Olga de Dios: “Pink Monster”

A book about freedom and diversity…

The last time we were at the library, Thorvi randomly tossed this book into her basket. I think she just loved the pink monster on the cover and probably thought it was a hairy princess.

So the book sat unnoticed on our chest of drawers for quite a while, until my son grabbed it, and since then we’ve read it together many, many times.

The pink monster is born into a world where everything and everyone is white. With its pink hair it stands out everywhere, of course, and doesn’t really fit into this world where everything always looks the same. Then one day it plucks up the courage to set out into the world and finally ends up in a land full of other monsters. They all look different and can do different things. The pink monster feels at home there and stays forever. A simple story, but one that lets you talk about variety, diversity and freedom even with very young children; that it’s OK to be different, that you don’t have to “fit in”; that you also have the option of leaving your familiar surroundings and looking for other ways of living. And that the world is colourful.

With a monster smile on my face, I say: take care and see you next time!

References

The author’s website: Olga de Dios

ISBN-13 of the German edition: 978-8494704048