Love and friendship is not about gender
Book Summary
Description
This illustrated children's story is about a loving friendship between two male dogs. No big deal is made of the fact they are both male and clearly partners. The story is aimed at young children, using animals rather than humans, to explore the idea that gender has nothing to do with true love and friendship.
RRP
6.99 GBP
8.25 EUR
9.75 USD
Format
Paperback ISBN 9781909320697
21.6 x 0.3 x 21.6 cm
40 pages
Full colour illustrations throughout
Published Dec 2017
Audience
Aimed at 4-6 year olds
Reception to Year 1 in the UK
Preschool to Kindergarten in the US
The Blurb
Custard can’t decide what to buy Mustard for his birthday. He asks his friends for ideas, but nothing seems special enough. What is he going to do?
Book Objectives
Part of the Rainbow Street Series promoting gender awareness, Mustard and Custard is a story of same-sex relationships and friendship. Given same-sex friendships come naturally to young children, the book explores the idea that it is quite natural for same-sex friends to want to become partners when they get older.
The Rainbow Street books are all aimed at 4- to 6-year-old children, using colourful pictures of animals to tell stories of gender identity and family diversity. They all share the common theme of acceptance and could equally be used at home and in school to discuss all forms of difference and diversity.
By sharing the Rainbow Street Series of books with young children, the aim is to make gender diversity no big deal and no different to accepting and respecting ethnic diversity, religious diversity and forms of neurodiversity. Stories in the series cover topics ranging from gender identity and adoption by same-sex parents, through to single fatherhood and it being ok to live alone in old age.
Book Background
Rolfe has taught across England from Foundation Stage up to Year 7 (Sixth Grade in US). As a SENCo, she has worked with challenging children with behaviour and learning difficulties. She has worked in a variety of primary schools, including a Sikh faith school and a Pupil reintegration unit. The author has two daughters, one who is transgender. Rolfe’s very brave and beautiful teenage transgender daughter has been living as her true self for over a year now. As a mother, Rolfe found it a struggle to explain the concept of transgender to her 5-year-old daughter so created Rainbow Street. Rainbow Street is a series of picture books with LGBTQ characters aimed at Foundation Stage and Year 1 (Kindergarten in US). Rolfe drew upon her 21 years primary teaching experience to write and illustrate the books.
Book Resources
Currently under development
Book Availability
Most bookshops throughout the English-speaking world and of course Amazon. Contact us for a discount if you are an educational or support organisation wishing to purchase in bulk for resale or otherwise.
Paul Johnson
