Overview

Men don't cry . . . right? Neil is trying to figure out what it means to ""be a man."" A perfect picture book for ages 3–7 to explore gender roles and celebrate individuality while reading with their adults. Neil isn't sure exactly how to be a man, so he tries to figure it out by observing. And then he decides it's time to begin. But perhaps he has the wrong idea. Neil's choices end up making him feel terrible. Is there something wrong with him? A fun, heartwarming story about gender roles and embracing individuality.

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9781623546885

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Reviews

Musings on manhood. As Neil grows older, he worries about becoming a man. Observing the men around him and in the media, he notices that they are “belligerent,” “powerful,” “brave,” and “reckless”—but, most importantly, they don’t cry. After creating a poster laying out the rules of masculinity, Neil sets out to be a man. He rides his bike to school without a helmet against traffic, snubs his female friend Halima, and ends up sparring with another student. Guilty over his bad behavior, Neil finds himself sobbing in the nurse’s office, where the male nurse shares that he, too, sometimes cries. Translated from Spanish, this is an empathetic tale of one boy’s attempts to grapple with masculinity. The resolution comes a bit abruptly, and the book doesn’t explore the negative impact of Neil’s misbehavior (apart from people frowning or scowling at Neil). Nor does Neil make amends to Halima, who greets him happily all the same. Still, it’s a solid start; the focus on Neil’s uncertainties and attempts to emulate those around him will spark much-needed dialogue. Turu’s dynamic, scribbly illustrations are enticing and offer many examples of traditional masculinity for adult-guided analysis, from a stoic father at a funeral to a musician surrounded by curvaceous women. Neil has light-tan skin, Halima is brown-skinned, and the nurse is pale-skinned; the supporting cast is diverse. A conversation starter for those seeking to dismantle toxic masculinity one story at a time. —Kirkus Reviews

Author Information

Joan Turu is a professional illustrator with a long career. He is dedicated to children's and youth literature and often does visits, activities, and murals in schools. He is the illustrator of My Dad Is the Best by Fran Pintadera and I Have a Volcano by Miriam Tirado, among other books.

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