Big fan of @TomPercivalsays and this well intentioned book arrived yesterday. Whilst I understand Tom’s upbringing, teachers need to pause.

I think practitioners need to ask themselves some questions before reading to their class 1/6

1/5 children in Scotland live in poverty (we’re actually nearing 1/4). In the opening pages, we hear of frost forming on the inside of house walks and glass.

Potentially triggering and all to real for some children in a classroom, how does the teacher handle this plot point? 2/6

We’re told the family need to leave their house due to a lack of money and move into a, bluntly, poor estate. This may awaken a few children to their lack of wealth.

What discussion will follow exploring WHY the family had to leave? Imo it is vital that chat is had. 3/6

I wholly side with Tom’s attempt to show that those on the margins of society can become ‘invisible’

But will some children infer that old people, homeless and immigrants are de facto invisible?

It is essential, imo, that a teacher ask: invisible to who? 4/6

Personally, I feel this book is primarily for the middle class. Many children living in poverty are aware of their marginalisation.

The message that ‘small acts of kindness go a long way’ truly uplifts.

The idea that those in poverty need to ‘make a difference’ does not. 5/6

To be clear, it’s a beautiful work.

But, imo, the narrative focuses too heavily on ‘personal responsibility’ and not at all on the driving forces behind inequality.

Peak Cynic: it felt like an advert for ‘The Big Society’ 6/6