In this photographic picture book, the authors record and transcribe the words of displaced children, raising up their voices-who they are, where they came from, and the many different reasons that they had to leave their home countries.

My parents told me we had to leave to stay safe. I was scared.

We left in a hurry. We could hardly bring anything. I could only take what fit in my backpack.

One day there was everyone and the next day there was almost no one. We had to go too.

This book celebrates the resilience, hope, and joy of children and their families who are seeking asylum. Stunning photographs capture children doing everyday things like playing on the playground, going to school, and meeting new friends alongside their stories of having to leave to their home countries in order to stay safe. The authors transcribed and photographed children from around the world to share their experiences on moving to a new place under extremely difficult circumstances as a way to raise up their voices and humanize people seeking asylum.

Countries include Afghanistan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Bosnia, Tibet, Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Mexico, Syria, Nigeria, Myanmar, and Ukraine. The authors have included backmatter with further information for kids, parents, and educators.

About the Author
Gwen Agna has been an educator for more than forty years. Trained in early childhood education, throughout her career she worked to incorporate social justice, anti-bias, and anti-racism in all aspects of classroom practice. She lives in Northampton, MA. Shelley Rotner is an award-winning author and photo illustrator of more than fifty books for young readers. With a background as an elementary school teacher, museum educational specialist, and UNICEF photographer, Rotner is also a noted freelance photojournalist whose work has appeared in Time magazine, National Geographic's World magazine, and numerous others. She is best known for portraying diverse children with inclusivity in her books, notably All Kinds of People and Shades of People, where she explores kids' worlds to raise awareness and to promote curiosity and compassion. She lives in Northampton, Massachusetts. Shelley Rotner is an award-winning author and photo illustrator of more than fifty books for young readers. With a background as an elementary school teacher, museum educational specialist, and UNICEF photographer, Rotner is also a noted freelance photojournalist whose work has appeared in Time magazine, National Geographic's World magazine, and numerous others. She is best known for portraying diverse children with inclusivity in her books, notably All Kinds of People and Shades of People, where she explores kids' worlds to raise awareness and to promote curiosity and compassion. She lives in Northampton, Massachusetts.

Reviews
Praise for True You: "Agna and Rotner's text, presented against brightly colored backgrounds, encourages-"People might think your body is a clue to who you are. It is what you think that matters!"-while Rotner's photographs capture exuberant self-expression, creating a crucial window and mirror for gender-expansive kids and their loved ones." - Publishers Weekly True You: A Gender Journey joyfully celebrates children and the freedom to be yourself. Told through the voices and experiences of real people, this book offers a lively introduction to gender diversity from credible experts on the topic. - Donalyn Miller, Teacher and Author, The Book Whisperer True You: A Gender Journey cheerfully and concisely makes accessible the complexities of gender identity and expression to a younger audience. It provides the absolutely needed service of allowing young people to recognize gender diversity both in themselves and in their peers, presenting many possibilities of both exploration tactics and ways of being. I truly believe this book will allow gender diverse youth to recognize themselves and know that they are not alone, and allow cisgender youth to approach gender diversity from a lens of kindness and potential rather than unfamiliarity and ostracization. - Alexander Petrovnia, founder of the Trans Formations Project True You is a must-read celebration of gender. This picture book spotlights a joyful spectrum of identities through the smiles and no-nonsense words of actual children. It also provides extensive resources to affirm and support transgender, nonbinary, cisgender, and questioning youth. This is the book you're searching for to help older Americans transition from an inflexible sex-based misunderstanding of gender to a future filled with identity freedom for all. - Cory McCarthy, author of Ace Takes Flight Every page warms my heart. I love the beautiful photos and I appreciate the diversity represented. I hope this book finds its way to kids everywhere. True You is a great learning tool to help make the world a kinder place. - Kai Shappley, trans activist, actress, and author of the forthcoming middle grade novel, Joy, to the World True You is a beautiful tribute to the wonder and diversity of kids, AND the importance of letting kids explore and have agency for themselves. A book like this would likely have drastically improved my life if I'd had it as a kid. A necessary addition to every school library! - Schuyler Bailar, Author of Obie Is Man Enough and creator of the LaneChanger.com Gender Literacy Learning Series



Book Information
ISBN 9780063304178
Author Gwen Agna
Format Hardback
Page Count 32
Imprint HarperCollins
Publisher HarperCollins Publishers Inc
Weight(grams) 454g