Loving Cutico

Loving Cutico is a story about a sweet grandson.

One day, grandpa's dear friend was concerned that he needed to help Cutico become a man, and what better

way than by gifting him a rooster! Cutico loved his pet rooster but quickly learned that grandpa's friend wanted him to train his rooster to fight. Determined to be an excellent friend to his rooster, Cutico reminded

his family that they had raised a caring, responsible, and loving man.

Author's Note:

Growing up as a young girl, I realized that boys and girls become aware of social norms and expectations through their experiences at a young age. Boys were taught to be strong and tough, and that they should never cry!

As a girl, I remember learning to be ladylike and the importance of learning to cook, clean, and be helpful in a

household. I was told girls should never be disagreeable, they should be soft-spoken, and that girls cannot go to boy places!

I became overwhelmed by these false narratives. One of the most meaningful lessons that I learned was that all you need in this world is food and love. This message always stuck with me and now I want to share it with young children.