Representation is something we are very passionate about at The Story Project. For reading to work as a vehicle for wellbeing, the books we use with children need to be inclusive and diverse.
This is true for individual children and their classmates. Children must see their own experiences reflected in the pages of books they read, and classmates must see diverse characters in order to develop empathy and understanding.
The same is true also for different family structures. So, here is our selection of fantastic books to fill your shelves with diverse living situations…
When You Joined Our Family by Harriet Evans and Nia Tudor.
Age range: EYFS/KS1
A gentle and sensitive look at the love between an adopted child and their new family.
Two Places to Call Home by Phil Earle and Jess Rose.
Age range: EYFS/KS1
A warm hug of a book that embraces the ups and downs of living between two parents. It is a wonderful story to discuss feelings following a divorce or separation, and a heart-warming reflection of family love.
Grandad’s Camper by Harry Woodgate.
Age range: EYFS/KS1
A book that we use in The Story Project curriculum to celebrate family and love. It is a sweet and poignant story about remembering a loved one who has passed away. It also has wonderful representation of LGBTQ+ characters.
The Pirate Mums by Jodie Lancet-Grant and Lydia Corry.
Age range: KS1
A delightfully funny book packed with adventure! The story follows Billy and his family as he embraces all their quirks and learns how fantastic it is to have pirates for mums.
The Day My Dog Got Famous by Jen Carney.
Age range: KS2
Not many stories feature foster families, and even less feature them in such a positive way. So here is a story that we really love, for its inclusivity as well as it’s hilarious plot and warm-hearted characters.
The Second Hand Boy by Jennifer Lane.
Age range: KS2
A wonderfully deep story that will inspire discussion in class. With themes of friendship worries, loneliness, bullying, mental health and a main character who is a carer for his mum…this book has some big topics to get your teeth in to.
We love that a key turning point in the story is when the boy is given a second-hand book that changes the course of his life. It’s just our cup of tea!
We cover the theme of families progressively in The Story Project curriculum from Reception to Year 6; helping children to understand how their relationships and home lives link to their mental health and wellbeing. Diverse and thought-provoking texts are used to promote discussion and wellbeing for all.
Explore our resources and find out more by getting in touch:
olivia@story-project.co.uk
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