Illustrated by Maria Mola
5 stars
Absolutely adorable. A wonderful story with sweet illustrations.
Jessie loves all things sparkly, but when her brother Casey shows an interest in them as well, she doesn’t think he’s allowed. He’s a boy after all. Her family supports Casey’s interest and helps him put together shimmery attire. When confronted by other kids at the library about Casey’s glittery outfit, Jessie must decide what she believes: can boys be sparkly too?
Despite the title, the story focuses on Jessie and how she learns to accept and support her brother’s interests. At the beginning, she believes the societal norm that sparkly things are only for girls, but through the actions of her family, she learns that everyone should be able to wear what they want to express themselves and explore their interests.
I absolutely love the message of this book. After Jessie’s mother, father, and grandmother support Casey and his interests, Jessie goes against the norm and supports him as well. Through example, her family shows Jessie that boys (and everyone) can wear what they want. They point out that Casey’s interests don’t cause anyone else harm and allow him to be himself.
This is a great example of why representation is so important.
Casey is also shown with a variety of interests. He loves dump trucks, glittery things, puzzles, and books. I love that he is given room to explore what he likes without judgement from his parents, grandmother, and later his sister.
Such a sweet book with beautiful messages about being yourself, supporting others, and the joy of shared interests.