Why You Should Read Introducing Teddy by Jessica Walton
What: Introducing Teddy by Jessica Walton & Dougal MacPherson (illustrator)
Who: Bloomsbury Childrens
When: June 2nd 2016
How: A copy of this novel was provided by Bloomsbury Australia & Allen and Unwin for review.
Errol and his teddy, Thomas, are best friends who do everything together. Whether it’s riding a bike, playing in the tree house, having a tea party or all of the above, every day holds something fun to do together.
One sunny day, Errol finds that Thomas the Teddy is sad, and Errol can’t figure out why. Then Thomas the Teddy finally tells Errol what Teddy has been afraid to say: ‘In my heart, I’ve always known that I’m a girl Teddy, not a boy Teddy. I wish my name was Tilly.’ And Errol says, ‘I don’t care if you’re a girl teddy or a boy teddy! What matters is that you are my friend.’
A sweet and gentle story about being true to yourself and being a good friend, Introducing Teddy can also help children understand gender identity.
Introducing Teddy was, in one word: gorgeous. I also think that everyone should read it, so here I have a nifty list just for you, detailing all the reasons why Introducing Teddy should be on your TBR.
1) It’s LGBTQIA+ kid lit.
I am an advocate for LGBTQIA+ lit in YA (as most of you probably know), but I also know that there is a need for LGBTQIA+ middle grade lit, and also kid lit. So to see Introducing Teddy being published makes me incredibly happy. And, hopefully, people will give it the love it deserves so that publishers know how important it is to have LGBTQIA+ books in all genres.
2) It’s trans kid lit.
Not only is Introducing Teddy LGBTQIA+ kid lit, which is important in and of itself, but it’s trans kid lit. Tilly is a transgender teddy bear, and the way that this presented is so incredibly lovely.
3) Errol’s acceptance of Tilly.
Now, I didn’t really think that Tilly’s friend, Errol, would turn around and be horrible to Tilly, but it was absolutely gorgeous to see him just completely accept Tilly as she is. He says: “I don’t care if you’re a girl teddy or a boy teddy! What matters is that you are my friend.” And then they just keep playing and hanging out. It was sad to see Tilly so afraid of telling Errol how she really felt, and it was just amazing to see and feel such emotion from a picture book.
4) Gender stereotypes are absent.
Not only is Introducing Teddy about Tilly and her interaction with Errol regarding her being trans, but the gender roles of Errol, and his friend, Ava, are not stereotypical in any way. Errol likes gardening and having tea parties. Ava doesn’t like bows and builds a robot. It was so lovely to see this complete and utter lack of gender stereotypes that we see so often in kid lit (and other genres, as well).
5) The illustrations.
Every picture in Introducing Teddy is absolutely gorgeous. I loved it. The fact that every stroke of pencil (or whatever was used – I have no idea being completely unartistic myself) was visible gave such an authentic feel to the images, and the story. The mix of messy and smooth was just something I really, really liked.
6) The epilogue picture.
There’s a picture on the very last page of Introducing Teddy, and it’s a polaroid-like picture of Tilly wearing her bow, with her name written underneath. This was such an adorable addition to the book, and had me smiling so much when I turned the last page and saw it. It just reinforced everything that Introducing Teddy had brought forward: that Tilly was being herself, and accepted and loved by her friends.
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Introducing Teddy is an incredibly touching story that will warm every reader’s heart – whether you’re a kid or adult or somewhere in between.
© 2016, Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity. All rights reserved.
Ahh!! LGBT kid lit, hell yes. I volunteer in my school’s elementary library and we’ve been focusing lately on introducing more diverse kid lit into our collection – I just added this lovely book to the order list. I can’t wait for the kids to get their hands on it once school starts again. <3
I know, right! It always makes me SO excited. Ohmygosh, thank you! I hope it comes in and that the kids love it! <3
Reading your review really warms my heart. It just sounds so beautiful and perfect, especially to teach children it’s okay to be different, and it doesn’t mean a bad thing. We need more this kind of books.
Thank you so much, Tasya! This book is really beautiful and perfect, and I hope it makes it into the hands of everyone who needs it. I really hope to see more LGBTQIA+ kid lit books in the future!
This sounds adorable and important and so special! I was just looking at this book, so your review came along at the perfect time. I especially love to hear it doesn’t fall into gender stereotypes, that’s a big plus in my book. Off to read it now!
It is So adorable and important and special! I’m glad my review came along at the right time for you :D Yes, that was absolutely one of my favourite things about this beautiful book. I read your review on Goodreads, and I’m so happy you loved this one, Rebecca <3
I am totally going to read this book, and no doubt cry over it. But oh, this is so wonderful! And I’m so thrilled to see that it is not only a picture book about a trans teddy that is published by one of the major publishing houses, but it’s an excellent picture book about a trans teddy that’s published by one of the major publishing houses.
I love the sound of the character’s acceptance of Tilly, which kinda makes me heart sing, and the lack of gender stereotypes just makes me SO HAPPY. Everything here is just so necessary in books, and it’s so necessary in picture books because it promotes understanding and compassion and comprehension from an early age, and for children that feel like this- how huge is that? And for children that don’t, how wonderful that a picture book can explain that not feeling the same on the inside as you look on the outside is okay. This whole book and your review make me so completely, incredibly happy. x
Yesss. I cannot wait for you to read it because it is so incredibly gorgeous.
The acceptance of Tilly and lack of gender stereotypes made me so incredibly happy, and I just want every child (and adult) to read this book because it is just so important. To promote compassion and acceptance. And to show kids who feel like Tilly does that it is normal and beautiful.
<3 <3 <3