How does your child express their individuality? Tell us for a chance to win a £100 John Lewis voucher plus picture book Odd Dog Out

[SorchaMumsnet]

Rob Biddulph's beautiful new picture book Odd Dog Out is all about blazing a trail, and being who you are. To celebrate its publication, we're asking you to share how your mini superstars dare to be different.

It's a dog's life in the big city but one dog doesn't quite fit in. It's lonely being the odd dog out when all she wants to do is find her place in the world. She's willing to travel far on her quest, but it might take a different kind of journey for her to realise that maybe she's exactly where she needs to be.

A sublimely sunny and exquisitely illustrated tale about fitting in and standing out, from the award-winning and tremendously talented Rob Biddulph.

We'd love to hear how your little ones to express their individuality (and how you help them to do so) - whether it's insisting on wearing their favourite character costume 24/7 or only eating certain coloured food. For a chance to win a copy of Odd Dog Out and £100 voucher to spend at John Lewis, just tell us on this thread.

This discussion is sponsored by HarperCollins and will close at midday on 22 February

Books T&Cs apply

our little chap from very early on picked up song lyrics, he ignored the usual Wheels On The Bus, Twinkle Twinkle etc and instead started singing Beatles, Bowie, Queen and Wham songs, and not just the chorus the whole thing.

I have twins - one loves sport, the other hates it; one can draw, the other can't; one can't do maths, the other is a whizz at it; one hates science, the other is fascinated by it. Born two minutes apart to the same parents and brought up the same - two completely different individuals!

DD shuns sweets and loves hot & spicy snacks/food which most toddlers react in disgust. She just giggles when her friends & the family look on astonished. :)

By creating the most bonkers outfits you have ever seen! Part fancy dress, part indoors, part outdoor, sometimes odd shoes!

She does her hair up with lots of colourful clips and bows! Very funky.

dancing around like a lunatic!

Lots of what looks like interpretive dance.

By wearing unique (!) outfits mostly. But I love the fact that the older two will happily wear exactly what they like and not care about what others think. I wasn't like that at all. My DD was about 3 the first time she politely refused the dress I wanted to buy her and showed me exactly what she wanted instead. The youngest is very fashion conscious though. We went to parents' evening the other day and he asked me to remove my bobble hat before entering the school premises in case anyone saw me!!

Although she is only 7 months old her mannerisms are already developing

my eldest son who is now 19 and at Uni used to love wearing his red power ranger outfit everywhere. He loved it and even wanted to wear it to bed. I had to wait until he went to school to wash it. He thought he was a power ranger. I bet he will love me telling everyone about it now!

my eldest son has started to express himself in the clothes he wears and how he wears them so i will let him choose them himself and co-ordinate the outfits he wears

I remember feeling very upset when my dc started infant school because he had to wear a uniform and conform. Up until that moment in time he had been able to choose what he wore and he loved to wear bright colours. Sometimes they were mismatched but he was always happy with his choices and I encouraged him because I'm a great believer in individuality and personal choice. I also did not want him to grow up only wearing / expecting to wear clothes from one brand or one store.
He also used to love dressing up in different costumes some of which we would make together with bits and bobs we bought from charity shops and then adapted.
I have a lovely collection of photos of him in all his different costumes for plays, parties, Halloween etc.

They can choose their outfits and play with what they want to.

My DD had a thing for wearing a beret. We had to have one in every colour available.

Both my DDs are strong minded individuals. DD1 (6) has the curliest hair and she likes nothing better than wearing it naturally and being 100% proud of her 'fuzz'. DD2 (4) is tiny but she has the loudest voice. She also has an amazing ability to project her voice so that no-one can ignore her despite her diminutive size!

My 2 year old loves walking around the house naked. She would go outside naked if she could! She walks around wiggling her bum saying "naynay" 😂

My son won't wear socks, apart from to school where he has to, he also refuses to eat anything that has 'lumps'.. although oddly enough Pizza is fine, strange that, and he doesn't give a monkeys what he wears with regards to style, he will wear anything so long as its 'comfy' to use his term.

My son has autism and although he can be a handful - he has so many cute little ways. He always has to have the cover over his head a certain way when he goes to bed, he also must always sit in the same chair at mealtimes. He loves fluffy cosy clothes so always wears his onesie around the house :-)

My lo shows her individuality by not holding back and by loving science experiments even though it is not 'in'

My daughter will only wear pink clothes

All mine have been very individual , my youngest always feels the need to strip into just her vest and knickers as soon as she gets in , shes a little monkey. i was worried when she started nursery she would do it but luckily shes kept her clothes on in nursery

My kid tells me, "Mum I am an individual".

Definitely funky clothing here and imaginary friends.

by being a free spirit, wearing fairy wings and wellies for school, and because of the confidence we give him, being an individual and a likeable child with lots of friends who love him for who he is.

Always has to wear bright colours, the brighter the better