Harvey the Hippo Meets Mickey Mandarin: A Story of Non-Binary Friends

by Abby Pete, Leslie Pontz (Illustrator)

Overview

Harvey the Hippo Meets Mickey Mandarin is a story of gender binary and non-binary new friends making introductions, learning a little background about each other and finding that although they may identify differently, they all still like to play and have fun the same way. The animals are proud to say how they like to be addressed, such as he/him, she/her or they/them.


"Harvey the Hippo Meets Mickey Mandarin is a timely and much needed addition to the body of literature for young children. The tale delivers the message of love and the understanding of differences in a tender yet thoroughly unambiguous way. The illustrations are not only beautifully rendered, but also serve to amplify the rhyme. They are gentle and, at the same time, strong and vibrant, serving to engage a child and caregiver in conversation about the characters and the words."

--Toni Seidl, child psychotherapist


"Harvey the Hippo Meets Mickey Mandarin is a lovely book for young children and serves as a gentle introduction to gender identification. Using animal characters, it describes how some individuals identify as male, some female and some who feel they do not fit either descriptor. The use of 'he/him,' 'she/her' and 'they/them' vocabulary provides the young child with real-world terminology. The book stops there and does not delve into more advanced concepts of sexuality, allowing even the most reluctant parent to become comfortable with introducing these evolving societal norms to their child. It is a fine book for teaching children that everyone--same or different--is wonderful as they are and may become your friend."

-- Laurie Zelinger, PhD, ABPP, RPT-S, board certified psychologist and author of Please Explain Anxiety to Me


"If you want to read a book that will help kiddos feel seen, included and celebrated, you will find this story of friendship and community wonderful. Harvey the Hippo Meets Mickey Mandarin is heartwarming, as it uses fun and welcoming language that invites all genders to feel a sense of belonging, even if there are differences." -- Anna Kiesnowski, psychotherapist


Book #2 in the Harvey the Hippo Series

From Loving Healing Press

Product Details

BN ID:	2940161010679
Publisher:	Loving Healing Press
Publication date:	05/31/2023
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	20 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	6 - 8 Years

About the Author

In a time long ago, Abby Pete retired from teaching English and started a family and a catering/takeout food business in central Pennsylvania. Years passed and she moved to Philadelphia, bringing her family, but not her business, with her. There she decidedto pursue another of her interests, animals, and became a docent at the Philadelphia Zoo, where she can happily talk about all of the animals in the collection. Abby lives with her husband, Ron, in Philadelphia and is lucky to have all of her married children and four grandchildren live close enough to take them to "her" zoo frequently.

Leslie Pontz is a fiber sculptor with a master's degree in Fine Arts from Syracuse University where she did her thesis on children's art, and was the recipient of two grants from the National Endowment for the Arts through the Pennsylvania Council of the Arts as an Artist-in-residence. Leslie has shown internationally in invitational and juried exhibits in France, Brazil, Ireland, and Venezuela as well as throughout the U.S. She is the recipient of several awards for her work, which is featured in many private and public collections including but not limited to the Kamm, Best Western, Chestnut Hill Hotel and Philadelphia Museum of Art collections.Leslie lives with her husband Curt in Philadelphia, PA. Their five grown children have given them eight grandchildren.

Editorial Reviews

Harvey the Hippo Meets Mickey Mandarin is a timely and much-needed addition to the body of literature for young children. The tale delivers the message of love and the understanding of differences in a tender yet thoroughly unambiguous way. The illustrations are not only beautifully rendered, but also serve to amplify the rhyme. They are gentle and, at the same time, strong and vibrant, serving to engage a child and caregiver in conversation about the characters and the words

TS - Tony Seidl

Harvey the Hippo Meets Mickey Mandarin is a lovely book for young children and serves as a gentle introduction to gender identification. Using animal characters, it describes how some individuals identify as male, some female and some who feel they do not fit either descriptor. The use of 'he/him, ' 'she/her' and 'they/them' vocabulary provides the young child with real-world terminology. The book stops there and does not delve into more advanced concepts of sexuality.

LZ - Laurie Zelinger

If you want to read a book that will help kiddos feel seen, included and celebrated, you will find this story of friendship and community wonderful. Harvey the Hippo Meets Mickey Mandarin is heartwarming, as it uses fun and welcoming language that invites all genders to feel a sense of belonging, even if there are differences

AK - Anna Kiesnowski