Born Ready

The True Story of a Boy Named Penelope

Jodie Patterson ∙ Illustrated by Charnelle Pinkney Barlow

Hardcover

Published on Apr 20, 2021 | 40 Pages

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Ebook

Published on Apr 20, 2021 | 40 Pages

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Grades Preschool – 3
Ages 4–8

Jodie Patterson, activist and Chair of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation Board, shares her transgender son’s experience in this important picture book about identity and acceptance.

Penelope knows that he’s a boy. (And a ninja.) The problem is getting everyone else to realize it.

In this exuberant companion to Jodie Patterson’s adult memoir, The Bold World, Patterson shares her son Penelope’s frustrations and triumphs on his journey to share himself with the world. Penelope’s experiences show children that it always makes you stronger when you are true to yourself and who you really are.

"This representation of a Black family and transgender child shines with joy and affirmation... A triumphant declaration of love and identity." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"A heartening true story for children that offers guidance to caretakers." —Publisher’s Weekly

“Readers will be rooting for Penelope from the first page to the last.” —The Horn Book

ISBN 9780593123638 (Hardcover)
Published on Apr 20, 2021
Published by Crown Books for Young Readers
Pages 40
Dimensions 10 x 10
Age Range 4-8 years
Grade Preschool - 3
Reading Level Lexile: AD480L | Fountas/Pinnell: P

ISBN 9780593123645 (Ebook)
Published on Apr 20, 2021
Published by Crown Books for Young Readers
Pages 40
Age Range 4-8 years
Grade Preschool - 3
Reading Level Lexile: AD480L | Fountas/Pinnell: P

Jodie Patterson

Jodie Patterson is a social activist, entrepreneur, and writer. She has been lauded for her activist work by Hillary Clinton, The Advocate, Family Circle, Essence, Cosmopolitan, and Yahoo!, among others. She sits on the board of a number of gender/family/human rights organizations, including the Human Rights Campaign, and is a sought-after public speaker addressing a wide range of audiences about identity, gender, beauty, and entrepreneurship. Patterson was appointed by the United Nations as a Champion of Change and, perhaps most impressively, she is a former circus acrobat who performed in the Big Apple Circus. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, where she co-parents her five children with love, education, and family solidarity.

Charnelle Pinkney Barlow

CHARNELLE PINKNEY BARLOW received her BFA in llustration from the University of the Arts, Philadelphia, and her MFA in the Illustration as Visual Essay from the School of Visual Arts, New York. Charnelle’s children’s book illustrations include Everything in Its Place, The Real Santa, and Remember to Dream, Ebere. Charnelle lives in Indianapolis with her husband. When she’s not drawing, she is baking, sewing, or reading with a cup of tea by her side. Find her online at callmechartreuse.com and follow her on Instagram at @callmechartreuse.