{{Short description|Children's book author (born 1984)}} {{Infobox writer <!-- For more information see :Template:Infobox Writer/doc. --> | honorific_prefix = | honorific_suffix = | image = File:Me_%2B_Jasmine.jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = | native_name = | native_name_lang = | pseudonym = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1984|06|05}} | birth_place = Skokie, Illinois, United States | death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} --> | death_place = | resting_place = | occupation = School librarian | language = | education = | alma_mater = Barnard College | period = | genre = | subject = | movement = | notableworks = ''When Aidan Became a Brother,'' ''Too Bright to See'' | spouse = | partner = | children = | relatives = | awards = | signature = | signature_alt = | module = | website = {{url|http://kylelukoff.com}} | portaldisp = }}
'''Kyle Lukoff''' (born 1984) is a children's book author, school librarian, and former bookseller.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hbook.com/?detailStory=five-questions-for-kyle-lukoff-july-2019|title=Five questions for Kyle Lukoff|last=Flynn|first=Kitty|website=The Horn Book|access-date=2019-11-18}}</ref> He is most known for the Stonewall award-winning ''When Aidan Became a Brother'' and for ''Call Me Max'', which gained attention when parents in Texas complained about the book being read in an elementary school classroom<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yorio |first=Kara |title=LGBTQ+ Book Challenges Continue As Texas Parents Object to "Call Me Max" |url=https://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/?detailStory=LGBTQ-book-challenges-continue-as-texas-parents-object-to-call-me-max |access-date=2021-03-21 |website=School Library Journal}}</ref> and a Utah school district canceled its book program after the book was read to third graders.<ref>{{Cite web|last=EST|first=Samantha Lock On 2/15/21 at 10:28 AM|date=2021-02-15|title=Transgender boy book prompts Utah school district to suspend reading program|url=https://www.newsweek.com/transgender-boy-book-prompts-utah-school-district-suspend-program-1569346|access-date=2021-03-21|website=Newsweek|language=en}}</ref>
==Personal life== Lukoff is a transgender man, who transitioned in 2004<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.texasbookfestival.org/2019-festival-author-lineup/|title = 2019 Festival Author Lineup – Texas Book Festival}}</ref> while an undergraduate at Barnard College, a historically women's college. Much of his work centers on transgender children. He is Jewish.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://libwww.freelibrary.org/blog/post/3807|title=Blog: Conversations About Queer and Trans Literature with Picture Book Author Kyle Lukoff}}</ref>
== Education == Lukoff went to Edmonds-Woodway High School then graduated from Barnard College<ref>{{cite web |title=Magazine Preview: In Transition |url=https://bwog.com/2009/12/magazine-preview-in-transition/ |website=Bwog |date=8 December 2009 |accessdate=15 November 2019}}</ref> in 2006. While at Barnard, he was a member of Columbia University's Philolexian Society.<ref>{{Cite web |title=#49 - Poem Explosion with author Kyle Lukoff - Buttons & Figs (podcast) |url=https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/buttons-figs/49-poem-explosion-with-3-4MO29Qsjo/ |access-date=2022-03-11 |website=Listen Notes |date=9 April 2020 |language=en}}</ref> He earned his Master's degree in library science from Queens College in 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kyle |date=2012-09-13 |title=A Letter to Corlears Parents |url=https://corlearslibrary.wordpress.com/2012/09/13/a-letter-to-corlears-parents/ |access-date=2022-03-15 |website=Corlears School Library Blog |language=en}}</ref>
==Career== Lukoff was a school librarian at the Corlears School in New York City<ref>{{cite web|title=Staff Profiles {{!}} Corlears School {{!}} NYC|url=https://www.corlearsschool.org/staff-profiles/#kyle|website=Corlears School|accessdate=15 November 2019}}</ref> until he quit his job to write full time in 2020. His first book, ''A Storytelling of Ravens'', was published in 2018 by House of Anansi Press and illustrated by Natalie Nelson.<ref>{{cite web |title=A Storytelling of Ravens |url=https://houseofanansi.com/collections/groundwoodbooks/products/a-storytelling-of-ravens |website=House of Anansi Press |accessdate=15 November 2019 |language=en}}</ref> His second book, ''When Aidan Became a Brother'', illustrated by Kaylani Juanita,<ref>{{Cite book|title=When Aidan became a brother|last1=Lukoff|first1=Kyle|last2=Juanita|first2=Kaylani|date=2019|publisher=Lee & Low Books Incorporated |isbn=9781620148372|language=English|oclc=1055840422}}</ref> is a story about a transgender boy awaiting a new sibling.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/features/kyle-lukoff/|title=Kyle Lukoff|website=Kirkus Reviews|language=en|access-date=2019-11-15}}</ref> The book was published by Lee & Low, an independent publisher known for works by unpublished authors and illustrators of color.<ref>{{cite web |title=About Us {{!}} Lee & Low Books |url=https://www.leeandlow.com/about-us |website=www.leeandlow.com |accessdate=15 November 2019}}</ref>
