Except When They Don't by Laura Gehl

• Plot Summary: This rhyming picture book encourages children to celebrate their individuality and lets them know that it's okay to play with whatever toys they want to! Girls perform to fairy songs. / Boys play football all day long. / Boys yell, "Boo!" and run away. / Girls like kittens and ballet. / Except when they don't. Children are often told by many different people about what toys they're supposed to play with, what interests they should have, and who they should be simply because of their gender. This stereotype-breaking book invites children to examine what they're told "boy" and "girl" activities are and encourages them to play with whatever they want to and to be exactly who they are!

• Youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4BaiTbaUYU

• This book lays out gender norms--girls do x and boys do y--only to say “except when they don’t” Depending on where a child is, this acknowledgement of the gender norms that hold and then a countering can either make them think more critically OR confirm those norms. This is a book to scaffold carefully when reading to kids to make sure that the conclusions they draw are the inclusive conclusions intended.