When Aidan Became a Brother
Stonewall Book Award Winner - American Library Association (ALA)
This sweet and groundbreaking picture book, winner of the 2020 Stonewall Book Award, celebrates the changes in a transgender boy's life, from his initial coming-out to becoming a big brother.
When Aidan was born, everyone thought he was a girl. His parents gave him a pretty name, his room looked like a girl's room, and he wore clothes that other girls liked wearing. After he realized he was a trans boy, Aidan and his parents fixed the parts of life that didn't fit anymore, and he settled happily into his new life.
Then Mom and Dad announce that they're going to have another baby, and Aidan wants to do everything he can to make things right for his new sibling from the beginning--from choosing the perfect name to creating a beautiful room to picking out the cutest onesie. But what does "making things right" actually mean? And what happens if he messes up? With a little help, Aidan comes to understand that mistakes can be fixed with honesty and communication, and that he already knows the most important thing about being a big brother: how to love with his whole self.
When Aidan Became a Brother is a heartwarming book that will resonate with transgender children, reassure any child concerned about becoming an older sibling, and celebrate the many transitions a family can experience.
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Kyle Lukoff is the author of Too Bright to See, winner of a Newbery Honor; another middle-grade novel, Different Kinds of Fruit; and many picture books and early readers, including the Max and Friends series. A longtime bookseller and children's librarian, he now writes full-time from his home in Philadelphia. You can find him on the web at kylelukoff.com and on Twitter at @kylelukoff.
Kaylani Juanita describes her mission as an artist as "supporting the stories of the underrepresented, and creating new ways for people to imagine themselves." Her work has appeared at the Society of Illustrators and on the BBC website, as well as in her first picture book, Ta-Da!, written by Kathy Ellen Davis. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. Look for her online at kaylanijuanita.com and @kaylanijuanita on Twitter and Instagram.
"A thoughtful, delightfully illustrated book about being seen, heard, and loved." -- Jacqueline Woodson, MacArthur Fellow & award-winning author
"This is the best of what picture books can be, melding powerful storytelling with an awareness of what quality representation can do for readers." -- Alex Gino, author of Melissa and You Don't Know Everything, Jilly P!
* "A trans man himself, Lukoff writes with authority and a loving spirit. Juanita's cheerful digital illustrations are a nicely harmonious match with the text, expanding it in meaningful ways. Together, the text and pictures create a heartfelt celebration of love that will be an ideal selection for trans children and for any who are expecting a new sibling." -- Booklist, starred review
* "Joyful and affirming, Aidan's story is the first of its kind among books for welcoming a new baby." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review
* "Lukoff writes with sensitivity and candor as Aidan takes his first steps toward claiming his identity. . . The creators' exploration of one transgender child's experience emphasizes the importance of learning 'how to love someone for exactly who they are.'" -- Publishers Weekly, starred review
* "Lukoff (himself a transgender man) nails the nuances of Aidan's conflict, providing believable reassurance through Aidan's mom, who offers support specific to her son's experience and proves universally calming advice. . . A much-needed and appealing addition to the picture book canon; both emotionally and visually satisfying." -- School Library Journal, starred review
"Lukoff 's straightforward approach to his character's gender transition rings with authenticity, and the acknowledgment that 'it took everyone some time to adjust' is honest and supportive. . . Lukoff puts his child-centered story and character ahead of message; the word transgender is used only once, and gender not at all. Celebrating the family's close, affirming relationship, Juanita's vibrant digitally rendered illustrations take their cues from the text, which models how to avoid the male/female binary." -- The Horn Book
Stonewall Book Award Winner - American Library Association (ALA)
ALSC Notable Children's Books - American Library Association (ALA)
Best Books - Kirkus Reviews
Best Books of the Year - School Library Journal
Best Children's & Young Adult Books of the Year - Bank Street College of Education
Best Children's Books of the Year - Bank Street College of Education
CCBC Choices - Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)
Charlotte Huck Award for Fiction Honor - National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)
Editors' Choice - Booklist
Great Lakes Great Books Award Honor - Michigan Reading Association
Rainbow Book List - American Library Association (ALA)
White Raven Selection - International Youth Library
