The Tenth Anniversary Book List was put together over four months and many hours of deliberation by members of the Gender Issues Group to help celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Early Childhood Project. Many of the group are early years play/care practitioners/educators, experienced working with young children, and the need for good books to offer children (aged 0 to 8) to use in high quality, good practice is an ongoing issue. Our original list had 67 titles, and by careful (and fair!) process of elimination, we agreed to our top ten books. We know that if we repeated the whole process now, the selection list would change to embrace new and re-published titles; as the emphasis of current work with children changes.

 

The criteria for inclusion in the list was that the book had to be a good read, a good story. The quality of the illustration had to be high and the quality and accessibility of the language had to be high too. The book had to challenge gender stereotypes (either in a deliberate or more subtle way); and that the book promote ‘positive images’ of all children and all adults.

 

We are aware of the lack of books that challenge the nuclear family, why is this?

 

Our wish is for books that explore all of our needs in a way that is accessible, that reflects boys and girls, men and women sharing, showing affection, facing and making choices, enabling children to find their identity, and challenge commonly held stereotypes.

 

Thanks to all the children, who over the years have helped make us aware, and to the following Gender Groupers who gave so much time and thought to the book list project: Chris, Clair, Clarissa, Coralie, Dave, Gordon, John, Judy, Lesley, Louise, and Ruth.

 

Our top ten books are in alphabetical order

We haven’t put guidance about age ranges because we don’t  want to exclude possible readers/users of the books.

 

illustrated by Caroline Binchy.

Published by Frances Lincoln 1991

ISBN 0-7112-0699-6

Story of a black girl who shows nobody needs bebound by stereotypes. Naturalistic illustrations are brilliant, makes it available to a wide age range.

Challenges the role of girls as passive, and challenges cultural expectations. Encourages the idea that racial/gender boundaries can be crossed good that

Grace plays with adults and with children. Extended family portrayed positively. 

Illustrated by Dawn Lee.

Published by Women’s Press 1990

ISBN 0-88961-143-2

Story of a girl living with two mothers.

Gentle, re-affirming, challenges the gender expectation of family. Feels realistic, might happen if adult in a group felt uncertain. Shows the importance of family

for support for a child in other places i.e. school. Presents really well the sometimes (un) spoken things; real issues that go on for people around gender

and family. Comes from the child, making it possible that children can discuss these issues. Teacher’s hesitation encourages adults reading the book to realise that they may not get it all right themselves without some help… 

Illustrated by Susan Keeter.

Published by Cool Kids Press 1995

ISBN 1-56790-518-8

Validates girls’ feelings, experiences, opens up lots of avenues of discovery about girlhood, girl’s lives and feelings in general. Challenges what the cultural expectation of what a girl is. Some found the illustrations off-putting; others found them good because it portrayed not looking wonderful all the time! 

Illustrated by Pamela Paerone.

Published by Walker Books 1996

ISBN 0-7445-5412-8

Story of a real black female aviator in the early days of flying. Stunning pictures; attractive to children because it rhymes…good language. Specifically challenges the idea that women and girls cannot do certain things usually considered male roles, exciting roles…brings in the historical context that tends to ignore women. This is a real person; women have been doing different things,it has gone un-noticed, unrecognised and un-recorded. Not very enviro friendly, putting planes into the sky…but it is anti-materialistic.. no one owns the sky.

Published by Puffin 1994

ISBN 0-14-055521-8

A story about girls playing football. Challenges the idea that girls don’t take part in sport, particularly football that is male dominated. Good that it has a female coach and a male class teacher and Grandpa training the girls: good representation of both men and women. The book isn’t patronising; it’s skill  that gets the goal. The girls set a precedent for doing what they believe is right and set about for change.. the last picture show girls playing football.

 

 

Sam’s Cat by Sarah Garland

Published by Walker Books 1987

ISBN 0-7445-1612-9

Caring story of boy looking after a cat amidst a large family. Good story that shows men and boys in caring roles, taking responsibility for caring. Good language: father says, “darling” to child. Child centred story; book covers wide age range, good for sharing. Family dynamics are realistic and interesting to discuss the smallest child not listened to as much as he might have been.

 

 

Stephanie’s Pony Tail by Robert Munsch

Illustrated by Michael Martchenko

Published by Annick Press 1996

ISBN 1-55037-484-2

Story of a girl not wanting to like the crowd. Challenges the idea that you have to look a particular way. Celebrates individuality….the moral of the story is look what happens if you do all look the same! Slight reservations about the illustrations, not liked by everyone and the level of visual humour may need some explaining to some younger children.

 

The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf,

Published by Young Puffin (1937) now out of print

The bull who likes flowers, not fighting. This old book uses simple language. Challenges the idea that boys/males are not gentle; actively supports them. Shows it is possible to be different. It shows some good books have been around a long time.

 

What is a Girl, What is a Boy? by Stephanie Waxman

Published by Thomas Y Crowell 1976

ISBN – 0-690-04709-6

Answers the questions that many young children feel confused about. An absolute must for any pre-school as a resource book although we recognise that it might be challenging for adults who feel uncomfortable with nudity. The ultimate book of challenge, written for children. Real people, real photos, cannot be denied. Directly refers to biological differences. All you need is already in

the words and pictures; a good book for adults not feeling confident discussing differences. The book causes some embarrassment for some adults. The book generates discussion, and needs to be read carefully the first time before introducing it to children.

 

William’s Doll by Charlotte Zolotow

Illustrated by Pene du Bois

Published by Harper Trophy 1972

ISBN 0-06-443067-7

Story about a boy wanting a doll. Challenges the expectation that boys will not wish to get into the caring roles via the traditional route used by girls. Makes it clear that all sorts of play is satisfying for both genders and that some things get

missed for each gender in all aspects of play. One of the few books that actually has a boy playing with a doll, we felt it was a shame that the doll was stereotyped. (useful point for discussion though!) When the book was written there was not the range of dolls (eg black, mixed-race, gender specific etc) there is today. Good story for showing imaginative play.