4 stars
A sweet rhyming tale about embracing who you are and accepting others’ true selves.
The school dance is here and the narrator is excited to attend. But when they’re forced to choose between pink and blue, they don’t see where their purple shadow fits in. With a bit of encouragement, the students find the courage to express themselves and reveal their true shadows.
Adorable illustrations. Beautiful messages. I loved the emphasis on individuality.
The book focuses less on the gender binary and more on what makes you happy and feel most like yourself. Loved the complexity of identities represented. Many of the characters previously assumed to have pink and blue shadows earlier in the story are revealed to have different shadows when they express their true selves. Those with pink and blue shadows are also shown as strong, caring, and loving regardless of the norms associated with their shadows. Nice emphasis on interests and expression over perceived gender roles.