Picture books that don't stereotype?

[minitoot]

My 3 year old DS has started coming out with stuff like, 'You're a girl. You like pink,' and giving me the pink option at every opportunity (e.g. if there's a pink, a yellow and a blue chair, guess which one I get). Anyone got any suggestions of picture books that would help dispel gender stereotyping? I can think of Princess Smartypants but that's all.

The Worst Princess is good, my girls love Princess Sue.

There was also this article in the Guardian not long ago:

www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2015/jul/30/picture-books-that-draw-the-line-against-pink-stereotypes-of-girls

Thanks, I'll look those up. I did see the Guardian article but I think it's something a bit different that he's assuming. I think he knows that girls have identities, can do whatever boys do, etc., it's more the association of pink with girls. I think he's getting it at nursery, probably from peer group rather than from the staff. And probably also because so many books about girls use pink, even if the girls are being strong/ untraditonal (e.g. I just googled Princess Smartypants and it seems to have a pink cover!!) What I'd really like is a book about girls who wear lots of different colours, or about boys who wear pink and like it. Maybe it doesn't exist. More likely I just don't have enough Google-fu to find it.

Katie Morag? No pink that I can think of!

Does it need to be a girl? Winnie the Witch wears all black, and magics her cat into primary colour stripes

Thanks, good suggestions - will look at those. He likes Winnie.

oops, nc fail. ha ha. :) not a big deal luckily!

The Harry and the Dinosaurs books show girls doing normal stuff like playing football, the family is mum, nan, older sister Sam and Harry so strong female figures.
The Man Whose mother was a pirate, and a Busy Day for a Good grandmother, both by Margaret Mahy are both fabulous and have strong women.

The Ahlberg Happy Families books have women/girls doing all sorts.

In Katy Morag, Granny Island rarely wears anything but dungarees, and drives a tractor. Mrs McColl runs the shop, juggles childcare with Mr McColl etc

Have a look at Letterbox Library. They specialise in inclusive books. Not just anti-sexist but also inclusive of all races and disabitlies and have books that deal with difficult issues like bereavement.

You can search by age on the site, but also by theme - gender equality in this case - but I'd recommend having a look through some of the other themes too.

I've only read one, but the Maisie book we have seems not to be stereotyped. Plus she doesn't have the usual long "girly" eyelashes.

Avocado Baby.

Its hilarious, unconventional and you never know if the baby is a boy or a girl even at the end. Its always just referred to as "the baby"

Hi. I have recently published a book which my late brother wrote. It's called Norman the Caterpillar and is really rather special. Stephen Fry thinks so too so I'm not being untowardly biased!

It has a female snail in it called Cynthia. She loves Norman and he too loves her. It will teach young people about being different, how to love but isn't your stereotypical love story. If you want to get your child a book which will grow with them and one with depth and hidden meaning as well as being witty, heartwarming and heartbreaking which teaches them about love, kindness and being different, I urge you to buy this book. I think it has the potential of being a classic one day. You can buy it here: www.amazon.co.uk/Norman-Caterpillar-Johnny-MacKay/dp/132037493X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1443183630&sr=8-1&keywords=norman+the+caterpillar

and here also:

www.johnnyshappyplace.com/#!product-page/c1dyt/26456b01-6395-748a-f7ac-24ea2722b2ff

Hi
Here are some ideas for picture books about female lead characters, identity and gender roles
I hope you find what you are looking for!

Bob Graham’s books are pretty fab for this. Let’s Get A Pup and A Bus Called Heaven are two of the best. The kids and the adults are refreshingly ‘normal’, too.