Yes You Can!

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YES YOU CAN shows kids that ALL toys, colours, clothes & hobbies are for ALL children by shining a light on gender stereotypes in a child-friendly way. The book also encourages children to find their spark, do what they love and be proud to be themselves.Yes You Can! is a beautifully illustrated children's storybook for 3-8 year olds featuring three bold, adventurous, capable little girls, The Climbing Trees Girls: Eva, the outdoorsy one; Maxi, the creative/skateboarding one and B, the football-loving sporty one.When Eva, Maxi and B find themselves in a mysterious new world, they are puzzled by what they find: children are unable to play with what they want to play with or wear what they want to wear, all because of the colour of their hair! Will they be able to make a difference? Can they help the villagers break free from the limiting laws of the land so they can be themselves? And will they find their way back home?The Climbing Trees Girls prefer playing football, building dens and climbing trees to playing princesses; but they know that all children should be allowed to play with whatever sparks joy in them, be that a doll or a dinosaur, a princess or a car. So they stand up for what they believe is right and help the villagers of this new world to break free from their restrictive laws.There's a twist at the end of the story as a visit to their local supermarket makes them realise there is work to be done back home too. The book ends with a letter, written by The Climbing Trees Girls, to the store manager, asking him to consider making some changes.The three main protagonists are girls, because, for her own daughter, the author wanted to create some stereotype-busting female characters who didn't fit the limited stereotypical definition.But this book is for boys too.Boys who like diggers and dolls and boys who like trains and fairies feature in the book. Because toys are for everyone.The Climbing Trees Girls stand up for children everywhere. They represent another part of the spectrum of what it means to be a girl. They are gutsy and adventurous, bold and bright. They know what they like and have ambitions of becoming a footballer, scientist and artist when they grow up. They celebrate difference and stand up for what they believe in.-------The world has a whole bunch of different ways to tell our children who they are, what they should or shouldn't do, what they're good or not so good at. They are told all of this stuff, all of the time.From what they should look like to what they should play with and wear, the volume of these expectations becomes louder as they grow. This book aims to bust myths fed to our children and empower them to see through those messages to be whatever they want.Because nobody should have to change who they are to meet unnecessary expectations.'Yes You Can' is a story about being yourself and finding your spark. It's a story of kindness, courage and freedom of choice, which gives children a voice. It's a tale that sheds light on gender-stereotypes in a child-friendly way to show children how futile those definitions are.