My Maddy
A loving, affirming ode to parents who are gender fluid or gender nonbinary.
My Maddy has hazel eyes which are not brown or green. And my Maddy likes sporks because they are not quite a spoon or a fork. Most mommies are girls. Most daddies are boys. But lots of parents are neither a boy nor a girl, My Maddy shows how some of the best things in the world are not one thing or the other. They are something in between and entirely their own.
Randall Ehrbar, PsyD, offers an insightful note with more information about parents who are members of gender minority communities, including transgender, gender nonbinary, or otherwise gender diverse people.
ALA’s 2021 Rainbow Book List Top Ten Title for Young Readers
| Format | Your Price | Add |
|---|---|---|
|
978-1-4338-3044-0
|
$11.24 |
| Interest Level | Kindergarten - Grade 3 |
|---|---|
| Reading Level | Grade 3 |
| Genre | Picture Books |
| Category | Diverse Books: LGBTQIA+ |
| Copyright | 2020 |
| Publisher | Magination Press, American Psychological Association |
| Imprint | Magination Press — American Psychological Association |
| Language | English |
| Number of Pages | 32 |
| Publication Date | 2025-01-01 |
Author: Gayle E. Pitman
Gayle E. Pitman, PhD, is a professor of psychology and women’s studies at Sacramento City College. Her teaching and writing focuses on gender and sexual orientation, and she has worked extensively with the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBTQ+) community.
Illustrator: Violet Tobacco
Violet Tobacco, an Atlanta-based illustrator, initially pursued theater during college but later explored various artistic mediums. With an affinity for storytelling infused with whimsy, humor, and moral depth, she found her true passion in illustration. Collaborating with fellow creatives, Violet works to craft narratives that help us better understand who we are in this big-small world.
Reviews
Booklist
“My Maddy is a heartfelt narrative that marries refreshingly unapologetic LGBTQ illustrations with text that many child readers will be able to relate to. This celebration of nonconforming parents is a nuanced and noteworthy addition to any home, classroom, or library.”—starred, Booklist
Kirkus Reviews
“The latest in Pitman’s LGBTQ books for children introduces young readers to a parent whose gender identity and expression are ‘entirely fantastically their own’—not a mommy or a daddy, but ‘my Maddy . . . .’ Such positive images of gender-nonconforming presentations are rare in children’s literature, making this a valuable addition to any school, public, or personal library for its engaging art and accessible representation for a wide age range . . . . Much needed in the landscape of family-oriented picture books.”—Kirkus Reviews
Publishers Weekly
“Tobacco’s crisp, richly detailed illustrations depict a parent and child moving through their days with warmth and love, snuggling and reading. Pitman’s affirming text highlights the joy of in-between things—hazel eyes, sporks, sunrises, motorcycles (’It’s not a car or a bicycle. It’s kind of both, and it’s something all its own’) —gently illuminating the idea that people, too, can exist beyond categorization.”—Publishers Weekly