Review by Booklist Review
Whenever Ari's favorite person, Uncle Lior, visits, they always ask, "What are your words, Ari?" Today, before heading to the summer bash, Ari is troubled because none of Ari's words seem to fit. Usually, Ari knows which pronouns--along with other words that describe feelings--feel right. Some people's words, Ari explains, stay the same, while others' change occasionally or frequently or just once. As they walk to the summer bash, Ari introduces readers and Uncle Lior to all the people in the neighborhood. Above each figure float their words: two descriptive adjectives, one word that shares what they do, and a pair of pronouns. Locke's simple narrative, of Ari worrying over that day's words, seamlessly incorporates the appropriate pronouns for each person (including he/him, she/her, they/them, ey/em, ze/zir, and xe/xir), demonstrating the ease with which language can change to accommodate pronoun diversity. Once Ari realizes which pronouns feel right that day, the summer bash celebration is complete. A sweet, affirming introduction to the language used to communicate a range of gender identities.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Two nonbinary creators unite for this picture book about Ari, a narrator who sports an asymmetrical haircut and is excited about a visit from Uncle Lior, a biologist with a dark pompadour who uses they and them pronouns. Aware that pronouns can "change depending on how I feel," Lior asks, "What are your words, Ari?" whenever they drop by. Locke offers an affirming, changeable look at pronoun usage in accessible prose as Ari searches for the right pronouns to use on the day of the neighborhood's "big summer bash." On the way to the barbecue, Lior, Ari, and Ari's older sister Rachel, all brown-skinned, encounter neighbors of varying abilities and skin tones, whose adjectives and pronouns float above them ("Artistic! Sweet! Kind! Ze/zir"). Passchier adds friendly, geometric-based digital art in a mainly triadic color scheme of goldenrod, light indigo, and seagreen. A capable celebration of the rich range of pronouns. Ages 4--8. (May)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 3--Ari's Uncle Lior comes to visit and the pair walk through town to a neighborhood summer bash. Uncle Lior uses they/them pronouns, and they make a habit of always asking Ari, "What are your words?" Sometimes Ari knows which pronouns feel just right, but on this day it's tricky to decide. On the way to the bash, Ari introduces Uncle Lior to everyone in town using that person's pronouns, which are illustrated over their head, along with a few words describing their personality. Ari's family is light brown-skinned, and their neighbors represent a range of skin tones, abilities, and genders. After the bash, Ari invites the reader to share their own words and pronouns after finally settling on they/them pronouns for the day. Passchier's colorful, geometric digital illustrations match the joyful tone of the text, bringing the whole neighborhood to life. Pronouns from around the world decorate the end papers. VERDICT An affirming, conversational picture book that models the ease with which our language can adapt to gender diversity and pronoun use. A recommended first purchase for all libraries.--Allison Staley, Lake Oswego P.L., OR
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Review by Horn Book Review
Ari's uncle Lior uses they/them pronouns; neighbor Anna "had a different name and used different pronouns. But now she goes by Anna and uses she and her..." For Ari, however, "My pronouns are like the weather. They change depending on how I feel." On this particular day, Ari is frustrated by not knowing which pronouns feel right. "She and her feel sharp and crackly"; "Ey and eir feel heavy and bumpy." The stylized cartoon illustrations show the characters with their pronouns and other descriptive words, so neighbor Robin is crowned with "Artistic! Sweet! Kind! Ze/Zir!" If things get a bit convoluted in this purposeful story -- "Uncle Lior says hello and tells zir their words too" -- the art helps sort things out. This story offers lots of opportunities for exploring beyond the binary. (c) Copyright 2023. 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.
