Keith Among the Pigeons

Keith is a cat who would much rather be a pigeon. He loves to spend his days watching them and looking out for them but unfortunately they don't let him ever get too close. His interest in looking at rather than catching pigeons make him an outcast within his cat group. They believe that he isn't a proper cat doing proper cat things. Defeated, Keith tries his hardest to fit in as a cat but it just doesn't feel right to Keith. He knows he is different. He knows there must be a way for him to be comfortable in his own skin. Happily, by the end of the story we see Keith accept himself for himself. This is a wonderfully well written story about the importance of accepting yourself for who you are rather than trying to conform to perceived interpretations. This message is particularly needed for young children today thanks to the constant stream of pressures they are exposed to through mainstream and social media. Although aimed at younger audience, I think this text would be useful across all children in primary education in both whole classes but also in smaller target groups in need of pastoral intervention. 32 Pages / Ages 3-6 / Reviewed by Kyle Matravers, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 3+