I love children’s books. 

I love discovering a children’s book that I know would have been a part of my kindergarten classroom library or would have found a spot on my son’s bookcase. 

So She Did by Dr. Aleen Kojayan is one such book. 

From the back cover:

“Jade doesn’t enjoy dance, basketball, singing or drawing; what she really loves is anything and everything to do with cars.”

Jade’s parents are mechanics who own their mechanic shop. Jade spends summers at her parents’ shop, and observes both mom and dad actively working on cars. (In fact, the book’s illustrations show Mom changing a car’s tire.) 

However, Jade’s love of cars is tested when she shares with her first-grade class her dream to grow up to become a mechanic. “‘That’s not a job for girls!’ they say.”

After being teased at school, Jade throws away all her toy cars and tells her dad, “I threw them away because girls are not supposed to play with cars.”

Jade’s dad replies: “The cars cannot see if you are a boy or a girl. They can feel your passion and your love as you work on them. You can do anything you set your mind to, including working on cars. Being a girl should not stop you, just look at your mom.”

So She Did is a sweet book, perfect for a young reader. Moreover, this is a book that can start conversations and serve as a way to broaden views about outdated, stereotypical gender roles. After all, representation matters. Children absolutely need to see themselves (including their future selves) depicted on the page (and on the screen).

Please note: I do know the author, Dr. Aleen Kojayan. In fact, Dr. K signed this copy of her book, which I will be donating to a little free library in our neighborhood.