Made by Raffi, story by Craig Pomranz, illustrations by Margaret Chamberlain, Frances Lincoln Children’s Books, IsBN 9781847-805966.
By Donald H. Harrison
SAN DIEGO – Made by Raffi is a story by singer Craig Pomranz, with illustrations by Margaret Chamberlain, that should help children who feel different from others of their gender understand that they have unique personalities and talents that are as worthwhile and estimable as any one elses.
In the case of the young protagonist Raffi, he doesn’t care much for football and other noisy sports in which other boys engage during recess. Instead, he would sit quietly, away from the noise. One day, he saw a teacher who was knitting, and intrigued, asked if she would show him how to do it. She did, and after a few errors, he learned how to knit.
Excitedly, he told his parents about this new pursuit, and they took him to a yarn store, where he purchased skeins of every color. Then he began knitting a scarf that grew and grew. Other kids made fun of his new hobby, but Raffi was undeterred. Then, one day, his class learned it was to put on a play within four days. One of the roles was a prince, and, on his own, Raffi decided to make a cape to serve as the prince’s costume. He found purple and yellow fabric that he sewed together.
His efforts won him the admiration of his teacher and his fellow students. Maybe, they said, Raffi was destined to become a famous designer. Soon everyone wanted Raffi to knit or sew something for them. His proud mother created a label for him to sew into his creations. “Made by Raffi,” he said.
In this book, Raffi’s parents are fully supportive of his interests, however gender atypical they were. At one point, Raffi asked his mother, “Mum? Am I strange or weird? Why do I like to sing and draw and knit? Do you think I’m … girly.”
She responded, “No, Raffi, I think you are very Raffi … You are our wonderful boy with your own special interests. Dad and I are very proud of you.”
This is a book for children. But it is a lesson for parents.
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Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World. He may be contacted via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.om