This book is a valuable resource to introduce the concept of dysphoria to kids. The “adults guide” at the end is also helpful is aiding adults who read alongside kids to teach them as well as educate themselves. I only give it four stars because I think the way dysphoria was defined is a little confusing, because the book refers to it as “that little voice that knows who we are,” but in the rest of the book, it is treated as something that is hurtful and to be rid of. Beyond that, it is a fantastic read, and I hope it will teach many youth.

An amazing picture book of a child dealing with depression and dysphoria. Nisha can't find her place among friends and the community and it cripples her life because she doesn't feel comfortable when she wears boys' clothes and people call her a boy. Learning from those who have experienced it she manages to teach others and adults how to address her. I love the artwork, but mostly the design of this book, not only there are multiple splash illustrations to break from full pages, but also the font plays a part in the story and design of the page. Has a very useful "adult guide" of vital nomenclature to understand how to make others comfortable.

LGBTQIA, gender-identity, coping, support-system*****

Marketed and illustrated for kids, it is really a tool for parents (and others) to learn to understand the confusing and upsetting feelings that a child has if they feel that they are not the gender that others insist they are. I feel that it is well done and am certain that the explanations and resources listed at the end are of the finest value.
The illustrations by Hui Qing Ang are simple, colorful, and very effective in backing up the words.
I requested and received a free temporary e-book copy from Jessica Kingsley Publishers via NetGalley.

I think this book would really help children understand dysphoria and how it can impact children. I also think that it teaches the message be kind to yourself and to others well.

While I would recommend this book, I do think it is a little on the dense side with the information and themes. This is definitely a book you want to read with a child, because you're going to have to explain a lot to them. At the same time, I really love the fact that there is a book that talks about a child dealing with gender dysphoria. This is something that my loved ones have struggled with in their childhoods and I know they could have used a book like this.

Great book to explain to children what gender dysphoria in a clear way! It has useful information for grown-ups, too!

I absolutely adored this book and the representation in it! I think it is so important for kids to learn from different perspectives through reading. The illustrations were also great!

Such a cute and wholesome story with wonderful illustrations. I really appreciate the guide questions and glossary the book also provides at the end. It is a wonderful introduction for children to learn about themselves and their peers, with parental guides in the back to help promote further conversation.

Me and My Dysphoria Monster is a fantastic children's book about gender and gender dysmorphia. The message is clear and well written for a young audience, with beautiful bold illustrations that helps depict the feelings of gender dysphoria and euphoria.
In addition to an empowering and positive book for children, there is also an excellent adult guide with gender identity terminology and questions for parents of transgender and gender questioning children to give them the words to help their children with affirming language and care.

Me and My Dysphoria Monster is a book about a child named Nisha, his coming out, and his dealings with dysphoria.

In this book the subject dysphoria and trans-ness in relation to kids was handled very well. I think making dysphoria akin to a "monster" that can grow or shrink depending on how you yourself or others interact with you is realistic if cartoonified. It also is good, I think, because it separates those feelings from yourself. You can see they are not you, but instead a detached emotion experience that you can learn to control.

Aside from it all being handled well, the art was cute and at the end of the book there are quite a few definitions pertaining to trans-ness, as well as some common questions that might be asked (and their answers).

I'd definitely recommend this to, honestly, any parent whether their child has come out as trans in any way or not. The end bits explain the difference between gender rolls/being gender nonconforming and actually being trans which I think would help all parents, and then if you do have this book you'll be more prepared if the subject comes up with your child at all.

*I was given a copy of this title via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

This story was really accessible, important information and emotions coming forward beautifully We get to know a fantastic little person, figuring out who she is snd how to express it. I also liked the adult guide, which gives adults no excuses not to know the terminology or facts.

Hope it gets translated or more books like these will be written and find their ways into libraries all over the world.

/ Denise

Wow, wow, wow! Such an important book for young children to read! I loved the representation in this one. It's so important for children to see themselves represented in the pages of a book, and this one did a great job. I have read many children's books over the years and never have a k read one with this important storyline!

Thank you Jessica Kingsley Publishers for a digital copy of this book! This book is due for publication 8/18/22 and I recommend it.

SO SO SO CUTE very big fan, I like how it expresses what a huge impact social transition can have on your psychological well being.

what a good book! i was poking through @netgalley and found this in the read now section so i jumped on it and i’m glad i did.

*full title: Me and My Dysphoria Monster
An Empowering Story to Help Children Cope with Gender Dysphoria, text by Laura Kate Dale and illustrations by Hui Qing An

synopsis from netgalley: “Nisha's monster follows her everywhere. It used to be small, but recently her monster has begun to grow. And as her monster gets bigger and bigger, Nisha feels more and more unlike herself.

When people refer to her as a boy, or when she tries to hide her true gender identity, Nisha's dysphoria monster grows larger and larger. Until, one day, Nisha meets Jack - a trans man - who shows Nisha how she can shrink her dysphoria monster back down to size.

