ABSTRACT
While an increasing number of children disclose that they are trans, there are few resources aimed at children which include representations of trans people. This chapter presents a comprehensive audit of picture books portraying trans characters. Despite their potential usefulness, many of the books perpetuate normative discourses about gender and display only narrow forms of acceptance. Three key aspects are analysed: 1) adherence to a binary model of gender, 2) ‘appropriate’ gendered clothing, behaviours and interests and 3) the reliance on professionals for diagnosis. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the potential importance of books with trans characters for children, both for trans children so that they can see themselves reflected in the world around them, and for cisgender children so that they are aware of trans people’s lives.
