Me and My Dysphoria Monster: An Empowering Story to Help Children Cope with Gender Dysphoria

ender nonconforming child Nisha, depicted with brown skin, learns to follow the compass of her inner voice in this picture book that visualizes gender dysphoria as a scribbly blue “monster.” Nisha’s loving family and friends can’t see the dark, amorphous entity that grows larger when she feels gender dysphoria—“When someone refers to me as a boy,” when she is told to use the boys’ restroom, and when she visits the beach. That is, until Jack, a trans adult who peacefully coexists with his dysphoria monster, explains: “Our monster is that little voice that knows who we are, and who we want to be when we grow up.” Ang’s saturated illustrations depict the child’s day-to-day, and the strength gained in speaking with a queer elder, as Nisha starts living authentically, adjusting her gender presentation, pronouns, and name, and learning to see the “monster” as information. Back matter includes a comprehensive terminology guide for adult readers. Ages 6–10. (Aug.)