Lukoff's ''Max and Friends'' series was released in November 2019 with ''Call Me Max'', illustrated by Luciano Luzano.<ref>{{cite web |title=Reycraft Books {{!}} Max and Friends: Call Me Max |url=http://www.reycraftbooks.com/books/max-and-friends-call-me-max.html |website=www.reycraftbooks.com |accessdate=15 November 2019 |archive-date=15 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191115011401/http://www.reycraftbooks.com/books/max-and-friends-call-me-max.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> In April 2020, he published ''Explosion at the Poem Factory'', which was illustrated by Mark Hoffman.<ref>{{cite web |title=Explosion at the Poem Factory |url=https://houseofanansi.com/products/explosion-at-the-poem-factory?_pos=3&_sid=7b0eb33e4&_ss=r |website=House of Anansi Press |accessdate=15 November 2019 |language=en}}</ref> In 2021, he published ''Too Bright to See'', which won the Stonewall award and a Newbery Honor,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2022/01/american-library-association-announces-2022-youth-media-award-winners|title=American Library Association announces 2022 Youth Media Award winners|date=24 January 2022}}</ref> and was a finalist for the National Book Award for Young People's Literature.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Too Bright to See|url=https://www.nationalbook.org/books/too-bright-to-see/|access-date=2021-10-05|website=National Book Foundation|language=en-US}}</ref> He also wrote ''Different Kinds of Fruit''. His 2024 novel ''A World Worth Saving'' is a finalist for the National Book Award for Young People's Literature.<ref>{{cite web |title=2025 National Book Awards Finalists Announced |url=https://www.nationalbook.org/2025-national-book-awards-finalists-announced/ |website=National Book Foundation |publisher=The National Book Foundation |access-date=10 November 2025}}</ref>
==Publications== === Books === {| class="wikitable" !Title !Year !Notes !{{Reference column heading}} |- |''A Storytelling of Ravens'' |2018 | | |- |''When Aidan Became a Brother'' |2019 | | |- |''Explosion at the Poem Factory'' |2020 | | |- |''Too Bright to See'' |2021 | | |- |''Different Kinds of Fruit'' | rowspan="2" |2022 | |<ref>{{Cite web|title=Different Kinds of Fruit by Kyle Lukoff: 9780593111185 {{!}} PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books|url=https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/634498/different-kinds-of-fruit-by-kyle-lukoff/9780593111185|access-date=2021-10-05|website=PenguinRandomhouse.com|language=en-US}}</ref> |- |''If You're a Kid Like Gavin'' |With Gavin Grimm |<ref>{{Cite web |title=If You're a Kid Like Gavin |url=https://www.harpercollins.com/products/if-youre-a-kid-like-gavin-gavin-grimmkyle-lukoff |access-date=2022-07-13 |website=HarperCollins |language=en}}</ref> |- |''Awake, Asleep'' |2023 | | |- |''There's No Such Thing as Vegetables'' | rowspan="4" |2024 | |<ref>{{Cite book |last=Lukoff |first=Kyle |url=https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250867841/theresnosuchthingasvegetables |title=There's No Such Thing as Vegetables |publisher=Macmillan |year=2024 |isbn=9781250867841}}</ref> |- |''I'm Sorry You Got Mad'' | |<ref>{{Cite web |title=I'm Sorry You Got Mad by Kyle Lukoff: 9780593462911 {{!}} PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books |url=https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/696788/im-sorry-you-got-mad-by-kyle-lukoff-illustrated-by-julie-kwon/ |access-date=2024-06-16 |website=PenguinRandomhouse.com |language=en-US}}</ref> |- |''Just What to Do'' | |<ref>{{Cite web |title=Just What to Do by Kyle Lukoff: 9780593462942 {{!}} PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books |url=https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/696789/just-what-to-do-by-kyle-lukoff-illustrated-by-hala-tahboub/ |access-date=2024-06-16 |website=PenguinRandomhouse.com |language=en-US}}</ref> |- |''A World Worth Saving'' | |<ref>{{Cite web |title=A World Worth Saving by Kyle Lukoff: 9780593618981 {{!}} PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books |url=https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/720482/a-world-worth-saving-by-kyle-lukoff/ |access-date=2024-07-23 |website=PenguinRandomhouse.com |language=en-US}}</ref> |- |''My Little Golden Book About Pride'' | rowspan="2" |2025 | |<ref>{{Cite web |title=My Little Golden Book About Pride by Kyle Lukoff: 9780593807859 {{!}} PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books |url=https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/742621/my-little-golden-book-about-pride-by-kyle-lukoff-illustrated-by-michelle-jing-chan/ |access-date=2025-02-24 |website=PenguinRandomhouse.com |language=en-US}}</ref> |- |''Are You a Friend of Dorothy?'' | |<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Are-You-a-Friend-of-Dorothy/Kyle-Lukoff/9781665931663 |title=Are You a Friend of Dorothy? |date=2025-04-29 |isbn=978-1-6659-3166-3 |language=en}}</ref> |- |''The Kids in Mrs. Z's Class: Sebastian Metzger Solves a Sticky Situation'' |2026 | |<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/kyle-lukoff/the-kids-in-mrs-zs-class-sebastian-metzger-solves-a-sticky-situation/9780316594318/ |title=The Kids in Mrs. Z’s Class: Sebastian Metzger Solves a Sticky Situation |date=2025-07-07 |isbn=978-0-316-59431-8 |language=en-US}}</ref> |- |''Should I Stay or Should You Go?'' |2027 | |<ref>{{Cite web |title=Should I Stay or Should You Go? by Kyle Lukoff |url=https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/720673/should-i-stay-or-should-you-go-by-kyle-lukoff/ |access-date=2026-05-11 |website=PenguinRandomhouse.com |language=en-US}}</ref> |}
