I Am Jazz

A sweet story that has helped countless trans kids feel less alone in this world, and instilled empathy and understanding in children who don’t understand what it means to be trans. Highly recommend for trans kids and cis kids!

During quarantine, I binged I Am Jazz and immediately fell in love with the entire Jennings Family. They are the most supportive and loving family that I strive to be for my M2F child. Although my child is 20, I thought this would be such a special and cute book to have. If my daughter was able to verbalize what she was thinking and going through at a much younger age, this book would have been perfect for her to understand that she's not the only one with gender dysphoria. This book is also a simple way to explain being transgender to cis children and that every child wants to be accepted for who they are and not by their gender.

This is a to-the-point description of who a transgender person is. it is Jazz's true story. she wastes no words and simply explains how she is a girl as much as any other. This is a children's book and it is exactly how to tell young children about a trans family member. It is worth noting that everyone's story is unique. This is one girl's perspective on a very wide array of other stories. My story as a trans person is different but the message, the explanation, is the same. The illustrations are cute and appropriately support the directness behind the message. This is not a social discourse of transgender science or ethics. Jazz, along with all trans people, has faced judgement and discrimination for who she is. Jazz is a person and can expect others to use the name and pronouns she identifies with; one's personal belief is irrelevant to treating others with respect. Hopefully Jazz's book can help others see that.

In my household, I am raising my children to be more aware, accepting, and loving of others. I grew up in a right wing, religious household and as a queer person myself; it created a lot of damage and shame. I am not transgender: but my child or one of their peers may be. This shows transgender children as what they are: people. Jazz is a great role model for other young people in real life and this book shows her charm and love for those around her. Great job!

This book is amazing. My 1st grade daughter read it aloud as we sat together as a family. Every single page was a gem! The illustrations are so nice and engaging. Jazz explains things in a way that people of all ages can understand a subject that needs more understanding at every level. This book will be helpful and educational for children and adults, for families with transgender children, for teachers, for EVERYONE!!!! I would say that this is a happy story without sugar-coating things or being preachy. It's really just right. We already have every book there is for kids on the topic of being a person who is transgender. This is by far the best!

This is the book we've been waiting for. Deep exhale. Jazz and Jessica explain what it means to be transgender in such a matter-of-fact, clear way. And they show so beautifully that while being trans is a piece of Jazz, it is not her entirety. This is no one dimensional portrait. Rather, we see that Jazz is a child who enjoys playing dress up with friends, cartwheeling, and anything having to do with mermaids; she experiences the range of human emotions; she wants, at the end of the day, the same things we all want. This beautifully written, beautifully human story is my kids new favorite, and although they are not trans, the story inspires them to want to be just like Jazz.

As a Women and Gender Studies professor, I am constantly on the lookout for books challenging normative sex and gender roles. While I Am Jazz is an important book for introducing children to the concept of transgender, I was disappointed to see that "girlness" was equated to princesses, pink, and mermaids in this text. While stereotypical gendered behavior is often a key factor in parents and health care providers realization of a child's transgender identity, it is limiting to both our trans* and cisgendered (non-transgendered) children to set up such binary categories of male and female behavior. I would have liked to see more of Jazz the soccer star, Jazz doing a science project, Jazz doing art, and the emphasis on what made her transgender placed upon her sense of self, not her love of dresses and mermaids. Still, many thanks to young Jazz for bravely sharing her story with other children.

This book is so well done—and really appropriate for any age level. Focuses on the things that make each of us unique, not being afraid to be who you are, and the importance of respecting each other's differences. Whether your child feels a bit different—or you just want them to understand that everyone has a right to be who they are—I am Jazz is a great read. Particularly good for reading time in the classroom—it's a child's POV of what she likes and how she feels—so extremely relatable. We all tell our kids to be themselves—here's a great story that shows why it's such an important part of being happy.

My girls love this book and cheer when Jazz gets to wear dresses to school. I'm glad I live in a time that my kids can have such wonderful books on hard subjects.

It’s the best and most simple explanation for a child!

Honestly, I was disappointed as a transgender adult myself. I was excited to see a transgender children's book which might help my children understand what I live every day, but also to help my youngest work out what they're feeling. I wanted to love this book. However what I found was a book that promotes the medicalised version of what it means to be transgender. The girl-brain in a boy-body stereotype which harms so many of us, myself included. On top of that, the idea that specific behaviours, clothing, and activities are somehow a determining factor in whether a child is a boy or a girl. Nonbinary children were not mentioned in the slightest. Things were not that far different in 2014. Nonbinary people not only existed but were visible and it's frustrating that this book completely erases that in order to tell a very narrow viewpoint of what it means to be transgender. Just because one transgender girl likes doing traditionally "girly" things doesn't mean that's what makes someone transgender. Gender expression and hobbies are completely independent of someone's gender identity. Let's not keep teaching future generations that it is. Furthermore: Many transgender people don't have surgery. Sometimes due to not feeling the need, not having the money for it or not being able to have surgery for medical reasons or due to the medical risk. Promoting the idea of the born-in-the-wrong-body trope only serves to continue this harm. I won't be reading this to my children again, won't be recommending it, and will be seeking out more inclusive books in the future.

私は長年Jazzさんを尊敬していますので 5歳のバイリンガルの息子に購入しました。とてもいいお話です。transgenderとは何かをもう少し詳しく説明して欲しかったです。自分が女の子だと言う息子を応援した両親に憧れます。親の愛を感じるお話です。

Bought it for my friends child who is just starting to come to terms as is their family and it's an amazing story that is fantastically written with great understanding and also ideal for parents who need to let go of their "sons" and embrace their daughters