As the librarian at Corlears School, Kyle is fully immersed in the world of children’s literature each day. When he’s not introducing children at Corlears to the joys of reading, he’s writing his very own children’s books for young bookworms everywhere.
Kyle’s career as a children’s librarian and working at Corlears with children ages 2 to 10 has provided him with a special insight into the world of children’s literature.
“I have daily interactions reading books to kids. It helped me as a writer because I read so much,” he says. “I see what children respond to, what they’re interested in, what they’re bored by or confused by.”
Kyle’s first book, A Storytelling for Ravens, was published in 2018. His latest, When Aidan Became a Brother, centers on how a transgender child’s experience helps him welcome a new baby to the family. It hits shelves on June 4, 2019.
The idea for When Aidan Became a Brother was actually sparked by a conversation with peers in the field. “Two librarians had asked about good books for transgender boys,” he says, and he thought about how “there just aren’t any traditionally published ones that are easy to find in bookstores.”
The initial idea for the book was about a young trans boy expressing his identity through his bedroom, his clothing, and how he plays with friends. Over several months, that story evolved into When Aidan Became a Brother.
Writing about transgender kids and their experiences is something Kyle is dedicated to sharing through his writing.
“Most of my work right now has to do with trans kids or people because that’s what I spend most of time my time thinking about; that’s who most of my friends are, and that’s been a dominant theme in my life,” Kyle explains.
Some books with characters who identify as transgender that are not written by authors who are trans can tend to focus too much on being bullied and being an outcast, he notes. “Our lives are more than just the experiences we have to survive.”
Aidan is, instead, a celebration.
“I think that the existence of trans people and trans children [in children’s literature] is in and of itself important, because why not? We’re people who exist,” Kyle explains. “Aidan’s story wouldn’t work in the same way if he was cisgender.”
Corlears families and anyone excited to celebrate the release of Kyle’s book are welcome at the launch party and signing on June 2, 2019 at Books of Wonder (18 W. 18th Street, New York, NY) from 4-6 p.m. for a special talk and signing with Kyle.
Kyle is one of the many expert faculty and staff members at Corlears School. Learn more about our school’s dedication and expertise in early childhood education , and meet our impactful community of educators.
