I really like the idea of this book, and kiddo and I enjoyed reading through it. The illustrations are gorgeous, and I love the bright colors. I also think it is very important to bring awareness to third genders in other cultures beyond the ones we typically think about in the US (and presumably in the UK). However, I did have a few issues.

1 - There was no pronunciation guide, which meant I was a little lost when trying to read it aloud to my kid. I was unfamiliar with the names and greetings from the various cultures and I would have appreciated knowing how well (or badly) I was pronouncing the names.

2 - There is a note at the end that the author is a white American. While I appreciate her desire to bring this information to people who would not encounter it otherwise, and I applaud her research, I would have felt better about it if she had interviewed real people from each culture rather than making up characters of which 'some draw inspiration from real people' as she says in the author's note. Then it would feel more like speaking for people rather than speaking over them.

3 - the audience of the book is a little bit unclear. The sparse text makes it feel like it is aimed at quite young children. The age level of the text itself feels aimed at somewhat older children. In that case, however, I would have expected a lot more explanatory text and detail on each entry. There is room for plenty more text on each page, so I'm not sure why she chose to be so brief. Some of the entries have so little detail that they have very little impact.

Overall though, it is a good reminder that nonbinary genders commonly recognized in the US and UK are not the only options out there in the world.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Jessica Kingsley Publishers for providing an early copy for review.

This is an affirming book which demonstrates both the complexity of gender identity and informs how it the diversity of gender identity manifests in different cultures.
Whilst the message was good, I wasn't entirely sure which age range the book was aimed at - teens, younger kids or parents.
It was so interesting to learn more about gender identity cross-culturally and I would like to learn more about how the people exemplified live their lives in today's society.

As a queer parent, my family is always searching for books that provide strong representation of queer culture, especially when it comes to gender diversity. I really love how this book shows examples of gender diverse people who are alive today (as opposed to much of trans culture that talks about ancient experiences of gender diversity). Having just finished Before We Were Trans, I was excited to find a more kid-appropriate book that I could share with my family. The only thing that keeps me from giving this book a higher rating is that the language felt a bit complex for kids at times. I think this is a book that is either appropriate for kids with a higher reading level, who might be put off by it being a picture book, or more of a conversation guide that involves a lot of explaining for younger readers.

Firstly I want to say that I really like the concept of the book, the information given, and the illustrations. My main critique would be that I wish the testimonials were by real people from the cultures themselves instead of fabricated from research. The intentions are good, but I think reaching out and conducting interviews with real people from the cultures being represented would be the better way to go.

Thanks to netgalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Cassandra Jules Corrigan provides clear and concise information in a colorful, easy-to-access text sharing information on non-cis/binary gender individuals from around the globe. Interactive review at the end helps review new information learned from the text. A timely addition for any library.

Although this was meant to be a kids book, I still learned a lot from it as an adult. I liked the illustrations, they were beautiful. I also really liked that the author put the time in to research different cultures before writing this book

This is a great introduction for kids (and, let's be honest, probs the adults in their lives, too) to gender identities outside the male/female binary. My Culture, My Gender, Me explores gender identities throughout the world, and strives to normalize expansive gender identities.

This book is a great introduction to non-binary peoples around the world. It highlights how different cultures perceive and label people who don't fall under the traditional binary labels of cis male or cis female. Even as an adult, I found it very interesting and highly educational.

A great LGBTQIA+ book that celebrates inclusion.