I think this book would be great to use for older primary age children who are starting to have an awareness, and discussion about trans people. It could be use to help an individual child to understand and express themself. It could be also use with peers to help them understand and show empathy for others.

The story of a monster following the little girl around, getting upset on her behalf when people treat her like a boy is a great analogy for how it must feel to be questioning your identify and gender expression at a young age.

The author has also included a guide for adults at the back of the book. This is a great help to educate themselves and navigate conversations with young people while ensuring they are using terminology correctly.

Me and My Dysphoria Monster is a beautiful story about Nisha, a young girl whose life is plagued by a monster that we come to learn is her gender dysphoria monster. It grows bigger and bigger when teachers and others misgender her, and really gets in the way of her making friends and doing the things she wants to do. It isn’t until Nisha meets another trans person, and starts to be affirmed in her identity, that she takes control back from the monster and lives the life she deserves.

As a psychologist who specializes in working with queer young people and their families, I know how difficult it can be to explain gender dysphoria to people young and old. This book does a lovely job of teaching children and their families about what its like to have your identity invalidated daily, and how powerful it is to affirm someone’s identity. I think the book does a great job of introducing pronouns to kids, and there’s a helpful guide for adults at the end to help them explain different concepts.

This book would be a great addition to any child’s collection — check it out and let me know what you think!

Out August 18!

Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!

I am SO GLAD to see books like this becoming available for young readers! Representation really matters and I think seeing yourself and the issues you encounter, on the page like this can make all the difference in the world! I really love how it was done in this one and the language that was used!

Books like this can only do good, in my mind. Either you see yourself on the page (as a kid or adult reading with a kid) ... or you don't but you still learn kindness and acceptance for an experience you don't share. Absolutely recommend!!!

Thank you to Jessica Kingsley Publishers and NetGalley for sending me an early copy of this book to review!

The cover of this book instantly drew me in for a start. The vibrant colours are absolutely stunning and I was so pleased to then find these beautiful illustrations continue throughout the book.

A short but brave and informative little story about a girl called Nisha and her ever growing dysphoria "monster." This story sheds light on the difficulties young children face when they might not understand the feelings that they deal with surrounding their gender, and how they might approach talking to those around them about it for support.

I could go on and on forever about how important it is that this book is in the world. I wish I'd had when I was growing up. I know this book might not be meant for me now as an almost 27 year old with no children but as soon as I saw it, I had to have it. It just filled me with so much joy to know that this would be out in the world soon. It makes my heart happy to think about how many children this may help. Not only that, there is also a very informative adults guide in the back of the book detailing useful terminology and explanations, which I feel like anyone and everyone would benefit from reading.

I wish I had had this book available when I was a child, I think Nisha brings a voice to such an important monster that namelessly follows some children well into adulthood before they receive the language needed to identify the feelings of not belonging.

Immersed within dynamically illustrated pages, we meet NIsha who is heartbreakingly disconnected from their friends and family while they try to escape their monster. She can't escape it, no matter where she is or what she's doing. I found the descriptions to be so apt and easy for young readers to digest. The monster didn't listen to "reason", it didn't listen to Nisha, it only listened to what others were saying and it was a very successful way to talk about that nagging feeling that follows you when you know you're different from your closest friends and family.

"Our monster is that little voice that knows who we are, and who we want to be when we grow up, and it doesn't like to be ignored!" - Jack

I cannot rave enough about the inclusion of a trans adult friend of Nisha's father, who was happy to give her the language to name her monster and how to take steps to quiet it down. I loved that Nisha's family was immediately depicted to be supportive without any hesitation. I was relieved to find no external conflicts with her story, as we live it daily in the "real world" - so having a book that introduces the idea of radical and immediate acceptance is so vital to mental health and reinforcing to children that there is NOTHING wrong with them.

I will be acquiring a copy for our own home library as soon as it is published, I truly am thrilled it exists. The adult guide at the end was so gently informative and encompassed topics beyond the story itself, which I found to be such a fabulous way to expand on the conversation topics and introduce vocabulary that may be new to many adults.

Understanding the concept of dysphoria when you yourself have never experienced anything like it can be a bit difficult for some parents.

"When people refer to her as a boy, or when she tries to hide her true gender identity, Nisha's dysphoria monster grows larger and larger. Until, one day, Nisha meets Jack - a trans man - who shows Nisha how she can shrink her dysphoria monster back down to size."

Me and My Dysphoria Monster by Laura Kate Dale explains gender dysphoria in a way that is simplistic and easy for younger readers to understand. The illustrations are also lighthearted enough to balance the more serious topic at hand. With a wonderful "adult guide" at the end to help guide conversations with younger people, this book is a must have for diversity sections.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Jessica Kingsley Publishing for the opportunity to read and review.

This is a cute and colorful, if didactic, story about a kid dealing with dysphoria. What I appreciated is that it gives actionable advice for how to handle dysphoric feelings and experiences, and encourages adults to provide specific kinds of support.

Thank you to NetGalley and Jessica Kingsley Publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This is a wonderful “guide” book for children, and parents, who need help understanding gender dysphoria. It also has a great reference guide in the back for parents to understand a little bit more.

