MY SHADOW IS PURPLESCHOLASTIC TEACHING NOTESMy Shadow is Purple
AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATORSCOTT STUARTSCIS: 5399538
ISBN: 9781922503817
RECOMMENDED FOR: Lower Primary
SYNOPSISMy Dad has a shadow that’s blue as a berry.
And my Mum’s is as pink as a blossoming cherry.
There’s only those choices, a 2 or a 1.
But mine is quite different, it’s both and it’s none.

A heartwarming and inspiring book about being true to yourself, by bestselling children’s book creator Scott Stuart. Thisstory considers gender beyond binary in a vibrant spectrum of colour.

ABOUT THE CREATOR

Scott Stuart is a bestselling children’s book author who iscommitted to creating content that empowers kids. His books
have appeared on numerous bestseller lists, as well as being shortlisted for ABIA Children’s Book of the Year and CBCA
Notable Picture Book of the Year.
His empowering messages have been seen over 100 million times on Social Media, and he is a leading voice on fully
accepting and empowering our children, exactly as they are.

THEMES•••••••••GenderStereotypes
Non-binaryIdentity
Acceptance
Being true to yourself
Self-acceptance
EqualitySocial & Emotional Learning

1

SCHOLASTIC TEACHING NOTESMY SHADOW IS PURPLE

BEFORE READING• What do you think this story might be about?
• Can you point out the following features of the book:◦ title◦ illustration◦ front page
◦ back page
◦ blurb◦ end papers.

WHILE READING•
•••
•
••

What do you think will happen next?
Do you think the character in the story will ever be able to fit in?
Have you ever been worried about being yourself?
Have you or someone in your family felt different to others?
What do you know about gender?
Can you make any connections to the story so far?
Ask students to put up their hand when they notice any of the below literary devices on a selected page:◦ rhyming words◦ alliteration• What is a simile? Can you complete the similes from the story and come up with one of your own?
◦ As blue as a ………
◦ As pink as a blossoming ………
◦ As brown as a big ……… bear!

AFTER READING• What did you enjoy most about the story?
• Who was your favourite character? Why?

ACTIVITIES••••••

Choose a section of text and omit words. Students to fill in the blanks.
Students draw the characters in the story and write their attributes under the pictures.
Create a word search using words from the text.
Write short sentences which retell the story and jumble them up. Ask students to put them in the correct order.
Choose a character from the story and write an acrostic poem.
Explore the existing blurb on the back cover. Explain the purpose of the blurb to the students and ask them to create
their own blurb.
• Pronouns are words used to refer to a person rather than using their name. Some pronouns are gendered like she/her/hers or he/him/his and some are gender neutral, like they/them/theirs. You cannot tell what pronouns people
use by looking at them. Using the right pronouns for someone is super important because it affirms the way that
person sees themselves. Create pronoun posters for the classroom using pronouns that you know.
• Ask students to outline theirs and/or others shadows in coloured chalk on the concrete on a sunny day. Ask them tochoose a coloured chalk that reflects what colour their shadow is that day.
• Research Wear it Purple day and celebrate it in your classroom or as a whole school.

2