Jordan and Max, Showtime

Jordan’s approach to feeling different was to avoid conflict by staying in the background and remaining as quiet as possible with the hope of being left alone. When he first saw Max, Jordan knew by his flowered shirt, his mirror sunglasses, and the fact that he was alone scribbling in a notebook, that Max, too, was different. Max’s approach to being different was the opposite of Jordan’s. When the class introduced themselves to each other, Max boasted about his talents and stated that he was going to be a star.

When the two boys teamed up to work on a school project, they were off to a rocky start. Max was overbearing, and Jordan was shy, but after working through some rough spots, it was apparent that the two boys had a lot in common. They were both from artistic families; Jordan’s grandmother had a closet full of costumes and wigs which she and Jordan used to perform in their living room. Max’s older sisters were a musician and a sculptor. The boys decided on a performance for school that included singing and dancing while wearing some of Jordan’s grandmother’s dresses and wigs. Even though the class didn’t “get” their performance, the boys did. Although neither of them were without flaws, they were friends because they shared some common values and interests.

Jordan and Max, Showtime explores the concepts of friendship and acceptance of yourself and others. The black and white cartoon format illustrations complement the text, including depicting the boys dressed up in female clothing and wigs for their performance. Teachers can use this book when discussing friendship, family, and identity.