Perfect Square - Michael Hall

In challenging times, children need to learn to be resilient and this book is a perfect introduction for children to learn about adapting and facing difficulties with confidence.

Square is perfect at the start of the book with four corners and straight lines, until someone rips it up, punches holes in it, shreds it, snips bits away etc. At each challenge Square remodels itself; when poked full of holes it turns in to a babbling fountain and when torn in to scraps it turns in to a flower garden. 

This book is truly inspirational and I am using it in KS2 classes to teach children to think creatively and find solutions when things go wrong. 

I'm a girl: Yasmeen Ismail

This book is a fantastic tool to challenge the gender stereotypes fed to children about how to be and how to behave as they grow up. It is assumed by people around her that the main character is a boy; she wins races, she is brave and noisy and all through the story she is refereed to as a boy, to which she always replies, "I'm a girl!"

A child is told at one point that, "Dolls are for girls," 

"No they're not!" the child replies.

At the end of the story, the girl meets a boy who says, "I'm a boy! Being us is brilliant!" and the pair join in a song together, agreeing that there's no one else they'd rather be; "We're us!" conclude the children.

This is a great way to reassure young children that we are all different and that's ok. Girls are great and boys are great too, and children can be who they are regardless of their gender or gender identity.

"No Outsiders in our school: teaching the equality act in primary schools" by Andrew Moffat

equalitiesprimary

Introducing Teddy - Jessica Walton and Dougal MacPherson

Errol and Thomas the Teddy play together every day until one day when Thomas doesn't feel like playing. Errol encourages Teddy to tell him what's wrong but Teddy is afraid Thomas will no longer be his friend. When Thomas convinces Teddy to speak up, Teddy says, "I need to be myself, Errol. In my heart, I've always known that I'm a girl teddy, not a boy teddy." 

Thomas doesn't care because, "all that matters is that you are my friend".

Thomas and Teddy call their friend Eva and introduce her to Teddy's new name, Tilly. The three go and play together.

This is a super book to explore transgender identity and acceptance. The characters are fantastic role models, making the transition during the story as uncomplicated as possible and showering the focus character with support and positive affirmation.

Every school needs this book.

The cow who climbed a tree: Gemma Merino

Tina the cow thinks differently to other cows and likes to try out new things. This is a great tale to use when teaching children about why some people are afraid of difference. The other cows just chew grass all day but Tina wants to try something different. The story encourages independent thinking and also assertiveness as Tina encourages the other cows to be brave and follow their hearts.

It has a great ending as the other cows realise it's OK to listen to new ideas and feel unafraid. 

I am using this book to encourage children to question and think creatively.