Written by Christian Trimmer. Illustrations by Madeline Valentine. 
Review by Emily Richardson.

Bren-Da, Warrior Queen of the Pacific is an etiquette icon, action hero, and fashionista extraordinaire all in one.

In Teddy’s Favorite Toy, she is also Teddy’s most beloved and treasured toy. One day, when the doll goes missing, it falls to Teddy’s mom to recover Bren-Da and reunite her and Teddy. Like Bren-da, Teddy’s mom also looks fierce while she employs superheroine moves and good manners as she leaps into action. By telling a familiar narrative with a fresh and understated challenge to gender norms, this heartwarming picture book is an excellent conversation starter around diversity and social norms for all grades levels. Both Bren-Da and Teddy’s mom exemplify how femininity marries beautifully with strength, action, and fun. Never do they forfeit kindness or style in order to save the day with their “sick fighting skills.” Teddy models how children of all gender identities can approach dolls and use their imagination to play with them. Early readers may also benefit from the repetition featured throughout the book, the short, uncluttered text, and Teddy’s model of problem-solving strategies when he realizes Bren-Da is lost.

This story celebrates a mutually respectful relationship between parent and child. This combined with the lack of explicit commentary on the gender-nonconforming choice of favorite toy, and Teddy’s mom’s Herculean efforts to retrieve it when lost, demonstrates how the safe space provided by the relationship between characters makes way for an imagination wonderland. I also appreciated that the little boy centered in this story appears to be a person of color, as there is a disproportionate lack of representation of people of color (especially boys and men) in storylines where the main character is allowed and encouraged to express their gender and interests however feels right to them. This realistic fiction book’s underlying message communicates the belief that no child should feel hindered from going wherever their imagination takes them, and especially not by gender norms. With an adventurous spirit throughout the story, readers of all ages will enjoy springing into action with Teddy, his mom, and Bren-Da.

Click here to read an essay from the author for LGBTQ Reads about the inspiration for Teddy’s Favorite Toy.