Errol and Thomas the teddy are best friends, doing all the things that kids and their teddies love to do together, like going on picnics and visiting playgrounds. But one day Thomas is feeling particularly sad and, after gentle questioning from Errol, he explains it’s because he really wishes to be a girl teddy and to be called Tilly, not Thomas. Errol doesn’t mind – he just wants his teddy to be happy, and so do their friends. So Thomas becomes Tilly and the friends keep on having fun. This is a very simple story about the desire to change gender, with gorgeous illustrations by Dougal MacPherson. This is a great conversation starter about gender diversity that will have a strong appeal to kids aged 3–6.

Angela Crocombe is the Children’s Book Buyer at Readings Carlton.