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is a very important book to have in a diverse children's collection. The cuteness of the illustrations pairs well with the seriousness of the subject matter as told from the point of view of a child, enhancing the fact that yes, children do experience these feelings, too.

Me and My Dysphoria Monster, by Laura Kate Dale, is such a well written book for helping younger children understand a bit about gender dysphoria and how it feels, in a clear and sensitive way. I also appreciate that the author used simple and age appropriate language. Though, having an adult's guide, as the second half of the book, means that it's perfect for older children and adults as well. The illustrations are just beautiful and they're a great visual to help children see how Nisha might be feeling.
Nisha's an adorable little girl with a monster who seems to follow her everywhere. It started off small, but now it's getting bigger and she's worried that she'll forget who she really is.

An adorable book for kids that explains what it means to be transgender and having dysphoria. I really loved the visual representation of the “dysphoria monster” and how it shrunk in size when the protagonist started to be called her chosen name and introduced the small changes in her life that made her feel like herself. It’s a beautiful guide for kids and adults alike, with gorgeous drawings and clear text, and is informative and cute at the same time. It even has a very useful glossary at the end meant for parents of transgender youth. I wholeheartedly recommend this read.

Nisha is a girl, but people often get that wrong. And every time someone calls her a "boy," the monster that follows her around grows. At first it's little, no bigger than a baseball, but as the book progresses, it gets bigger and bigger, until it could swallow her up...until her dad introduces her to Jack.

Jack is an adult trans man, and I LOVE the inclusion of a trans adult mentor. Connecting with trans elders is a great was for kids to see that respect and happiness is possible. Jack explains what the monster actually is: a dysphoria monster. And it can get stronger when Nisha isn't respected or when she doesn't live a gender-confirming life, but it can be shrunk to almost a pet with societal acceptance and self-expression. Jack's monster is actually kind of cute, and he shows it some affection, as if he's taken in it's existence as just part of his backstory, and not part of who he is today. It's a bit of foreshadowing to Nisha's own conquering of her dysphoria monster.

The artwork is charming and dynamic. The primary focus of the artwork is, of course, the people, and they are given a lot of movement and emotion. Nisha's face is easily readable in every image, and we get to see her transformation through the book, going deeper into nerves and depression, and then coming back out in a big way. All the people around Nisha also display their emotions quite strongly, and it's nice to see the other children's' eagerness to accept Nisha.

Most pages don't have much background, except some details to help flesh out the scene. Grocery checkout counters, bookshelves, a school whiteboard. In fact, it's on pages with the most background that we see the strongest emotions. However, they aren't always negative! While Nisha is surrounded by her dysphoria monster in one full-background image, she's surrounded by stars and sparkles in a more positive moment.

The book ends with 4 pages for adults/more advanced readers, explaining some of the terminology of the book, as well as giving resources for trans kids.

I seem to be very much in a minority but I can't recommend this book. Seems to follow the current trans political line of affirming without questioning what is definitely not settled science and has been proven to be harmful in many cases. Also has potential to create distrust of the medical profession in a child's mind. There is no place given to the capabilities of children to understand let alone make life changing and irreversible decisions. Also no place given to testimony of detransitioners. I would only use this book as a teaching aid on the dangers of unquestioning gender dysphoria affirmation.

Not too long ago I read a book called Alma y Los Siete Monstruos by Iria G. Parente and Selene M. Pascual which tells the story of a young Alma who has monsters under her bed... those monsters being mental illnesses. I absolutely adored that book, which was one reason I wanted to pick up Me and My Dysphoria Monster by Laura Kate Dale.

As a teacher working with young kids, I come across a lot of questions and stereotypes and this book was not only helpful for me as an adult, but I can clearly see this book being used when raising a child. The message around the topic of gender was well-written and explained calmly and clearly. Not to mention the visual art of the comics and the colors picked which were quite colorful and comforting.

Another element I really liked was the Adults Guide at the end of the book. It's so important to name things properly nowadays and this part of the book included terms that might be confusing for some people, making sure that the adult, be it a parent or a teacher, could use the correct terms. That shows the book is not only important for children to see their feelings are valid, but that it's also important to educate them so they can be more tolerant towards their peers in the future.

In my opinion, this should be a children's book that should be incorporated into every family so that we can raise a new generation able to be compassionate towards others but also a generation that knows their feelings are completely normal.

I am cis-female and do not represent the identities in this work. My opinions are based on my own experience and what I hope for the experiences of others.

Yes! Amazing. We definitely need more stories like this not only to let children who are struggling with gender dysphoria understand what they are feeling and know they aren't alone but also to let other kids know how it feels to be called by a dead name or misgendered, to foster more inclusive children who will be more inclusive adults. I think this was amazing and honestly got me teary-eyed more than once!

Wow. This book is beautiful and powerful. It explains dysphoria simply and effectively, while keeping true to the experience. The art is gorgeous and gets the feels across well. I was very pleased that there was nonbinary representation as well and a terms guide for adults in the back. I wish this book had been around when I was a child, but I'm glad it's here now. I'm sure it will help affirm trans children for years to come.

