All the colours of the rainbow by Rae White. Illus. by Sha'an d'Anthes

With Transgender Visibility Day (March 31) and International Non Binary Day (July 14) coming up, this is a welcome look into an area where books are sparse. Wearing yellow dresses one day and looking for bugs and lizards, and blue jeans the next for running around in circles, Jem is sure of where they stand. Like a rainbow, Jem knows that there are many colours and everyone is different.

But other people tell Jem what clothes to wear, asking that the jeans be replaced by a more suitable dress for a special occasion. But Jem’s mum tells them that all clothes are suitable, and Jem can wear whatever is chosen. The story details the days Jem feels like a girl, and those where Jem feels like a boy.

But at school Jem is told that the world is black and white, trees are green and the sky is blue. But looking out the window Jem sees the autumn colours of the trees and the pink sky and knows that the teacher is wrong. 

When Jem tells mum what was said, she replies that people are like rainbows, full of many colours, neither one nor the other. Everyone is different. Mum puts a large rainbow on the ceiling of Jem’s room to remind them of the fact that everyone is different, that we are not black and white that we have a choice. 

This vividly illustrated book shows the matter from Jem’s point of view as they grapple with not wanting to be one nor the other, but allowed to be who they want to be, without the constraints of those they meet everyday. The rainbow image occurs throughout the book, reinforcing the theme of acceptance and diversity.

Rae White is a non-binary person heavily involved in transgender issues in Brisbane.

For classrooms this is a book sure to promote interest and discussion, as children assimilate the idea that we are a diverse society, accepting all shades of the rainbow. Teacher's notes are available from the publisher. 

Themes: Diversity, Transgender, Non-binary, Rainbows, Acceptance.

Fran Knight