series.Ī young person enjoys things that are stereotypically enjoyed by either girls or boys. This book has really stayed with me, and I look forward to more in the My Shadow is.

Each reader appears to take their own things away from these colours in an exciting way. This brings in the idea of individuality and really breaks down the ideas of gender-neutrality, gender binary systems, and colour-gender associations. However, in a surprise twist at the end of the book we are introduced to children with orange, yellow, green and all sorts of colour shadows. Where purple is the colour throughout - blending the male blue and the female pink in an assumed gender neutral purple - the reader assumes the book is about accepting gender neutrality. The bright, happy pictures show the joy on the child's face and the superhero stance really gives off the sense of confidence and belonging, no matter what they are playing with or talking about their shadow. It is just normal for them, rather than usual journey from shyness/fear to happy/confident we often see in books. This is such a lovely message and it is wonderful that from the beginning of the book the child is happy with and understands their purple shadow.

My Shadow is Purple is a rhyming text about how everyone is unique and being yourself.Īlthough the main message is about breaking gender norms I think this book takes it a step further.ĭad's shadow is blue and Mum's shadow is pink, both of these stereotypical colour-gender relationships are described beautifully through how the child knows others see the world.īut the child is confident that although Mum is pink, she is still strong, and although Dad is blue he is still caring.

Mijn schaduw is roze by Scott Stuart