Princess Pete

In a castle on the hill live a king, a queen, and their child, Pete. Pete's days are full of variety. Some mornings call for red trousers, others for a flowery dress, and sometimes there is makeup to try out or mud to splash through outside. Pete plays sports, draws, makes music, races friends, and dresses up, and is just as happy playing with the boys as with the girls.

Not everyone knows what to make of this. Now and then someone asks, "Are you a girl or a boy?" Pete's answer is simple: Pete is Pete. At home, that is exactly who Pete is loved for being.

Princess Pete is a picture book by debut author Zoey Allen about gender identity and being comfortable in your own skin. Its bright, lively illustrations are full of playful details, and the story keeps its tone light and affectionate. It sits comfortably beside books like Julián Is a Mermaid, and it will suit LGBTQ+ readers as well as young allies who want to understand their friends and classmates better.