RECOGNITION
2024 Children’s Book Council K-2 Teacher Favorites Awards Top Ten selection
2024-25 Chickadee Award Nominee, Maine’s Children’s Choice Award
2024 American Library Association Rainbow Book List
2024 NCTE Charlotte Huck Award Recommended Book
2024 Association for Library Service to Children/ALA Summer Book Reading List
2023 Ontario Library Association “Best Bets” Book
2023 Bookstagang“Future Classic”
2023 Cybils Awards Nominee
2023 Seattle Public Library ‘Staff Faves’ Picture Books
Reviews
Molly is a celebration of the joy that comes from believing in yourself, and having the courage to follow your heart.
― Kathi Appelt, author, Newbery Honoree, and National Book Award Finalist
Reid's exuberant, adorable illustration style brings Johnson's story--and Molly and her unique and proud self--to life, depicting the sheer joy that ensues in this story about doing what feels right and best for you
― Booklist
Starring a protagonist facing outward pressure to conform to binary gender norms, this picture book about self-expression foregrounds the self-knowledge involved in feeling one's best and looking 'like you.'
― Publishers Weekly
Molly's Tuxedo is a joyful and uplifting story about being true to yourself, told through gentle, witty prose and expressive, engaging illustrations. A perfect book for celebrating individual difference and teachingabout autonomy and acceptance.
― Harry Woodgate, author/illustrator of Stonewall Honor book Grandad's Camper
Molly's Tuxedo is a joyous, beautiful expression of feeling at home in your own skin, and the way honoring that expression empowers kids and parents alike. It made my heart sing from start to finish!
― Shannon Watters, Co-Creator of LumberJanes and Co-Author of Hollow
Five bowties for Molly's Tuxedo, a tender celebration of daring to be yourself - on picture day, and every day! Molly's honest journey will mean so much to anyone who has been pressured to erase themselves, but especially to gender nonconforming gals who all-too-rarely find themselves centered.
― Charlotte Sullivan Wild, author of Stonewall Award book Love, Violet
There is so much about Molly to love-she is a pretty big deal! She is confident, joyful, creative, and never unkind even when others try to stop her from being her authentic self. There are so many great details here: Molly's desire to wear pants with pockets in which to carry treats for stray dogs shows that she is caring; Zoe standing up for Molly, telling a classmate that yes, girls can wear tuxedos shows us how to be an ally. Molly's class picture is perfect and put a big smile on my face. I love this book!
― Lesléa Newman, author of Heather Has Two Mommies and Sparkle Boy
Parents picture their kids' best selves. Kids picture their own best selves, too. What do we do when the pictures don't match? If you're Molly, you stride forward with confidence, joy, and a bow tie.
― Rachel Elliott, author/illustrator of Stonewall Honor book, The Real Riley Mayes
Through her bravery, sensitivity and undeniable cool, Molly helps create the kind of world I want to live in- one where kids are supported in their self-knowledge and expression, and where they teach the adults around them as much as the adults teach them how we can all behold and treat one another with kindness, gentleness, and celebration. Molly’s Tuxedo is serving style and substance!
― Branden Boyer-White, co-author of YA graphic novel HOLLOW.
GoodReads readers are saying:
“A sweet story of speaking out and standing up for who you are and what makes you feel good and comfortable. Perfect and diverse take for all those school picture day books.” - Earle Dizon, The Chronicles of A Children’s Book Writer
In a Nutshell: A ray of sunshine. Loved Molly and her tuxedo as well. - 5-Star Review, GoodReads
This story was an absolute delight.- 5-Star Review, GoodReads
*****
Praise for Illustrator Gillian Reid:
“Gillian Reid's exhilarating, effervescent illustrations have elevated an impressive catalog of high-profile children's books and television shows. In addition to illustrating Queer Eye star Jonathan Van Ness's picture book, Peanut Goes For the Gold, Gillian serves as the Character Design Supervisor on the popular Netflix series Hilda. And recently, Gillian illustrated Ali and the Sea Stars, the debut picture book by Tony Award-winning actress Ali Stroker.” - Artist Spotlight, Hazydell Press
Molly’s Tuxedo
Little Bee Books in partnership with GLAAD
June 27, 2023 | ages 4-8 | 40 pages
ISBN: 9781499813142
Molly wants to look her best for picture day at school, and what looks better than a tux?
Molly's school picture day is coming up, and she wants to have a perfect portrait taken to hang on their wall. Her mom has picked out a nice dress for her, but Molly knows from experience that dresses are trouble. They have tight places and hard-to-reach zippers, and worst of all, no pockets! Luckily, she has the perfect thing to save picture day--her brother's old tuxedo!
But mom doesn't want her to wear a tuxedo in the photo; she thinks Molly looks best in the dress. Can Molly find the courage to follow her heart and get her mom to realize just how awesome she'd look in a tux? This book highlights a gender nonconforming main character and is published in partnership with GLAAD to accelerate LGBTQ inclusivity and acceptance.
