A Song for Nolan

PreS-Gr 1--Nolan is excited to attend their friend's birthday party at the roller rink, but their enthusiasm fades when the DJ announces a "Boys Skate" followed by a "Girls Skate." With neither category matching their identity, gender-nonconforming Nolan just wants to go home. Instead, a wordless multi-panel spread shows Nolan whispering into the ear of the DJ before the DJ announces that for the next song, "everyone is welcome to skate!" The jump from Nolan's moment of exclusion to the moment when they approach the DJ is abrupt; readers won't know why or how Nolan determined to speak up for inclusion. The illustrations don't entirely fill in the gaps for a more complete view of Nolan's internal experience. Nolan has brown skin and pink hair, and other characters show a variety of racial backgrounds and body types. Chen's vibrant, jewel-toned illustrations capture the chaotic sensory environment of the roller rink. As in a real rink, the crowds of skaters and colorful reflections from the disco ball make it difficult for the eye to settle and some of the smaller blocks of text get lost among the illustrations.VERDICT Not an essential purchase, but a useful reminder about the importance of inclusion for anyone planning group events.--Amy Reimann

Wearing a carefully chosen outfit (suspenders and a feather boa), brown-skinned, pink-haired Nolan, who is nonbinary, arrives at a friend's skating-rink birthday party. Following an incident of misgendering, getting stuck on the rink during a binary "boys' " skate session interrupts Nolan's carefree dance under the colorful lights, and leads to a tumble and feelings of distress ("DO I EVEN BELONG HERE?!"). But Nolan makes a request to the DJ that both saves the day and results in an invite for everyone to skate. Chen's thin-lined, saturated artwork is an ideal partner to Ellenwood's characterization in this uplifting tale about making room for oneself--and all. Background characters are portrayed with various abilities, body types, and skin tones. Ages 3-6. (June)