Author(s): Nick Rolfe
Format: Paperback
No. of Pages: 40
Publisher: Explainer HQ
Language: English
Date Published: 2017-12-11
Dimensions: 216 x 216 x 3mm
Publication City/Country: Lancaster, United Kingdom
Edition:
Illustrations: Colour illustrations throughout

Custard can't decide what to buy Mustard for his birthday. He asks his friends for ideas, but nothing seems special enough. What is he going to do?

Part of the Rainbow Street Series promoting gender awareness, Mustard and Custard is a story of same-sex relationships and friendship. Given same-sex friendships come naturally to young children, the book explores the idea that it is quite natural for same-sex friends to want to become partners when they get older.

The Rainbow Street books are all aimed at 4- to 6-year-old children, using colourful pictures of animals to tell stories of gender identity and family diversity. They all share the common theme of acceptance and could equally be used at home and in school to discuss all forms of difference and diversity.

By sharing the Rainbow Street Series of books with young children, the aim is to make gender diversity no big deal and no different to accepting and respecting ethnic diversity, religious diversity and forms of neurodiversity. Stories in the series cover topics ranging from gender identity and adoption by same-sex parents, through to single fatherhood and it being ok to live alone in old age.

As with all of its books, the publisher - Your Stories Matter - aims to help people know they are not alone with what makes them different. If a young person or adult can relate to a story, it gives them hope and encourages them to share their concerns. The publisher aims to provide free teaching resources for all of its books that can be used in schools, to help improve understanding and celebrate differences.