Book Review
An overview of the book
Introducing Teddy was first introduced as a Kickstarter campaign in 2015, and was then picked up by a mainstream publisher shortly after. The book starts off with a small boy Errol and his teddy, Thomas. Every day they ride their bike in the back yard, eat their sandwiches in the tree and plant veggies in the garden. But one day Errol’s teddy is sad. His teddy tells Errol that he is afraid to tell him something and that he is worried that Errol won’t want to be his friend anymore.
Errol tells his teddy that they will always be friends, and teddy bravely tells his friend what is worrying him. Teddy tells his friend that he has always known that he is a girl teddy and not a boy teddy. And that he wishes his name was Tilly and not Thomas.
His friend Errol responds by saying that he doesn’t care if Teddy is a girl teddy or a boy teddy. And that what matters is that Teddy is his friend. Errol then wants to invite his cousin Ava to come and play with them. Ava turns up to play and is told that teddy has a new name and that her name is Tilly not Thomas. Ava is nonplussed and they start to play together.
So, why do you want to read books like Introducing Teddy to your children?
It provides you with a story so that you can introduce the subject of transgender to your kids. Introducing Teddy talks about the fact that how a person looks on the outside, doesn’t always match up with how they feel on the inside. In this modern-day, we now know that gender (male or female) isn’t necessarily determined by your genitals. Most people with penises self-identify as boys, but some identify as girls. And most people with a vulva self-identify as a girl, but some identify as a boy.
But more importantly, it is about ensuring that the next generation grows up more inclusive and doesn’t bully children who are different by being transgender. As a parent, I want my children to grow up tolerant of people’s differences ie to accept that we are all different and that that is okay. It may be the colour of our eyes, the colour of our skin, the way we dress the way we look, or the gender that we identify as. I don’t want my children to be discriminated against but i also don’t want my children to be guilty of discriminating against other people’s children too!
Introducing Teddy by Jessica Walton is a wonderful book for younger children that introduces the fact that gender does not always match your sex. Younger children usually accept this fact as just another thing that can happen. Just like some kids may be in a wheelchair, or speak differently too! It is usually us parents who struggle with the concept ourselves. And books like Introducing Teddy are a wonderful opportunity to normalise transgender through a picture book that is written in an age-appropriate way. And the book gives you the words to explain it, which means that you don’t have to be an expert on the subject yourself.
So if you want to grow up a child who doesn’t discriminate and is accepting of diversity, then this is the sort of book that you need to have in your bookshelf!
Ideal Age
Ideal for children aged 4 to 7 years.
Buy this book
✅ Buy a copy of Introducing Teddy: A story about being yourself by Jessica Walton from Amazon.
Video Transcription
A transcription in case you are more of a reader than a listener
Hey there! Let’s talk about this awesome book called Introducing Teddy. It all started as a Kickstarter campaign in 2015 and then got picked up by a mainstream publisher. The story revolves around a little boy named Errol and his teddy bear, Thomas. They do all sorts of fun things together like riding bikes, having picnics, and even planting veggies in the garden.
But one day, Thomas (or should I say Tilly?) tells Errol something important. Tilly explains that deep down, she’s always known she’s a girl teddy, not a boy teddy. She’s worried that Errol won’t want to be friends anymore. But guess what? Errol is an amazing friend! He tells Tilly that it doesn’t matter if she’s a girl teddy or a boy teddy, what matters is their friendship.
To make things even better, Errol invites his cousin Ava to play with them. He introduces Tilly as Tilly, not Thomas, and guess what? Ava doesn’t even bat an eye. They all start playing together, having a great time.
So, why should you read books like Introducing Teddy to your kids? Well, it’s a fantastic way to introduce the concept of transgender to them. The book teaches that how someone looks on the outside doesn’t always match how they feel on the inside. We now know that gender isn’t just determined by our body parts. Some people with penises identify as boys, while others identify as girls. And the same goes for people with vulvas. It’s all about how we feel inside.
But here’s the really important part: reading books like Introducing Teddy helps create a more inclusive world. We want the next generation to grow up accepting and embracing differences. We don’t want them to bully or discriminate against others just because they’re transgender or different in any way. As a parent, I want my children to understand that we’re all unique, whether it’s our appearance, our gender identity, or anything else. And I don’t want them to discriminate against other kids either!
Introducing Teddy by Jessica Walton is a wonderful book for younger children. It introduces the idea that gender doesn’t always match our biological sex. And you know what? Kids usually accept this idea without any problem. It’s us parents who sometimes struggle to understand. But books like Introducing Teddy make it easier for us. They provide age-appropriate explanations and help us have those important conversations with our kids, even if we’re not experts on the subject.
So, if you want to raise a child who is accepting of diversity and doesn’t discriminate, this is the kind of book you need on your bookshelf! It’s a great way to teach your kids about inclusivity and show them that being different is totally okay. Let’s create a world where everyone feels accepted and loved, starting with our little ones.