This is probably one of the greatest children’s books I have seen this year! My partner has been transitioning for a few years and books like these really help my kids (along with friends and family) engage with the ideas of accepting people as they are and adjusting the use of proper pronouns for the benefit of the person we care about (even if it is not what we are “used to”).

This year we have focused on inclusivity and expanding our horizons. Adding diversity and representation to our bookshelves and books that we read and recommend has been so important as well. This book will be at the top of our list.

Thank you to this author for such an important and amazing book empowering children (and those healing their inner child).

There's a lot to love about this picture book introduction to gender dysphoria, narrated by a young trans girl. Great illustrations, with the monster beautifully depicted in dark sketchy strokes contrasting with the bright, cartoony characters around it. Great message in the story, first demonstrating the negative impacts of being constantly misgendered and then the joy of having your gender affirmed. And lots of detailed, informative back matter for parents and teachers to dive into as well.

However, I have mixed feelings about the "dysphoria monster" metaphor. Maybe it's partly due to the overuse of monsters to personify every negative emotion these days - how many picture books have we seen with monsters representing anxiety, or depression, or anger? The trope of the monster growing bigger as its "fed" by certain experiences, and then shrinking as the protagonist learns how to cope with it, is so familiar and so broad that I'm not sure it can do justice to such a nuanced concept. Dysphoria is about a mismatch - between internal sense of self and outward expression, or how you're perceived by others - and this isn't really captured by simply showing a big scary monster that follows you around. On the other hand, maybe the familiarity of the monster metaphor will at least help convey to young children the sense of negative emotion building up as the main character has these experiences, even if it obscures the more unique and specific qualities of dysphoria.

I also found it somewhat confusing that the adult trans character says to the protagonist: "Our monster is that little voice that knows who we are, and who we want to be when we grow up, and it doesn't like to be ignored!" Up until this point, the monster seems to have represented the negative feelings associated with being misgendered and not allowed to express your true gender identity, but now suddenly it seems like the monster is a GOOD thing, representing that internal sense of self that knows who you really are and fights for your right to express it. For a minute here, I thought the book was going to head in a direction of "befriending the monster" - maybe using its power to stand up for yourself - but then we go right back to seeing the monster portrayed as a negative force, which shrinks as the protagonist is increasingly allowed to express her true identity. The monster then seems to undergo a transformation into a cute little creature at the end of the book, which isn't really explained. If the goal was to show that the "monster" isn't really so monstrous after all - that it really is just a force compelling you to be true to yourself - I think this needed to be more clearly communicated. An author's note directed to the child reader (in addition to the great material for adults) could have helped a lot with this, translating the metaphor into real-life terms.

As a side note, I was also confused by the illustrator's choice to use the androgyne symbol, rather than the male symbol, in speech bubbles representing gendering and misgendering. (I'm not sure how meaningful those symbols are to young children anyway, though I suppose that's something an adult could explain.) I do appreciate that the illustrations show more diverse and nuanced depictions of gender expression than just "pink = girls" and "blue = boys" - far too many picture books with trans characters show a pink-dress-wearing girl becoming a blue-sport-jersey-wearing boy, or something equally stereotypical. The main character also participates in the same activities throughout the book, which I think sends an important message that gender is about who you ARE, not what you DO.

Overall, I commend the author for tackling this topic in picture book form, and I'm sure many kids and families will find it validating. There are other picture books that capture the experience of gender dysphoria - and maybe some more clearly - but this is the first I've seen that specifically uses the term itself, which may be helpful vocabulary for some readers. And certainly, more trans representation by trans authors in children's literature is always very welcome!

The world needs more books like this! This picture book introduces children to gender dysphoria and gender identity. Each and every aspect is introduced at a developmentally appropriate level for children as young as preschool. Nisha, the main character, has a dysphoria monster that grows every time someone refers to her as a boy or when she hides who she really is. Thankfully, her parents are very supportive and they introduce her to Jack, a trans man, who shares his experience with his own dysphoria monster.

The book also includes a guide for adults with terminology, explanations, and common questions. This book would be a perfect addition to any school or classroom library. Not only will this book save lives by providing representation for trans and nonbinary folx, but it will also teach cisgender people one experience of being trans*.

I urge you to read this book and then purchase it for the children in your life.

Many thanks to Netgalley, Jessica Kingsley Publishers and the author for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This gorgeously illustrated book is both moving and educational. Me and My Dysphoria Monster is a perfect little gem of a book to use as a tool to explain to young children the concepts of assigned sex, gender and gender dysphoria. It give us the story of little Nisha getting rid of her gender dysphoria monster which is beautifully illustrated and explained in simple terms. The most beautiful part of the tiny story is where Nisha meets an adult who has a dysphoria monster for themselves, which helps her to come out and understand herself better as now she has more words and tools. This little story proves how much representation and right words are important for children growing up. At the end of the book there is a small handy glossary of gender related terms and FAQs to help answer any questions the little ones will come up with once they have listened to the story.

With world spewing hate around us every single day, little rays of sunshine like these books that will help get the new generations through it is very important!!