Stereotype free gifts for children!

[TeWiSavesTheDay]

Read this gorgeous picture book with my kids this week: www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/144725760X/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1412969399&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX110_SY165 and was delighted to see both a mixture of races and genders including women driving steam rollers
It's a simple picture book with moving parts I picked up for my 1 and 2yos but my 5yo was very taken too.

It was a delightful surprise and made me think a list of children's books and toys that go out of their way to challenge gender stereotypes in their illustrations and packaging would be wonderful.

Any other suggestions?

Not sure if my link worked - it's called Busy Builders by Rebecca Finn.

They look lovely, thanks for posting. gone on stocking fillers list

I read it as being about free gifts which were sterotyped for boys/girls! So was a bit confused there for a mo

I know some children's books that challenge gender roles but while they are good they are a bit obvious IYKWIM they have been written for that. Would be great to find more where things just are like it's natural rather than being done a bit, um, worthily IYKWIM.

Ha!

Yes I know what you mean, I liked Lenny Goes To Nursery School for the same it's not about race/gender but it does have a mixed cast reasons.

It's so nice to see these things presented as just being normal that I'm always so pleased when I find them.

The library is a goldmine I have to say.

Pippi Longstocking

David Robert's picture books are good because he always includes a mix of races in his characters.

Thanks for these suggestions. I am horrified with myself that after weeks of reading Dear Zoo to dd every night I have only just noticed all the animals are male! I guess it shows how the default male is so normalised. They are now a mixture of girl and boy animals

qumquat my daughter (I think she'd just turned 4) actually asked me why all the animals were boys in that book so we also changed every second one to 'she'. The lion obviously stayed as male but there is no need for all the rest of them to be 'he' animals too.

We've always alternated the animals in Dear Zoo, i especially like that if you do that the puppy is always female.

I was quite happy to see the Orchard Game jigsaw puzzle 'Big Wheels' in a shop today. 4 people in building site vehicles, of which 2 are female and 2 are male. At least according to 'traditional' male and female hairstyles.
Just after that I went into a neighbouring shop where I was asked, if the item of clothing I wanted was for a boy or girl (because of the colours, you see, they can't just ask - what colour do you want, we have pink and red and blue. Red not being neutral, but also in the boys' section btw)

Lovely ideas, I change the genders in books all the time!

Goat goes to pre-school by Julia Donaldson is just a normal book but clearly depicts boy animals playing dress up, girl animals getting dirty outside, animal children with hearing aids and glasses and children being picked up by men and women. Book isn't making a point but is unusual by its unusual normal-ness.