When a Bully Is President: Truth and Creativity for Oppressive Times - A Picture Book I Wish I'd Had Back in Nov 2016 (And Still Useful Now, for the Next 50 Days - And Beyond, When We Look Back at Trump and Go, "What the Heck was THAT?")

When a Bully Is President: Truth and Creativity for Oppressive Times by Maya Gonzalez

Self-Care for Kids! A children's book to talk about current and historical oppression and bullying in the United States while focusing on the important role kids can play using creativity and self love as a base to develop strength during difficult times.

Playful ink and watercolor illustrations support a powerful journey that touches on bullying in the founding history of the US, how that history may still be impacting kids and families today, and ways to use creativity and self-respect in the face of negative messages for all marginalized communities. The first part of the book briefly acknowledges the United States’ past and present and shows some basic forms of activism that kids engage in. The next part talks about walking away from a bully or de-escalation and focusing on how to take care of yourself and community. Finally practical ways creativity and portraiture can be used to support self-respect and spread respect in community are explored. Communities reflected include Native Americans, African Americans, Mexican Americans, Chicanx, LGBTQ Americans, disabled Americans, Americans who identify as women and girls, Muslim and Sikh Americans, Jewish Americans and Asian Americans. The back includes related resources and referrals. Hardcover version also includes a reading guide for adults, community project and art & witnessing worksheets to copy. Paperback version just includes the art & witnessing worksheets.

This book is not a hero’s tale or the journey of a brave fight. This book is for the in between moments, the middle of the night, the long afternoon: those moments when kids are haunted by what someone said to them in the hallway, a sideways stare at the store or what they heard on the news. It’s about gathering strength for life’s every day journey and supporting a strong full self all the time.

Check out this video of the author/illustrator reading the book and sharing a mix of the art in progress and finished art.

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Ma Llorona - A Queer YA novella "reclamation" of a classic Mexican ghost story

Ma Llorona: a ghost story… …a love story by Maya Gonzalez

"I cry for all of us who bear the burden of these times."

Aaaaaaaaaaaooooooooooooooooooooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwwwweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

One day at the river changed everything.

So begins the terror from the pale ones who remake the lands and the people to suit their pale vision.
But the ghost woman and her one true love conjure a plan.

Will La Llorona's heart be strong enough to fulfill it?
More importantly, when the time comes....will the people be ready?

In times filled with terror and torment, one woman's haunting grief rises from beyond to become the people's howl in the dark. Sometimes a heartache is so great, it belongs to everyone. Sometimes a healing is so powerful it holds within it the spark to change everything....if we're ready.

A queer reclamation of the classic Mexican ghost story, La Llorona, that spans the ages and the Americas (MesoAmerica 1500 to present day San Francisco) to reunite the people with their ghosts and mend what was torn apart.

An emotional and layered journey that weaves history with love, spirit with flesh, and merges ancient myths with current political times. Powerful themes of love, pre-colonial queer identity, sacred feminine, loss and endurance course through the pages as the story gathers and flows and gathers again to support healing, negotiate deep ancestral trauma and ultimately, transformation.

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Gender Now Coloring Book: A Learning Adventure for Children and Adults

Gender Now Coloring Book: A Learning Adventure for Children and Adults by Maya Christina Gonzalez 

"Did you know that clown fish can change their bodies from boy to girl? Or that in some countries they know there's not just boys and girls? The Bugis of Indonesia have 5 genders!

We're the kids of the GENDER team and we want to share what we know about gender. Learn that there are many ways to feel on the inside no matter what body you have on the outside through stories from nature, history, and different cultures. Are you ready to color, learn, and play? Inside you'll find stories, pictures, games and more to encourage and remind you that you are free to be!

There's also a school edition with more activities and stories "to guide children in learning and understanding gender and its expression."

Add your review of "Gender Now Coloring Book" and/or "Gender Now School Activity Book" in comments!