My Shadow is Pink

Product Information

The poet here tries to give an idea of the freshness of the morning and the early hour of the day when the sun is still on the horizon. In this ten-session Writing Root, which we suggest will take 3 weeks to cover, the children arrive to class to find a range of equipment with the potential to cast shadows. There’s a note attached that reads ‘Find your shadow’. Children will explore the concept of shadows and then their sense of self through rhyme. The story, My Shadow is Pink by Scott Stuart, is shared and children discuss the events before going on to offer advice to the main character. They will make predictions and then decide what the story teaches us. Finally, they are invited by the story’s character to help children starting school by creating a leaflet. Opportunities for phonics teaching is embedded throughout and suggestions for Continuous Provision are also made. Synopsis of Text: Parents at a Church of England (CofE) primary school in Essex have been forced to withdraw their four-year-old children after the head teacher pushed confusing and harmful ‘gender identity’ lessons for World Book Day. The poet has chosen very simple words and structure to keep the essence of a child’s perspective constant in the poem. The poem is rich in personification. The poet has given an idea that the child assumes that the shadow is just like any other child he has come across, but with some different habits and different ways, which are completely different from what he has seen. My Shadow: Central Idea

My Shadow is Pink is a beautifully written rhyming story of love and self-acceptance that touches on the subjects of gender identity, equality and diversity. The reader follows the journey of a young boy who has been born into a family with a long history of blue shadows. He wants to be just like his father, who is big and strong, with a defined blue shadow. However, the boy has an irrepressible pink shadow, and loves ponies and books and pink toys, princesses, fairies, and things 'not for boys'. With the love and acceptance of his father, he learns that everyone at times, has a shadow they wish was different ... and he must embrace his shadow just the way it is. Text Rationale: Dit prentenboek is een pareltje met een boodschap die vele kinderharten en die van hun families zal beroeren en ontroeren. Het toont ons dat het niet erg is om anders te zijn en dat we trouw moeten blijven aan wie we diep vanbinnen zijn. Dat alles wordt op een toffe, mooie, aanstekelijke manier prachtig vormgegeven door middel van de tekst en de tekeningen.

Curriculum

Andrea Williams, chief executive of Christian Concern, said: “If ever there was a moment in history for those responsible for Church of England schools to wake up and return to biblical teaching it is now. How can anyone think this book is a good idea let alone the church? The book, which says it is appropriate for three-year-olds, begins to plant the idea that children can be born in the wrong body, which goes against government guidance for schools. It is recommended by extreme LGBT group, Educate & Celebrate, who undertake training in schools with the aim of ‘smashing heteronormativity’. This means smashing the traditional view of sex and gender and getting rid of the belief that there are men and women, and that men and women belong together.

narrative. The book is in rhyme so children could have a go writing their ending in rhyme. The key is that children consider how the boy has got to this

The poet has maintained a stable structure of the poem. He has written it from the perspective of a small child and given a structure that is similar to the poems written for children. The rhyming scheme of this poem is abab. For example: The poet has used personification throughout the poem, where he is personifying the shadow itself. He has written the poem from the perspective of a small child who is fascinated with his shadow and compares it with any other child that he has seen around. For example: Christian parents, Stephen Evans, and his wife Joanne withdrew their four-year-old child from a lesson for World Book Day where the book My Shadow is Pink, by Scott Stuart was going to be used. Wat een prachtig boek! Het begint al bij de, met roze glitters, geweldige cover. Daarna is elke pagina, tot aan de achterflap, mooi in woord en beeld. Mooi én empowerend.