The school has argued in a letter to the parents that "the primary focus of the story is not gender identity." It argues that, "The boy in the story doesn't change gender, nor is there any reference to him wanting to." Parents at a Church of England (CofE) primary school in Essex have been forced to withdraw their four-year-old children after the head teacher pushed confusing and harmful ‘gender identity’ lessons for World Book Day. The CofE’s own guidance being used against us to justify confusing and harmful teaching on gender identity is a slap on the face. I am pleased, in a way, that the school and the diocese go to some lengths to deny that this book is about gender identity. This shows that they know that it is wrong to promote transgender ideology to very young children. Their denials do not stand up to the minimum of scrutiny. What remains now is for them to apologise and promise to ensure that impressionable young children are not taught material promoting transgender ideology. The guidance is repeatedly used against Christian parents, such as Nigel and Sally Rowe and Calvin and Nichola Watts, who raise concern about their children being taught transgender ideology.

You can watch My Shadow is Pink being read aloud online here. Any Christian parent would have concerns about this book being read to their four-year-old child. The book is very clearly promoting transgender ideology. In this book, the idea that you can have an identity that does not match with your body is portrayed through the concept of a 'shadow' which everyone has, and which expresses the person's true identity. The boy puts on a dress to go to school, and is upset at not fitting in. After this, his dad appears wearing a dress and says to the boy: "Your shadow is pink, I see now it's true. It's not just a shadow, it's your innermost you."This sentence promotes the cornerstone foundation of transgender ideology. The idea that people have an 'innermost identity' which is the real them, and which can be completely independent of the body. We want to know where teaching this book will lead next and where the school draw the line. Parents have not been properly consulted and it looks like we and are our children are being placed on a ‘woke’ conveyor belt. The book promotes gender confusion and the idea that changing what you wear or the things you like to do potentially affects your natal sex. It suggests an inner gender identity that is your true self (the shadows).

The poet has tried to establish a contrast of the shadow with other things around to show the difference in nature of the shadow. For example: His dad later says: "Your shadow is you, and pink it will be. So, stand up with your shadow and yell: 'This is me!'" We are not alone in believing that the book is confusing and is not appropriate for four-year-olds, especially in a Christian school. Christian and non-Christian parents have raised concern, but the head teacher has ignored it.

Andrea Williams, chief executive of Christian Concern, said: “If ever there was a moment in history for those responsible for Church of England schools to wake up and return to biblical teaching it is now. How can anyone think this book is a good idea let alone the church? There are then a series of activities, based on the story, getting the children to think about their own identity and stepping out into their ‘true selves’, whatever that may be. An important and timely bookl Empowers LBGTQ children and the wider community with its strong and powerful message The reader follows the journey of a young boy who has been born into a family with a long history of blue shadows. He wants to be just like his father, who is big and strong, with a defined blue shadow. However, the boy has an irrepressible pink shadow, and loves ponies and books and pink toys, princesses, fairies, and things 'not for boys'. With the love and acceptance of his father, he learns that everyone at times, has a shadow they wish was different ... and he must embrace his shadow just the way it is.