==== Book series ====
* Max {| class="wikitable" !Title !Year |- |''Call Me Max'' | rowspan="2" |2019 |- |''Max and the Talent Show'' |- |''Max on the Farm'' |2020 |}
*Mermaid Days {| class="wikitable" !Title !Year !{{Reference column heading}} |- |''Mermaid Days #1: The Sunken Ship'' | rowspan="2" |2022 |<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Sunken Ship: An Acorn Book (Mermaid Days #1) |url=http://shop.scholastic.com/content/teachers-ecommerce/en/teacher/books/the-sunken-ship-an-acorn-book-mermaid-days-1-9781338794601.html |access-date=2022-07-13 |website=shop.scholastic.com |language=en}}</ref> |- |''Mermaid Days #2: The Sea Monster'' | |- |''Mermaid Days #3: A New Friend'' |2023 | |}
=== Essays === {| class="wikitable" !Title !In !{{Reference column heading}} |- |"Taking up Space" |''Gender Outlaws: The Next Generation'' |<ref>{{cite book |last1=Bornstein |first1=Kate |last2=Bergman |first2=S. Bear |title=Gender outlaws: the next generation |date=2010 |publisher=Basic Books |isbn=9781580053082 |url=https://archive.org/details/genderoutlawsnex00born_0 |accessdate=16 November 2019 |language=English |url-access=registration }}</ref> |- |"Evaluating Transgender Picture Books; Calling for Better Ones" |''School Library Journal'' |<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lukoff |first1=Kyle |title=Evaluating Transgender Picture Books; Calling for Better Ones |url=https://www.slj.com/?detailStory=evaluating-transgender-picture-books-requesting-better-ones |website=School Library Journal |accessdate=16 November 2019}}</ref> |- |"Second Trans on the Moon" |''YA Pride'' |<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lukoff |first1=Kyle |title=Second Trans on the Moon |url=http://www.gayya.org/2016/11/second-trans-on-the-moon/ |website=YA Pride |accessdate=16 November 2019 |date=21 November 2016}}</ref> |- |"A letter to trans writers who are thinking about trying to get published." | |<ref>{{cite web |title=A letter to trans writers who are thinking about trying to get published |url=http://www.kylelukoff.com/blog-1/2018/12/7/a-letter-to-trans-writers-who-are-thinking-about-trying-to-get-published |website=Kyle Lukoff |date=7 December 2018 |accessdate=16 November 2019}}</ref> |}
== Awards == {| class="wikitable sortable" !Year !Nominee / work !Award !Result !{{Reference column heading}} |- | rowspan="2" |2022 |''Too Bright to See'' |Stonewall Children's and Young Adult Literature |{{Won}} | rowspan="2" |<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|last=Harris|first=Elizabeth A.|date=2022-01-24|title=Donna Barba Higuera Wins Newbery Medal for 'The Last Cuentista'|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/24/books/newbery-last-cuentista-caldecott-watercress.html|access-date=2022-01-31|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> |- |''Too Bright to See'' |Newbery |{{Honored}} |- |2021 |''Too Bright to See'' |National Book Award for Young People's Literature |{{Honored|Finalist}} |<ref name=":0" /> |- | rowspan="2" |2020 |''When Aidan Became a Brother'' |Stonewall Children's and Young Adult Literature |{{Won}} |<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2020/01/when-aidan-became-brother-and-black-flamingo-win-2020-stonewall-children-s|title="When Aidan Became a Brother" and "The Black Flamingo" win 2020 Stonewall Children's and Young Adult Literature Award|last=HCHO|date=2020-01-27|website=News and Press Center|language=en|access-date=2020-01-27}}</ref> |- |Outstanding Fiction for Children |Charlotte Huck Award |{{Honored}} |<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ncte.org/awards/ncte-childrens-book-awards/charlotte-huck-award/|title=Charlotte Huck Award (fiction for children)|website=NCTE|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-27}}</ref> |} ==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lukoff, Kyle}} Category:1984 births Category:Living people Category:People from Skokie, Illinois Category:Writers from Illinois Category:Barnard College alumni Category:Queens College, City University of New York alumni Category:American children's writers Category:Transgender Jews Category:Transgender male writers Category:American librarians Category:Stonewall Book Award winners Category:American transgender men Category:American transgender writers Category:LGBTQ people from Illinois Category:Newbery Honor winners Category:Jewish American children's writers Category:21st-century American Jews Category:21st-century librarians