We also talked about times when our outside didn’t match our inside, and one student brought up the idea of pretending to be happy when you’re actually in a bad mood. The book made a good vehicle to talk about my own experience as a transgender person in an appropriate and approachable manner. When I shared this story with a class of first graders, they were immediately in tune with the message. Though they just want to help, what Red actually needs is someone to see past his label and change his perspective entirely. In the story, Red’s friends and family all lovingly try to help him be better at being red. The book also speaks to the idea of well-meaning but misguided supporters. They were given a label at the “factory” that didn’t line up with how they truly are. For transgender and gender non-conforming readers, the story feels very literal. The story rings true for anyone who finds themselves labeled in a way that might not suit them. Hall says that the book is inspired by his struggles with dyslexia and the tendency of teachers to not see past that label.
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