This series of Child-to-Child Readers focuses on the rights of the Girl Child. The stories encourage children to reflect on the way that girls - and boys - are treated in their families and communities.
While full of exciting adventure, these stories reveal the problems and discrimination faced by many girls. The stories show what girls can achieve if they are given the same opportunities and treatment as their brothers. The characters in these readers provide positive role models for both girls and boys, developing their confidence and self-esteem and demonstrating the importance of life skills, such as communication and critical thinking. A central theme for the series is the value of girls' education.
To Have a Son Like You is a Level 3 reader. In this story, Leonora is the third daughter to be born to her parents. Her father, who is deeply disappointed not to have a son, disappears and is presumed dead. Many years later, Leonora saves a man's life in a storm. He says he would be proud to have a daughter like her.....but who is this man? This story illustrates how boys and girls should be valued equally in the family.
The Girl Child series can make a useful contribution to educational initiatives seeking to promote girls' performance and retention in school. They can also be used as support material for life skills programmes, in and out of school. The books are graded at two levels, intended for upper primary and lower secondary classes. The readers can be used as an integral part of a Social Studies or Environmental Science curriculum. They can also be used in Language and literacy classes.
