Children’s author Scott Stewart’s new book My Shadow is Blue is a gentle book exploring toxic masculinity.
After Scott’s son was bullied for wearing Elsa’s Frozen dress his book My Shadow is Pink was given life.
Scott looked for media that reflected the experience of boys with ‘traditional girl’ interests.
Not finding anything he decided to make his own.
Next came My Shadow is Purple, a children’s book about a boy whose shadow wasn’t that of a girl or a boy.
This month he released My Shadow is Blue a children’s book exploring toxic masculinity.
Looking at how we redefine it to be inclusive and empathic, empowering girls to chase their dreams.
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Bringing something new to the conversation
“I’ve been asked for years to write a My Shadow story about a girl,” Scott told QNews,
“I’d written about a boy who breaks gender stereotypes and a child who exists beyond the binary,”
“But after writing dozens of drafts about a girl, something wasn’t right.
“A girl breaking gender stereotypes is a conversation we’ve had a lot over the past decades.
“With every draft, I didn’t feel like I was adding anything new to the conversation.
“Then I heard about the term ‘male flight’.
“Men partake in an activity they love, then women join and are good at it, suddenly the men don’t like it.
“This gave me the spark I needed to add something different.”
My Shadow is Blue is a story about a girl who loves to run and joins the running team.
But on the running day, she is sent back with the other girls (who aren’t as good) so the boys can go first.
She must navigate the bias of her coach and look to everybody around her to stand up for her.
How does this all get broken down into a children’s book?
“Writing sequels is easier because you already know the world your story takes place in, which takes time to figure out.”
“But at the same time, it’s more difficult,” Scott said, “because you want to make it better than the book that came before.”
“Distilling the idea of being non-binary or existing in blue or pink to something kids would understand was really challenging.
“So were the ideas in My Shadow is Blue, because you need to get them to a level that a three or four-year-old can understand.”
Inspiring at any age
“The trick is to come to the absolute simplest version of the idea,”
“They’re keeping girls out of a sport because boys are threatened.
“Then it’s finished fifteen drafts later.” Scott laughed.
The beauty of the My Shadow books is they are powerful and inspiring at any age.
It’s been five years since My Shadow is Pink, a long time in children’s years.
But Scott is excited for the response from readers of different ages.
“I’m super grateful that these books have potentially shaped young kids’ lives.”
“There’s a responsibility I feel to not just get it right for the kids who are going to be reading this for the first time,
“But also the ones who have grown up with these books and want to live up to their legacy.
“These stories came from such a personal place in my own life.
“When other adults reach out saying how it’s impacted them as well is so special.
“And if you’d like to grab a copy, I encourage you all to head to your local bookshop and get one.
“They are struggling right now and supporting them would be fantastic.”
If you haven’t read any of the My Shadow books (to a young person or for yourself) we can’t recommend them enough.
Grab a copy of My Shadow is Blue at all great bookstores.
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