Gender stereotypes

Books which explore gender stereotypes and encourage young people to be themselves.

Bill’s New Frock
Bill wakes up one day as a girl and is horrified to be sent to school in a frilly pink frock with fiddly shell buttons. There he finds life suddenly very different. The bully whistles at him instead of kicking him; he can't be picked to lift a table - not being a 'big strong boy' - his work is supposed to be ultra neat; and he's being cast as Lovely Rapunzel - who in any case never gets to say anything! By the time he gets home the impractical frock is covered in mud. Thank goodness - Bill will never have to wear it again!
Age Range: Key Stage 2
Published by Egmont Children’s Books 
ISBN: 140520060X 

Giraffes Can’t Dance
Gerald was a tall giraffe Whose neck was long and slim, but his knees were awfully bandy And his legs were rather thin. Every year Gerald dreads the great Jungle Dance, and feels ashamed that he cannot tango and two-step with the rest of the jungle animals. But then one day he realises that it doesn't matter that he is different from everyone else - it is just that he needs a different tune to dance to. 
Age Range: Key Stage 1
Published by Orchard Picture Books 
ISBN: 1841215651

Jump
Every Saturday Steven watches his sister at her ballet class - jumping and dancing - and he longs to join in. But his mother says that real boys don't dance; they play games like basketball. However, there's one skill that you need for both ballet and basketball - and, fortunately for Steven, it's the thing that he loves doing best!
Age Range: Key Stage 1
Published by Walker Books                     
ISBN: 0744589614

Long Live Princess Smartypants
A modern fairy tale for the twenty-first century and a second adventure for the irrepressible and highly popular Princess Smartypants. Princess Smartypants has decided she'd like to have a baby but doesn't want the husband to go with it. The King and Queen will not hear of such a plan and attempt to take her mind off it by keeping her busy. However, a crackly telephone line and a mixed-up grocery list result in Smartypants getting the baby she wants - until she discovers he has super-human strength and begins to wreak havoc around the Royal palace. Perhaps looking after a baby on her own isn't going to be as easy as she thinks!                                         
Age Range: Key Stage 1
Published by Puffin
ISBN: 0140569626

Pass It, Polly
Polly and Nisha are the only girls who want to play in the school football match. But football is harder than it looks. However, with a bit of instruction and a lot of practice, they are soon dribbling, tackling and scoring goals. But how will they perform on the day of the big match?
Age Range: Key Stage 1
Published by Puffin    
ISBN: 0140555218

Oliver Button is a Sissy
A little boy must come to terms with being teased and ostracised because he would rather read books, paint pictures, and tap-dance than participate in sports. His classmates' taunts don't stop Oliver Button from doing what he likes best. Even though Oliver doesn't win first prize at a talent show, his parents and classmates cease their jeering of his "sissy" pursuits.
Age Range: Key Stage 1              
Published by Voyager Books2  
ISBN: O156681404

The Paper Bag Princess
The Paper Bag Princess is the story of a resourceful princess and her useless prince.  The story reverses the "princess and dragon" folklore stereotype and celebrates feisty females everywhere.


Age Range: Key Stage 1
Published by Annick Press                      
ISBN: 0920236820 

The Princesses Have a Ball
The king wonders what his daughters are up to at night – and why aren’t they dreaming of princes. He soon discovers that they are basketball fans and sets out to find a clever cobbler to make them the  perfect shoes.
Age Range: Key Stage 1  
Published by Whitman & Company        
ISBN: 0807566284

The Sissy Duckling (see lesson ideas for this book)
Illustrated by Henry Cole Adapted from an award-winning HBO animated special written by 3-time Tony Award-winning playwright and actor Harvey Fierstein, this is a tale about learning to embrace the special qualities we all possess. Instead of building forts and playing sports like other boy ducklings, Elmer wants to bake cakes and put on the halftime show. He is great a big sissy. But when his father is wounded by a hunter, Elmer proves that the biggest sissy can also be the greatest hero.
Age Range: Key Stage 1
Published by Simon & Schuster              
ISBN: 068983566 

William’s Doll
More than anything, William wants a doll. Don't be a creep, says his brother. Sissy, sissy, chants the boy next door. Then one day, someone really understands William's wish and makes it easy for others to understand too.
Age Range: Key Stage 1
Published by HarperCollins         
ISBN: 0060270470

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