This touching story is the perfect book for discussing gender dysphoria with children, explaining what it is and how they and their families can deal with it. It also includes an accompanying guide for parents with further information about gender dysphoria, terminology, and first-hand examples of the author's own experiences.”

i want to do an in depth review of this once it comes out. there’s a moment in the back matter where the author is basically like yeah this is my truth, this is what helps/harms trans folks and this is how i know and it is so powerful, this is the type of learning in picture books i’m trying to see and what the world needs right now (i’m glaring at you, animal picture books)💗💗💗

publication date is 18 August 2022. do us a solid, pick it up from our bookshop this summer and tell me how much you love it (i know you will)

link to ig post: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cck1UaBsop8/

Before today, I had never seen a children's book tackle the experiences of dysphoria.
Me and My Dysphoria Monster is an artfully crafted visualization of what it is like to grow up dysphoric. The illustrations are whimsical and adorable, allowing a tough subject to be talked about with ease. As a trans/nonbinary kid, I didn't have the words to explain how I was feeling and there was no representation in children's' media where I could see someone experiencing something similar. Books like these are so important, especially right now with the horrific amendments that are being passed.
Unfortunately, this book did fall short with its incorrect usage of the androgyne symbol in place of the male symbol. The utilization of sex identity symbols in general was off-putting since the story revolved around gender identity.
The story also illustrates the social transition of its main character as she is allowed to switch from playing on the boys' team to the girls' team. This unfortunately normalizes the acceptance of gender division in children's activities, something that many kids struggle with. I, for one, remember having an identity crisis every time a schoolteacher divided my class by gender.
Overall, this was a charming, heart-warming story about identity that I believe can and will act as a valuable resource for parents and children.

"Me and My Dysphoria Monster" is an adorable and beautiful childrens illustrated book. It's a short childrens book that talks about gender dysphoria in children and how to handle it. It also has a few pages at the end for adults with information about different terms, like gender and sex. It's an absolutely fantastic book and the art style is just wonderful.

This book made me tear up a bit while reading, especially towards the end of the book, where they turned into happy tears. It was so nice to read, while also being really educational for both parents and children.

The writing was really nice and easy to follow and understand. It's such and educational book, which the author managed to write in a way that children will understand it too.

Regardless, I will deffinately recommend this book to people. And if you're a parent, I would highly recommend checking this book out!

Me and My Dysphoria Monster is written in a way that helps non-dysphoric humans understand the stress and anxiety caused by dysphoria and how the simplest of acts can go a long way to helping people feel more comfortable and more like them. The illustrations are also beautiful!

I learned today that dysphoria doesn't mean what I thought it did. I thought dysphoria referred to a condition in which a person sees themselves in a mirror through a distorted lens, for example sees themselves as obese and disgusting when actually they are slender and lovely (or normal-weight and just fine). But when I looked up the definition, I discovered that dysphoria is actually a profound sense of distress that emerges as a symptom of some other mental health disorder, such as depression.

In this book, there is yet another definition of gender dysphoria, which the book defines in the parent/teacher glossary as "the feeling of distress and disconnect experienced by many transgender people when they are forced to experience their Gender Assigned at Birth."

However it is defined, the dysphoria monster is adorably illustrated as a giant dark cloud that looms over the main character and grows larger and larger the more they are misgendered. I felt the cloud would help not just children struggling with gender identity but any child struggling with anxiety or mood dysregulation. The monster doesn't let the child swim or play with friends and is just generally making the child's life feel smaller and more miserable.

Happily, this child lives in a state where people are allowed to address this by letting the child change their pronouns, be called by a different name, be allowed to use the bathroom that feels gender appropriate, and be allowed to play on a gendered team with children of their gender. Knowing this book is coming out at the same time as laws forbidding all of these accommodations is especially heartbreaking. May this grim backlash be brief and overpowered by love and acceptance in short order.

Thanks to Netgalley, Jessica Kingsley Publishers and Hachette for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A beautiful storyline for younger audiences in identifying body dysmorphia and gender identity. The illustrations are diverse and show the story as the words accompany them in a relatable way. I love how the author has included a helpful “adult tips” section at the ending on approaching the subject and terminology. These are such important issues for our youth and this book will be a helpful aid in conversations around them.

Me and My Dysphoria Monster written by Laura Kate Dale and illustrated by Hui Qing Ang is essential reading! This definitely skews towards a younger audience, but is perfect for illustrating the experience of dysphoria to anyone. It’s beautifully illustrated and portrays such a real and horrifying experience in a more palatable and understandable way, the metaphor of a dysphoria monster is brilliant.

An adults guide and Q&A is included at the end, this is targeted towards the UK/America when it comes towards specific processes, but is otherwise adaptable on a global scale. This guide also dispels a ton of myths around transition which is super important, especially in the UK, where the Government has recently decided to not ban conversion therapy for trans people. This is extremely dangerous, and puts our lives at risk.