MillenniaLibrarian: "I Am Jazz" Public Reading

I planned a last minute program this week, after finding out about the nationwide public readings of I Am Jazz by Jazz Jennings and Jessica Herthel.

I found out about the event from Facebook, and went to this website for more info. Apparently it's a yearly thing. If I'd had more time to plan I would have advertised it more, but I think my event went pretty well.

When people first entered the room, I had a copy of the book displayed along with a handout about gender identity appropriate for all ages, our December newsletter, flyers for my Young Adult Diversity Book Club, and library surveys so we could find out what people thought of a potentially controversial event.

It was an event for all ages, and since it is a picture book there were mostly kids there with their parents. So as an introduction to trans issues, I showed this catchy video:

After the video, I asked our small crowd what they liked or noticed about the video. One little girl's favorite part was the penguin with a magic wand, because she was like everyone's fairy god mother. Another child said she liked that all the birds in the video get to dress the way they want, and no one can tell them how to dress except themselves. I told her that was exactly the point of the video, and exactly what we would be talking about tonight; dressing and living as your true self, however you feel most comfortable.

Our second video was the one I originally saw on Facebook that clued me in to the whole movement.

And finally, I passed around the one library copy of I Am Jazz that I was able to get my hands on while we watched this video, of Jazz herself reading the book:

After the videos, I encouraged the participants to stick around while I cleaned up the room. I had a craft table set out where they could color, cut out, and mount a paper doll chain on a piece of construction paper.

I also had two tables of books displayed, all in the theme of diversity, gender identity, and LGBTQ+ issues for children and teens.

We had 17 participants total, which is not bad at all for an event completely conceived and advertised two days beforehand. The people who came seemed to have a good time, enjoy the videos, and even took a few books to check out! I'm really satisfied that I was able to share this important event with our patrons.

Here is a list of the books I displayed:

Children's Picture Books

Introducing Teddy by Jessica Walton
10,000 Dresses by Marcus Ewert
Red: A Crayon's Story by Michael Hall
And Tango Makes Three by Richardson & Parnell
Sparkle Boy by Leslea Newman
Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress by Christine Baldacchino
Worm Loves Worm by JJ Austrian
It's Okay to Be Different by Todd Parr
The Okay Book by Todd Parr
The Family Book by Todd Parr

Children's Chapter Books

Better Nate than Ever by Tim Federle
Five, Six, Seven, Nate by Tim Federle

Teen Nonfiction

Queer: The Ultimate LGBT Guide for Teens by Belge & Bieschke
The ABC's of LGBT by Ashley Mardell
"You Can Tell Just By Looking" and 20 Other Myths About LGBT Life and People by Bronski, Pellegrini, & Amico
The Full Spectrum: A New Generation of Writing About Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, and Other Identities
This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson
Queer There and Everywhere: 23 People Who Changed the World by Sarah Prager
Queer America: A GLBT History fo the 20th Century by Vicki L. Eaklor
Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out by Susan Kuklin