This review was originally written for The Baby Bookworm. Visit us for new picture books reviews daily!Hello, friends! Our book today is Bling Blaine: Throw Glitter, Not Shade, written by Rob Sanders and illustrated by Letizia Rizzo, a primer for young readers on how to be an ally.Blaine loves all things sparkly: spangles, sequins, glitter, and shine – it can never be too much for him. His love of glitz brings light into the lives of his friends at Freedom Elementary School (as does his motto, “...

Cute with a positive, teachable message.But... I feel that any library volunteer wouldn't be as critical (said the children's librarian). Just saying.

This sweet, gentle, and adorably illustrated picture book is a wonderful lesson on how to be an ally. It does a great job of teaching in a story format and avoids being too preachy. I love how it handles the issue of not expecting the minority person being challenged or persecuted to do all of the emotional labor of educating everyone on how to understand lgbtq+ issues and that people are different from each other and that that's okay. The way it compares the titular Blaine liking bling to other...

While the tag line "Throw Glitter, Not Shade" seems ripped out of a 2010 facebook meme, the sentiment of this book still holds strong. I really liked this book because it explicitly shows and tells younger readers how to be an ally to their friends. When Blaine is bullied into blandness, it takes a school-wide support system to make him feel safe enough to bring his bling back. It is important to see how kids can use their voices and their actions to support one another and how everyone's unique...

-anti-bullying message-strong community message-shows adults be the jerks that they are-cute illustrations-above average back matter

I appreciate the focus on allyship, including the backmatter that helps kids understand how to be an ally in authentic & developmentally appropriate language. For that reason I applaud what the book is seeming to want to accomplish. I also greatly appreciate the viewpoint of the classmates explaining to outsiders, he likes bling just like I like... (hoodies, orange, high-tops) in a matter-of-fact way that normalizes this viewpoint.On the other hand, I struggle with these picture books that focus...

Blaine loves everything sparkly. Sue loves orange; Alberto loves high-tops; Marvin loves hoodies; and Blaine loves bling. While his classmates embrace Blaine's love of Bling, not everyone else does. After some bullies make fun of his accessories, Blaine decides to leave the bling behind. Can his classmates stand up for Blaine and help Blaine get his groove back?A cute story about identity and gender norms. The understanding and support from Blaine's classmates is fantastic. Illustrations are col...

Yes, there is a clear message of tolerance focused on in this book, but it somehow never becomes didactic or cheesy. I like that there is an actual story happening instead of just the message. And those illustrations! They sparkle!

This book didn't cut it for me. Blaine, a Black boy, loves everything sparkly and shining and is always willing to share "bling" with his friends and classmates. In the first half of the story, these supportive friends do a great job of sharing with new people that "Blaine likes bling, just like I like [fill in the blank]." I really liked this example of how to express support for a friend without erasing differences, but unfortunately various characters don't get the lesson, and start bullying

This picture book is a great reminder that sometimes people will put you down just for being yourself and that will make you sad and you may decide to shy away from who you truly are. But then sometimes you have friends/allies who will advocate for you and this helps to give you that boost of confidence to stand out from the crowd. Blaine loves bling and when that twinkle in his eyes vanishes because of some people's discomfort you see that magic that he has in himself and others disappear. But

Age: Kindergarten-2nd gradeLGBTQ: Gender nonconformingJust like Marvin likes hoodies and Alberto likes high-tops, Blaine loves glitter and sparkles. Beyond his own accessorizing, Blaine loves giving sparkly gifts and spreading cheer with his sunny personality. But when the new kid pushes him and calls him names, Blaine takes it to heart. Feeling the drab atmosphere and seeing the sadness on Blaine’s face, his classmates decide to intervene and talk with the curious and confused newcomers. Anothe...

Blaine is pure serotonin!!!!! Great book about being yourself and learning to be an ally for others

Help I'm crying at work.I absolutely loved this! I love how the kids compare Blaine's love of bling to their own tastes, and I loved how they had sit-down conversations with the people who were disapproving. The back matter about how to be an ally is a great touch.

LGBTQ: Gender nonconformingJust like Marvin likes hoodies and Alberto likes high-tops, Blaine loves glitter and sparkles. Beyond his own accessorizing, Blaine loves giving sparkly gifts and spreading cheer with his sunny personality. But when the new kid pushes him and calls him names, Blaine takes it to heart. Feeling the drab atmosphere and seeing the sadness on Blaine’s face, his classmates decide to intervene and talk with the curious and confused newcomers.Another quality perspective added

Everyone should throw glitter! Not shade. Heart warming story of friends bringing the sparkle back into the life of their friend Blaine after unkind words steal his joy.

Iggi's Storytime CriteriaAge group: Elementary+Content: self-expression, clothes, creativity, being different, bullyingPlot: Blaine loves all things that glitter, and sharing his sparkly joy with others, until he hears three different people saying he shouldn't. Then his friends must band together to bring back Blaine's shine.Wordiness: MediumLength: MediumIllustrations: CutePage Gloss: SatinOther: This book reminds me a lot of Julian is a Mermaid, but without being quite so specific to queer cu...

Fantastic representation, not just in the main character but in all the children depicted. I love the message that hate is taught. All of the kids just accept Blaine, it's the adults who try to act like he is wrong. I also love the message of standing up for your friends. Wonderful message to kids.

Throw glitter, not shade.

The story of a kid named Blaine who loves to wear sparkly clothes and accessories, “bling”, and shares bling with his schoolmates. The book teaches empathy and acceptance of those who are different, and how to be an ally. Love the illustrations and the story, and Blaine, and the classmates who stand up for him. The diversity portrayed is awesome too. My four year old loved this book.

Fun, sparkly and NOT didactic. Illustrations are a bit Cartoon Network but easily recognizable for young readers. How to Be an Ally talking points are at the end.