The preschool friendship rhyme about Pax and Fergus gives children a simple way to notice differences, such as eye colour and height, while finding shared likes. It is suited to early years discussions on belonging, cultural diversity, inclusion, anti-prejudice work and helping kids talk kindly about what makes each friend unique.
Early childhood educators, preschool teachers and childcare practitioners working with young children are the clearest audience for All My Friends and Me, a short illustrated story from the Building belonging toolkit. It introduces Pax and a group of preschool friends, using simple rhyming text to support conversations about cultural diversity, inclusion and friendship.
The story focuses on visible differences and everyday similarities. Children compare brown and blue eyes, tall and small bodies, then see that friends may still enjoy the same food, games and time together. The pages shown include a shared stir-fry meal with Fergus, making it useful for circle time, story time or a diversity and belonging theme.
Practitioners can use the book as a gentle prompt for anti-bias education, prejudice prevention and respectful talk in early years settings. It lends itself to questions such as what friends have in common, what makes each person unique, and how children can make others feel welcome in preschool, nursery or kindergarten.
Parents, carers and family support workers may also find it suitable for reading at home with preschoolers and younger primary children. The language is accessible, the pictures are clear, and the message is practical: children can notice skin tone, eye colour, height and culture without making anyone feel excluded.
