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Above: “Perfectly Linus,” “Perfectly Bella,” and “Perfectly Charlie” book covers and author Camilla Gisslow. Photo by Ian Muller.
High resolution images on request.
More about Tallbergs Förlag and a list of current and forthcoming North American titles here.
Contact: Andy Reynolds at andy@popularpublicity.com
“Perfectly Me” Books Celebrate Trans Kids
Mother, activist, and author Camilla Gisslow writes children’s book series “that I wished had existed when my son told me who he was”
“These amazing and uplifting books are fantastic way to create an open dialog on gender identity and to find a way to be supportive, as children try to navigate being transgender.” – Jennifer Jay Palumbo @jennjaypal, Forbes, ScaryMommy, Parents www.wonderwomanwriter.com
“They’re so good. Beautifully simple and so nicely done.” – Meg-John Barker, author of “How to Understand Your Gender and Gender: A Graphic Guide” and “Sexuality: A Graphic Guide” www.rewriting-the-rules.com
Related: Video: Four Authors Celebrate Transgender and Non-Binary Children
Download press release text WORD | PDF
Scroll below for the press release, back cover text, sample pages, product details, and a letter to the author from a preschool teacher about “Perfectly Bella”
On Tuesday, March 2, 2021, Swedish “rainbow” multimedia company Tallbergs Förlag released the U.S./Canada English language versions of their “Perfectly Me” series of educational children’s books about trans kids. Written by Camilla Gisslow and illustrated by Klaudia Drabikowska, “Perfectly Linus,” “Perfectly Bella,” and “Perfectly Charlie” are sweet coming out stories where each child asserts their chosen gender identity, which is then celebrated with a party at school for their new names. The “Perfectly Me” books are available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and to bookstores via Ingram.
“My journey began when my child came out in 1997 at the age of four and a half. He clearly explained to me one evening that he was not a girl, but a boy,” says Swedish author, transgender and LGBTQ+ rights activist, educator and filmmaker Gisslow. “Back then, there was no information available about children with a gender identity different from the sex they were assigned at birth. We were totally alone, so I had to do my own research and let my son show me the way.”
School was particularly brutal for her son, as it continues to be for trans children decades later, as evidenced by trans kids thriving while “sheltering in place” at home during the pandemic (CNN).
Just over fourteen years ago, Gisslow began sharing her knowledge. “I felt it was important to teach others that trans children exist so we can better respond to their needs, both at home and in society.” She created TransForming (www.transforming.se), a consulting company that offers lectures and seminars on trans and LGBTQ+ inclusiveness to schools, businesses and organizations, including the Swedish Armed Forces.
In 2016 she published “I Have No History, I Have a Life,” based on her son’s experiences, about a fifteen-year-old trans boy and his struggle for the right to be himself. And in 2018 she wrote the “Perfectly Me” series, first published in Sweden by Tallbergs Förlag.
Also in 2018, Gisslow directed her first film, the deeply moving documentary “Rädda Våra Liv (Save Our Lives),” produced by Tallbergs Förlag, that follows three Swedish families which have fully accepted their children’s chosen gender. The mothers in the film share the pain they and their children have experienced at the hands of others due to ignorance about people with transidenties. [Watch promo videos with English subtitles here. Password to view film provided on request.]
The “Perfectly Me” series is for parents, family, friends and teachers. The following is the first paragraph of a (translated) note Gisslow received from a preschool teacher in Stockholm:
“Want to write and tell what your children’s book “Perfectly Bella” has meant to one of my children at the preschool I work at. We all have your three children’s books, but we had a special day when I read “Bella” with one of the children, who had a bit of a hard day this spring. He likes it very much and the other children too. We have had an exciting discussion about identity. But, when we had finished reading it this time, he suddenly said – I’m also a girl, but with a penis, just like Bella!” Read the full letter here.
“We are convinced that one way to improve the mental health of transgender people is to support them from a very young age,” says publisher Marcus Tallberg. “We hope these books and Camilla’s film open people’s eyes and improve how young trans people are treated.” •
All titles “Perfectly Me” titles are distributed by Ingram. Available via Amazon, Barnes & Noble.
To request a review copy of any or all of the “Perfectly Me” books, an author interview or for more info please contact andy@popularpublicity.com
Back cover text from the “Perfectly Me” series books:
Meet Linus, Bella and Charlie. Three kids with different identities here to tell us how they want to look on the outside and how we can embrace them for who they are on the inside. Join them as they celebrate their new chosen names with a name-party at school. In these special books, the families are as diverse and the children. Linus has a mom and dad. Bella’s family is Muslim. Charlie has two moms. Whether a parent a teacher or a relative, we all want our children to be happy and shine. We must let those we love be perfectly themselves.
