Book Review
A short overview of this book
A House for Everyone by Jo Hirst is a beautifully illustrated (and lovely) story that helps children to challenge gender stereotypes.
This is a simple book about a bunch of children who are building a house together. As it talks about the special job each child has to help build the house, the way they express their gender identity is explained. A ranger of different gender identities are discussed in a way that feels inclusive and every day. These children are all the same, but also different. But more importantly, they are all friends.
I love that the message of this book is that it’s okay to be yourself.
You can learn more on this page, about how to talk to kids about sex education.
Ideal Age
Ideal for children aged 4 to 8 years.
Buy this book
✅ Buy a copy of A House for Everyone by Jo Hirst from Amazon.
Transcription of the video
Hey there! I’m Cath Hak from Sex Ed Rescue, and I’m here to help parents like you have better conversations with your kids about sex. Today, I want to talk about a fantastic book called A House For Everyone by Joe Hirst.
Now, Joe is the author of the first book about being transgender in Australia called The Gender Fairy, and this new book is just as amazing. I absolutely love it! The illustrations are beautiful, and it tells a lovely story about gender.
Books like this are so important because they make it easier to have natural conversations with your children. A House For Everyone starts off by showing that everyone’s gender is unique and different. It’s all about building a house together during lunchtime, and it introduces us to different characters along the way.
For example, there’s Ivy, who prefers short hair and never wears dresses. She’s a girl, and the book uses she to refer to her. Then there’s Alex, who likes to build and doesn’t feel like just a boy or a girl. Alex uses the pronouns they and their. The book goes on to introduce other children and explains who they are.
What I really appreciate about this book is the notes section at the back. It’s fantastic! It explains all the different terms like gender identity, gender expression, transgender, non-binary, and cisgender. It even tells you the gender of each child discussed in the book. It’s a great resource for parents who might be new to these concepts.
The best part is that A House For Everyone normalizes gender diversity. By that, I mean it lets kids know that it’s perfectly okay to have a gender that doesn’t fit the typical expectations. It also gives you ideas for starting conversations with your children, like talking about gendered toys or clothes they like to wear.
And guess what? The author even suggests other books at the back that can help you continue the conversation about gender and gender identity with your kids. How cool is that?
So, if you’re looking for a wonderful book to start or continue the conversation about gender with your children, I highly recommend A House For Everyone. It’s a lovely little book that will make these important discussions feel natural and positive.
I hope this review helps you out. Cheers!
