Published: 7th May 2019
Publisher: Lee and Low
Illustrator: Kaylani Juanita
Pages: 32
Format: Picture Book
★ ★ ★ ★ – 4 Stars
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 realised 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 Mum 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.
The story is of a transgender character, but the main point of the story is Aiden’s journey on becoming a big brother. The first few pages explain about Aiden but then the rest of the story is how they are preparing their home for a new sibling.
With Aiden’s voice it keeps the narrative at a child’s perspective. Aiden’s concerns about how the new baby will feel in their room, in their clothes, while throughout there are references to how he felt before he found the words to express who he was.
The illustrations are detailed and colourful. The various scenes are on display, often bringing the right emotion connected to the story whether it’s fun, adventurous or uncertain. Juanita captures Aiden’s emotions well and it adds another element to the story.
It is a sweet story and one that balances the new sibling apprehension and the trans child experience. Aiden’s journey isn’t the point of the story, but it is a foundation for his worries and his own experience that he doesn’t want the new baby to have. It’s great for kids as it’s from the perspective of a child and shows they have a lot of thoughts and worries that may go unnoticed.
You can purchase When Aiden Became a Big Brother via the following
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