Review by Booklist Review
Errol and his friend Thomas a plump, bow-tied stuffed bear are constant companions. But one day, Thomas is sluggish and sad, and when Errol asks him what's up, he's afraid to tell the truth: all along, he's felt like a girl bear instead of a boy bear, and he'd much rather be called Tilly. With the blithe acceptance children are so good at, Errol is happy to call his bear friend Tilly, and goes about introducing her to their other friends. Walton's matter-of-fact exploration of gender doesn't get into any particulars, focusing instead on the importance of friendship and respect. MacPherson's ink and colored-pencil illustrations feature stylized figures, spindly legged with football-shaped heads, in an appealingly loose, scratchy style. The final pages, during which Tilly and Errol do exactly the same things they did before, reassure kiddos that changing gender won't change who a person (or bear) fundamentally is, which, though maybe a bit oversimplified, is ideal for the target audience. A useful resource for adults broaching conversations about transgender issues with little ones.--Hunter, Sarah Copyright 2016 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Errol's teddy bear, Thomas, seems terribly sad-not even playing on the swing in the park helps. Finally, Thomas reveals why: "In my heart, I've always known that I'm a girl teddy, not a boy teddy. I wish my name was Tilly, not Thomas." Errol doesn't respond with confusion, anger, or even a speech about tolerance-he offers cheery, unconditional love ("What matters is that you are my friend"), and life goes on much as it did before-except that Tilly now wears what was once Thomas's bow tie on her head. "Wear whatever makes you happy!" says Errol's equally unfazed friend Ava. Debut author Walton, who has a transgender parent, posits a world that has moved beyond acceptance to essentially "no biggie." Whether being this far ahead of the curve does justice to the transgender experience is debatable, though the book's spirit of easygoing openness makes it a worthwhile resource. Debut artist MacPherson's ink-and-watercolor illustrations are striking for their emotional immediacy and compositional polish, and he effortlessly moves from the poignancy of the opening pages to breezy good times. Ages 3-6. Agent: Brianne Johnson, Writers House. (May) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Horn Book Review
A teddy bear previously gendered a boy by human Erroll nervously announces that she's not Thomas but instead a girl teddy named Tilly. Luckily, Erroll provides unconditional support, and they can quickly go back to their tea parties and playground adventures. Soft ink and colored-pencil illustrations match the gentle tone of this simply stated and warmhearted gender-identity narrative. (c) Copyright 2017. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
