Elephants Are Not Birds

I write this more because I know people focus on the trans part, but take it as your child one day has the feelings that they have a dream that is very unlikely to happen. For example your child wants to be a doctor, or a lawyer, or president. Your child feels like they will be these things. But they may never become those things and this book basically can be used in an allegory to tell your child that they will never accomplish these things because a child cannot be president. The chances of being president if you are a child that is not white is extremely low, the chances of them ever getting any of the jobs that they ever hope and dream for is extremely low. So even if this book is meant to be a trans-hating book it is also a book show more that tells children that they cannot be anything other than what they are, it is a dream crushing book.

For example if the child is born and grows up and is infertile, they will never be a (biological) mommy. An infertile person cannot be a (biological) mom. A boy born with testicular torsion can never be a (biological) daddy. He will never be a dad of (biological) children. It doesn't matter how they feel, they will never be those things.

These are the tones that can be turned on anybody not just trans people. You are still telling your child a hateful message even if it isn't applied to trans people.

Your child has feelings, and those feelings are part of their mental health and mental health is what affects the physical body. Do not deny your child therapy even if it's for something like depression, feeling depressed is a thing that is factual. I know what the message of this book is, but I know that it can apply to everything especially illnesses and feeling sick.

I want to add, kids grow up into adults and have their own lives and when they have their own lives they often cut off contact with parents who raise them with these books. Because you can't control a child forever, I think that books should be shared and be helpful but not harmful. If you believe this book is helping your child, I hope that you still have a relationship with them down the road but most of the people I know who had upbringings with these kinds of books have gone low contact or completely cut off contact with their parents. Maybe don't risk your future relationship with your child over a harmful message. show less