Picture book propaganda
NZ libraries are pushing gender nonsense to pre-schoolers. (Part One)
“A wide range of opinions, values and views should be reflected in the library stock and online accessible materials. All communities that are served by the public library should have representation in the resources of the children’s library.”
So says the ILFA (International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions) and this grand statement is endorsed by LIANZA (the Library and Information Association of NZ Aotearoa).
LIANZA needs to explain then, why our survey of ten NZ public libraries found dozens of picture books promoting gender identity beliefs and almost none telling children the truth about sex.
The following books are aimed at 2-8 year olds and are mostly freely available in the picture book bins in the children’s section of the libraries.
Top 25 Sex Denialist picture books
The figures in brackets denote the total number of copies of each title that were found in the public library catalogues for Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Napier, Taranaki, Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch, Dunedin and Invercargill.
We have grouped the books according to the main ideological message they contain.
Children can change sex
I am NOT a Prince by Rachael Davis (42)
On the surface, this story about a frog that wants to become a princess rather than a prince may seem harmless, but it is full of subliminal messages. The story is loaded with gender ideology imagery and language, like the rainbow gate, the words ‘pride’ and ‘transform’ and the signpost to ‘lonely peak’ etc which is the dead end for anyone who is different.
The underlying message is that boys can become girls, simply if they want to.
Click here to read.
When Aidan Became a Brother by Kyle Lukoff (25) A girl becomes a boy and lives happily ever after.
Too Bright to See by Kyle Lukoff (23) The 11 year old main charcter is transgender.
My Rainbow by Trinity and DeShanna Neal (20) Contains child transition.
My Shadow is Pink by Scott Stuart (20) Reinforces sex stereotypes and introduces cross dressing.
There are more than two sexes
My Shadow is Purple by Scott Stuart (33) Introduces non-binary identities.
Kapaemahu by Hinaleimoana Wong-Katu (26) Co-opts an indigenous legend to support gender ideology.
Peanut Goes For The Gold by Jonathan Van Ness (26) The main character is a non-binary guinea pig.
Not He or She, I’m Me by A M Wild (18) Non-binary children with gender neutral pronouns.
Gender identity over sex
Pink, Blue, and You! by Elise Gravel (33) Introduces the idea of ‘gender identity’ and using preferred pronouns.
A Fox Called Herbert by Margaret Sturton (31) Suggests that parents don’t understand their children.
What Makes A Baby? by Corey Silverberg (30) No mention of mother/father or male/female - it’s desexed bodies that make babies.
Bodies Are Cool by Tyler Feder (25) Images of elective double mastectomy scars throughout.
It Feels Good to be Yourself: a book about gender identity by Theresa Thorn (25) Claims some people are both sexes, neither, or somewhere in between.
The Spectacular Suit by Kat Patrick (25) A girl wishes she could wear a suit instead of a dress to her birthday party.
Red: a Crayon’s Story by Michael Hall (22) Red’s problems are solved when he realises he is really blue.
My Own Way: celebrating gender freedom for kids by Joana Estrela (18) Reinforces sex stereotypes.
Pride activism
Pride Colours by Robin Stevenson (37) The meanings of each colour in the Pride flag.
Jamie by L D Lapinski (35) What happens to a non-binary child when the next school is single sex?
Marley’s Pride by Joelle Retener (33) The main character is non-binary and uses they/them pronouns.
What are your words by Katherine Locke (23) Using pronouns, including ey/em and ze/zir.
Grandad’s Pride by Harry Woodgate (21) Celebrating a Pride parade.
Pride Puppy! by Robin Stevenson (20) A young child celebrates Pride day with “their” family.
Drag is for children
If You’re a Drag Queen and You Know It by Lil Miss Hot Mess (27) An introduction to drag, sung to the tune of “If you’re happy and you know it.”
Julian is a Mermaid by Jessica Love (27) Julian dresses up “just like the ladies” in his own fabulous mermaid costume.
The tip of the iceberg
These 25 books are only the tip of the iceberg. Our survey found more than 150 different picture book titles in our libraries, all teaching children gender identity beliefs as if they are fact.
The cover images above are from the Our Duty website in Canada. Click on this link to read aloud over 100 of these titles which, as Our Duty says, “might appear innocuous but have been designed to break down safeguarding barriers through sexual connotations and convince young children that they, or those around them, may actually be the opposite sex, neither or both.”
And, of course, these are only the picture books… there is a plethora of gender identity books and graphic novels (some very graphic) for tweens and teenagers as well.
What about sex realist books?
You must be kidding!
We found only SIX fiction titles that might fit into that category and very few copies of them are held in our libraries.
Gorgeously Me! by Jonathon Van Ness (5) Although this book does challenge sex stereotypes, its illustrations have a distinct Pride flavour to them. Approach with caution.
Don’t fall for the Trick by Jennifer Bain (1) This criticises sex stereotypes without the underlying Pride influence.
Be Exactly Who You Are! by Laura Gehl (3), and Mabel by Rowboat Wilkins (3) Both encourage children to accept themselves as they are, a welcome change from telling children that they need to change their bodies to fit in with the stereotypes for their sex.
Keith Among the Pigeons by Katie Brosnan (3) This about a cat that wants to be a pigeon but realises it’s not possible to change who you are.
Love your Body by Jessica Sanders (2) and My Body is Me by Rachel Rooney (0) Two books that encourage children to value their amazing bodies. Why are they so rare in NZ?
“Librarians and other information workers are strictly committed to neutrality and an unbiased stance regarding collection, access and service. Neutrality results in the most balanced collection and the most balanced access to information achievable.”
The above quote is from the IFLA Code of Ethics, endorsed by LIANZA on its website. Clearly, something has gone wrong.
Libraries are not following their own code of ethics.
They are creating one-sided collections that promote a highly controversial minority belief. They are presenting unscientific and inappropriate books to very young children with few constraints. They are ignoring complaints from parents or branding them as motivated by hatred.
In Part Two next week, we will discuss ways you might challenge these abject failures from our libraries.
See the change
Our Duty Canada has compared two versions of the same book that was first printed in 1986 and revised in 2021. Go to this link to see and hear the text.
The 1986 version uses proper anatomical terms for male and female body parts … It tastefully depicts and correctly identifies that boys have penises and girls have vaginas (vulvas), accurately stating that this is solely based on sex.
The updated 2021 version references genitals without distinguishing between those of males and females… Illustrations include double mastectomy scars on a shirtless young woman… The nudity is gratuitous and not suitable for children.
One parent supporter filters all her children’s books by looking at the publication date. As a rough guide, anything published before 2010 is unlikely to contain gender ideology and anything after 2010 should be previewed.
What you can do
Next week, in part 2 of “Picture Book Propaganda”, we will discuss actions you might take to advocate for our library collections to be rebalanced.
In the meantime, please survey your own public or school library catalogue to see how many of these ideological books are held there.
We’d love to know if you find any other sex realist books that could be recommended to libraries.
Please email any feedback to: info@resistgendereducation.nz
Librarians have massivley drunk the Kool-Aid on this one, it's been like this for years. I've filled my home with childrens books instead. Ones about building forts, playing house, teddy bears, helping with chores, travelling, dreams... anything but this stuff which is just so absurdly inappropriate for young children.
This level of propaganda is so totally unacceptable. Even outside of the crime of gender ideology, having to explain features such as "top surgery" scars to picture book readers is beyond the pale entirely.
"To “affirm” children sounds very positive, until you realize that all you are really doing is colluding with an immature brain that has come up with a false conclusion because you can’t be born in the “wrong” body." https://lucyleader.substack.com/p/what-the-hell-is-wrong-with-parents