Good books for toddler that aren't sexist!

[NXV839]

I read to my dd every night and I'm really struggling to find books that are gender neutral. I find the Mr Men and Little Miss books filled with stereotypes, and I worry about reading all the disney books because I really disagree with a lot of princess malarkey in it.

I know this isn't a major issue for many parents - and certainly my parents think I'm over-reacting by worrying about the content of bedtime stories! - but its an issue for me.

So I really just want a few suggestions of books that aren't the same boring gender stereotypes that I've seen a million times. Any ideas?

Thanks :)

Have you tried Julia Donaldson books? We loved all of these

We have Cream Cake which is about a baby boy being got ready for bed by his dad, whilst his mum gets his older DSis ready too. Is that what you mean - avoiding things like Stormy Weather because it shows a mother getting her DS ready for bed rather than his dad doing it?

I did think "what's she on about, why can't she just avoid Disney books" but I guess if you want to avoid books with mothers as the main care giver etc, it will rule out all books by Shirley Hughes, Tiger who came to tea etc and limit your choice.

Have you got the Very Hungry Caterpillar, and Polar Bear, Polar Bear, which are Eric Carle and have very little plot no actual characters as such so aren't sexist. Guess how much I love you is also a dad putting his DS to bed.

Can't you sleep, Little Bear? and the other books in the series are lovely, all about a little bear and his dad (they tidy their cave in one, play together, etc.)

crumbs - I am sat here thinking and I can't even work out what our books are. I obviously don't pay enough attention.

Piggybook by Anthony Browne isn't gender-neutral but has a cool twist that shows Mum getting her own back on her chauvinist DH and DSes!

Topsy and Tim?

We have the older style ladybird hardback ones. My kids loved the chicken pox one. Whilst the mother is a sahm from what I gather the dad is about. I don't remember them bring sexist.

Hairy mcclairy?
The mog the cat series?

Ooh - lots - apart from what people have mentioned above, how about:

Slinki Malinki series (Lynley Dodd, same author as for Hairly McClairy)

Outside over There (Maurice Sendak - about a small girl that rescues her baby sister from goblins)

Zog (Julia Donaldson - princess grows up to be a doctor)

Any of the Madeline books (Ludwig Bemelmans - small girl in a Paris boarding school having adventures)

Any books by Emily Gravett (particularly Monkey & Me, Wolf Won't Bite and Again)

Ribbit (Rodrigo Folgueira)

The Great Sheep Shenanigans (Mei Matsuoka/Peter Bentley)

This is great. Thanks so much for all the suggestions! I really appreciate it :) Think I'll be off to Waterstones this weekend then!

I'm not sure how old your dd is, but I'd also add the Maisie books if she's very small (somewhat surreal, but not sexist, and small dc seem to love them).