The little boy in this story is worried because while all the other boys in the family have blue shadows, his shadow is pink: ‘My shadow loves ponies and books and pink toys, princesses, fairies and things not for boys.’ His dad is concerned too; he tries to explain that it’s ‘just a phase’ that the shadow will turn blue one day. But the little boy isn’t convinced, and when he starts school and is given the message to dress up like his shadow on the first day, he decides to wear a dress. This really worries his dad, who takes him along, but he no sooner is in the classroom than he realises he is very different from everyone else and runs home. Dad now sees that he must love and accept his boy just as he is, and shows him pictures of relatives and friends who have secret parts within themselves that don’t match their outward appearance – the weightlifter who loves dance, the girl who loves working on engines, etc. Some of these people hide their special interest, but some glory in it, and as the boy’s pink shadow is part of himself, his ‘innermost you’, he must learn to accept himself as well. And it seems that Dad also has a secret self – a love of dressing in women’s clothes in spite of his macho appearance and his very blue shadow. So, the two of them walk back to school together, both in dresses, and the little boy learns that his classmates do accept him just as he is. The bright and spiky pictures in a kind of comic style will appeal to all, and this is a good introduction to children in general about being different and having the courage to accept that difference.