My Shadow Is Pink

By Scott Stuart

My Shadow Is Pink is a beautifully written rhyming story that touches on the subjects of gender identity, self acceptance, equality and diversity. Inspired by the author's own little boy, the main character likes princesses, fairies and things "not for boys." He soon learns (through the support of his dad) that everyone has a shadow that they sometimes feel they need to hide.This is an important book for a new generation of children (and adults alike) which exemplifies the concepts of unconditional love, respect and positive parenting. * An important and timely bookl Empowers LBGTQ children and the wider community with its strong and powerful message * Encourages self love and acceptance * Teaches children the concept of diversity, equality and inclusion * Creates opportunity for open discussion and learning * Highlights current themes of gender identity * Bright and colorful illustrations by Scott Stuart

• Language: English
• Publisher: Larrikin House
• Release date: Apr 1, 2021
• ISBN: 9780648894575

Scott Stuart

Scott Stuart is father to a six-year-old boy who loves all things Queen Elsa and princesses. Having worked at The Royal Children's Hospital, he has seen how important it is for children to feel represented and is committed to creating stories of empowerment.

Book preview

Reviews for My Shadow Is Pink

[grace · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Warning Spoilers.

A single illustration of a smiling boy with a pink shadow can be found on the cover. If the shadow was not attached to the boy, one may presume that the shadow belongs to another. For the boy is in a shirt and pants, while the shadow is wearing a dress. Emphasis is added to the appearance of the shadow through the title and the enlargement of the word “pink.” The end pages are filled with pink and white empty picture frames of different sizes and shapes that bleed off the page. On the dedication page a yellow dress on a stand can be seen on a light blue background. We later discover that the dress holds value to the narrator as it represents their struggle to challenge the gender stereotype.

As for the text in the book, it flows off the tongue and at times is filled with various rhyme schemes. The writing contains words throughout that are bolded and written in cursive for emphasis. The story is told from the perspective of the boy with the pink shadow, and begins with a double page spread that is covered in different shades of blue. Through the text and illustration we know that the dad’s shadow is blue. We see portraits of male family members with blue shadows too. On the following page the boy is clearly upset since his shadow is pink and prefers things that are “not for boys.” At first the boy rejects his shadow, but later accepts and enjoys it. Until his father's attitude and appearance causes him to self-doubt and wish to be blue like everyone else. Despite his father’s anxiousness and fear, he goes to school in a yellow dress. It took courage for the boy to be true to himself. Unfortunately, feeling unwelcome at school, the boy retreats to this room, tears off the dress, and vows to never wear it again.

There are only three instances where the background is yellow, and that is when a character is being true to themselves or showing acceptance. The first is when the boy admits that his shadow is pink. The second is where the father and his shadow appear in a dress to accept and empower his son. Through the support of his father he learns that many people hide who they truly are. The father encourages his son to wear the dress once more. Together in dresses they happily head to school. On the third yellow background, the boy reenters his class and accepts himself as is.

Across cultures, some society members expect and influence individuals to follow the gender stereotype. This book challenges that perspective, by encouraging and empowering readers to have the courage to be true to themselves. It promotes the idea that a parent’s acceptance can make a difference in the world of a child.

My Shadow is Pink pairs well with the following books It’s OK to be Different: A Children’s Picture Book About Diversity and Kindness written by Sharon Purtill and illustrated by Sujata Saha (2019), All Are Welcome written by Alexandra Penfold and illustrated by Suzanne Kaufman (2018), and My Shadow is Purple by Scott Stuart (2022). It would also pair well with Acceptance is my Superpower by Alicia Ortego (2021), and Our Diversity Makes Us Stronger written and illustrated by Elizabeth Cole (2021).

Scott Stuart is currently living in Melbourne, Australia with his wife and son. His son at age three loved Queen Elsa from the Disney movie Frozen and would carry around an Elsa doll. One day his son came home in tears from child care. Another child had gender stereotyped him by pointing out that Elsa is for girls. Scott Stuart was motivated that day to begin writing My Shadow is Pink. Four years after completing his book, he began a Kickstarter to raise funds for turning his book into an animated short film. The fundraiser was a success and a short film is now available on Youtube. Scott Stuart is committed to promoting acceptance and empowering children through his books, short films, and his appearance on podcasts and in media. He even dressed up as Queen Elsa with his son to show his support and acceptance. His actions resemble a scene in his book, My Shadow is Pink, where the dad wears a dress like his son (Stuart, 2020). Other books that he has written and illustrated are My Shadow is Purple (2022), Alone (2022), and The Very First You (2021).

References:
Stuart, S. (2020). My Shadow is Pink: Animated Short Film. Kickstarter. Retrieved July 6, 2022, from https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/scottstuart/my-shadow-is-pink-animated-short-film

[Stephanie Haynesworth · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Beautiful book. I love it. Read it to my son ?