Having spent zillions of hours reading to my daughter when she was small and now reading constantly to my granddaughters, I resonated very strongly to your article, Corynne. Kudos! I just want to bring up one small point. While it is indeed important for children’s book authors to show girls in traditionally male active leadership-type roles, it is equally important for them to show boys engaging in traditionally female nurturing and caring roles. I get very frustrated when I stop at the library on my way to my granddaughters’ house. I look for books that don’t enforce current gender stereotypes and they are almost impossible to find. I am genuinely disgusted with children’s book authors and publishers.

Furthermore, I love what you said about Disney. And if you truly want to keep Kai away from entertainment that entrains young people to traditional gender stereotypes I would suggest keeping him away from Star Wars movies when he gets older. Those movies are the biggest sausagefest in entertainment history. They are the very antithesis to feminism and gender balance and equality.

Anyway, keep reading to Kai. I’m sure he will be a great teacher for you.