Perfectly Linus
How does it feel to be a boy when you have a vagina?
And how does Linus want others to treat him
Perfectly Bella
How does it feel to be a girl when you have a penis?
And how does Bella want others to treat her?
Perfectly Charlie
How does it feel to be both a girl and a boy, no matter if you have a penis or a vagina?
And how does Charlie want others to treat them?
Sample spreads from (top to bottom) “Perfectly Linus,” “Perfectly Bella,” and Perfectly Charlie” below:
Product Details
Perfectly Linus
by Camilla Glisslow
Publisher : Tallbergs Forlag (March 2, 2021)
Language : English
Paperback : 50 pages
ISBN-13 : 978-9198654752
Reading age : 3 – 9 years
Item Weight : 2.88 ounces
Dimensions : 6.5 x 0.14 x 6.5 inches
Link to the book on Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Perfectly Bella
by Camilla Glisslow
Publisher : Tallbergs Forlag (March 2, 2021)
Language : English
Paperback : 50 pages
ISBN-13 : 9789198654769
Reading age : 3 – 9 years
Item Weight : 2.88 ounces
Dimensions : 6.5 x 0.14 x 6.5 inches
Link to the book on Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Perfectly Charlie
by Camilla Glisslow
Publisher : Tallbergs Forlag (March 2, 2021)
Language : English
Paperback : 50 pages
ISBN-13 : 9789198654776
Reading age : 3 – 9 years
Item Weight : 2.88 ounces
Dimensions : 6.5 x 0.14 x 6.5 inches
Link to the book on Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Letter to “Perfectly Bella” author Camilla Gisslow from a preschool teacher:
Hi Camilla!
Want to write and tell what your children’s book “Perfectly Bella” has meant to one of my children at the preschool I work at. We all have your three children’s books, but that was when I read Bella with one of the children, who had a little hard day this spring. He likes it very much and the other children too. We have had an exciting discussion about identity. But, when we had finished reading it this time, he suddenly said – I’m also a girl, but with a penis, just like Bella!
I did not really know what to say. But asked him a little cautiously how long he felt that way? He replied “since I could walk”. I asked if that was why he liked reading Bella and he said that it tickled joy in the stomach when we read about Bella, because she is like him. I asked if his parents knew he was a girl with a snot and he replied that he probably did not because they never bought dresses for him. I asked if he wanted me to tell them he was a girl with a snot (It made me very nervous, because how do you keep such a conversation?) He thought quietly for a while and said, yes he wanted to and maybe we could read Bella to them. Because he really wanted to have her hair like Bella and dress in a dress.
I talked to my boss and asked what we should do, as the child has been clear that he wants us to talk to the parents. We decided to call for a call. I tell the whole process. I was extremely nervous because I did not know how they would react, even though we always thought they seemed open as parents. The mother started crying and the father became a little stiff at first and I thought, Shit too, this will not go well! But the mother said that they had talked about this, because the boy had shown at home in different ways that he was not really like all the other boys. Cannot go into details, but they did not know how to approach this in the best way. They had suspected that it might be something like this. I thought they would buy your book “I’m Bella, a girl with a snot” and read it with the child and ask about his feelings and desires.
Which they did and today the family announced that from this autumn when She starts in the five-year-old group, her name is Bella (she wants to be called like her like in the book ??) and they have sent an email that they wish to be sent out to the other parents with children at our preschool, to tell you that it’s Bella and she now.
I can imagine that it might be a little difficult in the beginning with a new name and say she instead of him, but I was at one of your lectures last year and remember how important it was to be consistent in it and how it helps the child with its self-esteem. And how important it is that we educators support and help with the other children and parents when things go wrong. We will do our best!
So thank you Camilla! Your book has helped our Bella to put into words how she feels and can now have the opportunity to grow up as herself! All preschools should have your books!
Warm Summer Greetings, Sarah
Preschool teacher in Stockholm
Tallbergs Förlag AB is a Stockholm-based rainbow multimedia company that champions minority identities and role models, from LGBTQ, ethnicity, religion, class, and gender to autism spectrum disorders. In addition to being a publisher of nearly 40 books by over a dozen authors, the house produces workshops, educational and cultural events, podcasts and documentary films. All Tallbergs Förlag products are available as digitally designed educational packages for schools, businesses and organizations wishing to increase their awareness and understanding of gender, identity and autism. Tallbergs Förlag was established in 2017. http://www.tallbergsforlag.se @tallbergsforlag
Marcus Talberg is an entrepreneur, author, publisher, public speaker and founder of Tallbergs Förlag. He was born and raised in the small town of Trollhättan, Sweden and now lives in Stockholm with his dogs Max and Malva. @marcustallbergofficial
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