Jacob's School Play

May 3, 2021
Following Jacob’s Room to Choose, this third book starring Jacob finds the blond child crafting costumes for the school play. When Jacob finds out that Ari, a pale, freckled classmate with a beehive of red hair, gets to play “the cloud, the rain, the pond,” he also learns that Ari’s pronouns are they and them. Jacob is confused: “The water in the play was three things. Was that why Ari was they, instead of he or she?” But Ms. Reeves has a matter-of-fact explanation—“From the outside, we can’t see who anybody is on the inside.... So we have to trust them when they tell us”—and the play soon lends further clarity. Case illustrates expressive comic strip–style characters in washes of color. While Ari’s identity is presented from another child’s perspective, the school play metaphor is gentle and effective in showing one child eventually comprehending a classmate’s nonbinary identity. Ages 4–8.

May 28, 2021

K-Gr 2-From the creators of Jacob's New Dress and Jacob's Room To Choose comes a book in which Jacob experiences confusion about his nonbinary classmate, Ari. Although Ari is the centerpiece of the cover illustration, within the book, they serve only to guide Jacob, the star of the series, to his ultimate understanding. The class is preparing for an upcoming school play. When Ari is misgendered by Jacob, Ari corrects him, but Jacob needs his teacher, Ms. Reeves, to address his arguments against using the pronoun "they": "They is for two kids." She models thoughtful explanations for adult and child readers. When Jacob forgets his line in the play, he comes to a spontaneous realization that he's glad there is room in his class for everyone to be themselves. Case's joyful illustrations portray a colorful classroom filled with a students from diverse backgrounds, in scenes filled with energy and laughter. Ms. Reeves, Ari, and Jacob are white. VERDICT In collections where Jacob's other stories do well, this is a worthwhile inclusion, but for a more precise and centered discussion of pronouns and gender identity, consider It Feels Good To Be Yourself: A Book About Gender Identity.-Amanda Foulk, Sacramento P.L.

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 15, 2021
A boy and his classmates put on a play about farm life that reflects their differences and celebrates how they help one another grow. Jacob, a White boy who loves dresses, looks forward to their class play. Their teacher has helped everyone pick out parts. However, Jacob feels confused when he discovers that his classmate Ari, who will be playing the role of water, uses the pronoun they. He knows boys and girls can express themselves with any clothes they like, so he doesn't understand why Ari isn't he or she. With guidance from his teacher, Jacob learns the difference between gender identity and expression. Familiar characters return in this third book featuring Jacob, including his friend Sophie, a Black girl, and their White teacher, Ms. Reeves, but the narrative also introduces three new children: Emily (a White girl), Noah (a boy with brown skin and dark hair), and Ari (a White nonbinary child with curly hair). Illustrations depict other background students with pale to dark-brown skin, but none have names or dialogue. Jacob's feelings and experience are centered in the story while Ari acts as a catalyst for his learning. Ms. Reeves' explanation conflates pronoun choice with gender identity and limits pronoun choices to only "he, she, or they." Despite these drawbacks, the overall message emphasizes the beauty in noticing and celebrating differences. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10-by-16-inch double-page spreads viewed at 47.5% of actual size.) A learning opportunity for readers outside the nonbinary experience. (Picture book. 4-7)

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May 1, 2021
Grades K-2 Sarah and Ian Hoffman's latest book about Jacob, a gender nonconforming child, is the third in the series. This time, Jacob's class is putting on a play. The students are all abuzz working on their costumes and the set, but Jacob's class is struggling with something else. One of the student's pronouns are they/them. When Jacob asks if they are a boy or a girl, they explain, "There's more than just boy and girl." The teacher also talks to Jacob about his confusion, telling him that "some kids feel like both--or neither." This straightforward and important book that honors everyone will help adults have thoughtful conversations with young children about gender identity, particularly concerning the message about respecting someone's choice to use ungendered pronouns. Case's beautifully textured illustrations invite the child reader into the bustling, friendly classroom. Pair with It Feels Good to Be Yourself (2019), by Theresa Thorn and Noah Grigni, for another picture book to continue the conversation about gender identity.

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