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Some authors are fearless, some are passionate, some are fun, and some are courageous (while still being introverts). AJ Irving, the author of The Bi Book, is all of the above. In these book-banning times, where small groups of people are afraid of certain words and want to control what other families read, authors who explain and use these words to help kids navigate their lives are courageous most of all. They know that their books (and they) will be targeted, and they choose to write them anyway because it’s so important for kids to be validated and to know they’re not alone. We need to support them!
This beautiful book is one to share widely and in surprising ways.
The narrative begins with a straightforward definition of bi, meaning “two.”
The second spread is a fun and fascinating surprise in its depiction that spans the two years it takes a biennial plant to grow and bloom. And we see not just the plant but these two kids growing, as well. I loved learning that some plants have two-year life cycles. So I started Googling biennial plants and discovered that common garden veggies like carrots, parsley, leeks, and onions are biennials. They take two years to flower, fruit, or go to seed. The ones we harvest far earlier are the ones where we eat the roots or leaves. Who knew? We’re not just talking etymology and language arts anymore. STEM has entered the room!
In the next spread, Irving has chosen a universally-understandable example of the prefix “bi.” A bicycle. I can already see the wheels turning in kids’ heads. They’re nodding and thinking of other examples they know.
The narrative then progresses through two feet (bipeds) and two wings (bilateral/symmetry). Helloooo, geometry! The shells that surround a pearl (bivalves), two lenses (binoculars), two languages (bilingual), and two parents of different races (biracial). And then Irving extends the meaning of “bi,” explaining that “bisexuality” can also mean more than two. It’s when “hearts love in a rainbow of ways.” Because being bisexual means being attracted to people of two or more genders. Folks, it’s as simple and as beautiful as that.
No clutching of pearls, unless we’re talking bivalves.
Alonso’s illustrations, created using dry pastels, wax crayons, and colored pencils, are soft, playful, and universally relatable. They contain the warmth and comfort of a friend’s hug. Pure joy! (and YES!!! Alonso added undies. So don’t forget to take off that jacket!)
And while the narrative doesn’t expand to include gender fluidity, I love how it embodies the concept, something that has been observed and documented scientifically in the animal kingdom for years. The publisher’s description is spot on: “…The Bi Book shows readers the many meanings of “bi,” both in terms of the language we use to understand the world and to understand ourselves.”
The glossary at the back of the book, provides straightforward definitions of the words featured in the main narrative. Love this beautifully written and illustrated book!
Happy Pride Month!
Activities:
Pair this book with the LOVE IN THE WILD series by Katy Tanis, that explores a variety of examples of love in the animal kingdom. LOVE UNDER THE STARS is the second book in the series. The third book, LOVE UNDER THE SEA, arrives in January, 2026.
If you live in a temperate or warmer climate, explore the varieties of plants that are biennials. Plant some in your school garden and watch them change over the course of two years.
Make a butterfly with two different colored wings. Scientifically, this occurs when a butterfly develops with both male and female characteristics, one wing displaying male colors and one wing displaying female colors.
Draw a picture that’s symmetrical, using this Montessori example as a guide.
Title: The Bi Book
Author: AJ Irving
Illustrator: Cynthia Alonso
Publisher: Knopf, 2025
Themes: STEM, human sexuality, social and emotional learning
Ages: PreK through 3rd grade
For more perfect picture book recommendations, please visit Susanna Hill’s website.
Definitely a book and author worth supporting! Yay, AJ! (Love your bivalve joke, too)
Yes! We need to give this book and author some love! (and I’m glad you like the bivalve joke)😁
Wonderful approach in this book that is so needed for kids to understand!
It is a terrific approach, gentle and beautiful. Just like A.J.
It is brave these days to write such a book. What a shame that we even have to worry about such things. I’ll look for a copy of this. Thanks for the post.
Yes, AJ is brave and an amazing person. And I’m sorry (and perhaps a wee bit angry) that she has to deal with any flack about this. Thank you for stopping by!
Such an important book & great review! And thanks for the heads up that there’s a new one coming from Katy Tanis – my granddaughter adores LOVE IN THE WILD!
I hope you can find both at your bookstore or library! (and yes, I’m a fan of Katy’s work, too). She also does fabric collections that are so fun and ones that tie into the illustrations of some of her books.