Review
“In this personal-feeling family story, Wilson-Trudeau gives loving voice to the early experiences of her child Wilson, who also contributes… In saturated pinks and purples, Kyak-Monteith’s portrait-oriented art offers warmth to an individual narrative about acceptance, authenticity, and identity.” ― Publishers Weekly
"In a beautiful affirming story, Marty Wilson-Trudeau with Phoenix Wilson and Megan Kyak-Monteith share Phoenix’s story in Phoenix Gets Greater, showing readers that greatness comes from within." ― Storytime with Stephanie
"With bright, expressive illustrations, incorporating pinks, blues and purples, this picture book is drawn from real-life Phoenix’s childhood and co-written with his mother. Even though Phoenix’s story is deeply personal, the themes of embracing who you are and the meaningfulness of a family’s unconditional love will resonate widely." -- Shelle Rosenfeld ― Booklist
Product Description
Phoenix loves to play with dolls and marvel at pretty fabrics. Most of all, he loves to dance―ballet, Pow Wow dancing, or just swirling and twirling around his house. Sometimes Phoenix gets picked on and he struggles with feeling different, but his mom and brother are proud of him. With their help, Phoenix learns about Two Spirit/Niizh Manidoowag people in Anishinaabe culture and just how special he is.
Based on the childhood experiences of her son, Phoenix, Marty Wilson-Trudeau demonstrates the difference that a loving and supportive family can make.
From School Library Journal
Gr 2-4-Vibrant colored drawings exude sweetness and joy when Phoenix, a baby covered in very fine hair, is born. His brother calls him "Fuzzy," and as he grows up, Phoenix wraps himself in a pink blanket to practice shawl dancing and play with friends. The background hues of the illustrations become somber as Phoenix deals with bullies and starts to give up the things he loves. Phoenix finally reveals to his family he is gay. After this revelation, his mother explains how in "Anishinaabe culture there are Two Spirit people, Niizh Manidoowag, who have both girl and boy spirits" and the respect Niizh Manidoowag enjoy in their tribe. Safe in his family's unconditional love and the knowledge there are other Niizh Manidoowag, Phoenix returns to the activities he loves. This is a valuable book with a charming narrative, and most of the illustrations radiate the love and acceptance Phoenix feels with his family. The discussion of Anishinaabe culture help set this story apart from similar ones, yet readers will yearn for more information on what it means for the community to accept Phoenix as gay-a term that seems to stamp or compartmentalize the identity far more than the Anishinaabe would-or even more about the Niizh Manidoowag to provide more depth to the story. VERDICT This short and sweet memoir is a good general purchase.-Tamara Saarinenα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review
"Lovely little story about being true to yourself. Phoenix is Anishinaabe and Two-Spirit. With love and understanding from his family, he’s able to overcome bullying at school, and be confident in who he is and his love for dancing, dolls, and all sorts of fabrics." -- Tildy Lutts at Belmont Books (Belmont, MA)
Book Description
A powerful story about the importance of family acceptance.
About the Author
Marty Wilson-Trudeau is an Anishinaabe Kwe writer originally from M'Chigeeng, ON. She is a drama teacher at St. Charles College in Sudbury, ON. She is a mother to two wonderful sons, Brandan and Phoenix Wilson.
Megan Kyak-Monteith, from Pond Inlet, Nunavut, is an Inuk illustrator and painter. She currently lives and works from Halifax, Nova Scotia. In her illustrative projects, she works most often with Indigenous stories.
Phoenix Wilson is a proud Anishinaabe actor and dancer. He started dancing ballet at age three, grass dancing at five, and acting at six. He
