Their Name Is Alex

In O’Toole’s exploratory picture book, a genderfluid child contemplates personal characteristics that they would be proud to embrace. When their class arrives at an aquarium, Alex’s teacher issues a challenge meant to provide fodder for a presentation: “If you could be a sea creature, which one would you be?” Though the pale-skinned protagonist’s peers choose a jellyfish, octopus, axolotl, starfish, and more, Alex knows that none of these is “my fish.” After Alex stumbles upon a yellow coral goby, the child appreciates both the fish’s bright hue and the way it can be at times “a boy, other times... a girl, and sometimes... both.” Sea blues and greens offer a fitting background to digital scenes of each child imagining, connecting with, and presenting about the aquarium creatures in this conversational story of individuality and community that models curious discovery. Characters are portrayed with various abilities and skin tones. Ages 6–8. (May)