FEATURED IN MS. MAGAZINE'S "15 BOOKS FOR KIDS THAT PROVE YOU CAN BE A FEMINIST AT ANY AGE" Anastasia Higginbotham's What You Don't Know: A Story of Liberated Childhood delves into queerness, Blackness, and the love that dismantles whiteness. It's a book about knowing deeply that you matter-always did, always will. It's a book about what schools get wrong and churches don't say; but institutions are made by people and the people are evolving. It's a book about being known and cherished by family, and living in communion with your own personal Jesus, Buddha, Spirit, Source, Father, Mother, God, breath, inner space, outer space, nothingness, and however else we name and relate to our divinity and humility in the presence of all we don't know. Most children, gay or not, in or out, are sure to find themselves within these pages. The message that "all you need is to be you" will stay with readers long after the last page, in a book for LGBTQIA+ collections and beyond. -SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL Higginbotham manages to acknowledge the bias that Demetrius faces, put the emphasis on the love he receives, and make him an empowered and confident protagonist who is grateful for help but not a passive victim. -MOMBIAN I think the days of Heather Has Two Mommies are long past. We're ready for GLBTQIA+ stories for kids that are a little bit complicated and a little bit interesting and a whole lotta fantastic. For all this, the person you turn to is Anastasia Higginbotham. -BETSY BIRD, Collection Development Manager of the Evanston Public Library

15-city author tour (New York City, Brooklyn, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Chicago, Minneapolis, Detroit, Ann Arbor, Raleigh-Durham, and more) Pre-pub galley mailing Pre-pub media push to coincide with National Coming Out Day (October 11) Extensive librarian and educator outreach National online, radio, and print media campaign Collaboration with GLSEN and other national organizations for promotion Cross-promotion on https://anastasiahigginbotham.com/ Featured promotion at book festivals and conventions Major social media outreach

About the Author
ANASTASIA HIGGINBOTHAM is the author and illustrator of Divorce Is the Worst, Not My Idea: A Book About Whiteness,Death Is Stupid, and Tell Me About Sex, Grandma-all part of the Ordinary Terrible Things series. She lives in Brooklyn. Librarians love her, but not as much as she loves them.

Reviews
Most children, gay or not, in or out, are sure to find themselves within these pages. The message that "all you need is to be you" will stay with readers long after the last page, in a book for LGBTQIA+ collections and beyond. -SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL Presents an inspiring vision of what queer kids can be with the love and support of family, friends, and educators. -MOMBIAN Anastasia Higginbotham shows what it means to be queer and Black growing up in America today through the eyes of Demetrius. Exploring the love and acceptance Demetrius feels from his family and friends and the fear of growing up when you aren't what society deems to be "normal." -MS. MAGAZINE What You Don't Know shows a world where queer kids are allowed to be whole. Anastasia's collage work is original, funny, and deeply evocative, depicting the fear and hope of being young and LGBTQ+ in today's changing and volatile world, and the transformative power of allies. -RACHEL AIMEE, Executive Director, Drag Queen Story Hour NYC What You Don't Know is an ontological investigation and a treatise on love, disguised as a children's book. It is sure to make many kids (and their parents) feel seen. -COOPER LEE BOMBARDIER, author of Pass with Care: Memoirs I think the days of Heather Has Two Mommies are long past. We're ready for GLBTQIA+ stories for kids that are a little bit complicated and a little bit interesting and a whole lotta fantastic. For all this, the person you turn to is Anastasia Higginbotham. -BETSY BIRD, Collection Development Manager of the Evanston Public Library Given the relentless stream of news, there's a temptation right now to numb ourselves. But Ms. Higginbotham's work reminds us that, even if we ignore reality, our kids are still seeing it and feeling it. -THE NEW YORK TIMES Divorce, death, sex, race: Higginbotham takes many of today's most complex issues and translates them for young readers with her book series Ordinary Terrible Things. -PEOPLE Anastasia Higginbotham has the honor and distinction of being the most challenged author during my time working in libraries-but her books remain on our shelves. She tackles difficult topics in a straightforward and age-appropriate way. That may ruffle some feathers, but her books are an asset to a well-balanced collection. -JOANNA KATZ, librarian, Tennessee



Book Information
ISBN 9781948340298
Author Anastasia Higginbotham
Format Paperback
Page Count 144
Imprint Dottir Press
Publisher Dottir Press