mom sets out to create the perfect multicolored wig for Trinity—one that doesn’t trigger the girl’s sensitivities and that aligns with her “already perfect” natural curls. Artist Twink’s inviting use of color highlights the family’s warm home and the bright rainbow wig—an object that makes Trinity feel like a more authentic version of herself: “It’s me, Mom. My hair has finally come!” A joyful family story that emphasizes the importance of listening and loving people for who they are. Ages 4–8.

Starred review from July 15, 2020
A loving mother helps her daughter express herself and feel like a rainbow. Trinity, an autistic, Black, transgender girl wishes she had long hair. But growing it out is a struggle because she hates hair touching her neck. Seeing her daughter's sadness, Trinity's mom, a Black cisgender woman with natural hair cropped close, listens to Trinity's concerns. At first, she tries to reassure Trinity that girls can wear their hair short, but Trinity still doesn't feel happy. Honoring the truth that Trinity knows herself best, Trinity's mom puts her love and devotion into creating a curly, teal, pink, and purple wig for Trinity, with some help from Trinity's older sibling. Richly colored and invitingly detailed full-spread illustrations that complement the story's title and theme accompany the text. The narrative centers a Black family whose members are depicted in the illustrations with skin that is a range of rich browns. In the midst of Trinity's struggle with her gender expression, her mom models listening and affirmation. She acknowledges that her own experiences with societal expectations of gender expression as a cisgender woman are different from Trinity's. Even as the story shifts to show Trinity's cisgender mother's perspective, Trinity's feelings remain the focus and her happiness the motivation. Apart from the use of person-first language ("kids with autism") instead of identity-first language, Neal and Neal emphasize that all aspects of Trinity's identity deserve celebration and make her a masterpiece. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10.8-by-17-inch double-page spreads viewed at 60.9% of actual size.) A revolutionary representation of joy and self-expression. (Picture book. 4-7)

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