'Made by Raffi' calls for accepting difference
By Jin Yu-young
Education, especially in a child's early developmental years, is crucial in influencing how one perceives the world.
It is important to teach children values including acceptance and tolerance, but how does one inform a five-year old on issues of such significance when even adults have difficulty seeing past their differences?
In his picture book “Made by Raffi,” Craig Pomranz tells a story of Raffi, a boy who enjoys knitting but is bullied by the other students for having a “girly” hobby.
“Made by Raffi,” Craig Pomranz / Korea Times
Despite being teased, Raffi continues his passion and eventually becomes the hero of the class by using his talent to create a costume for the school pageant. By doing so he shows young readers that gender roles are merely a construct of society and each individual has their own unique strengths.
Behind the lighthearted nature of the story and colorful illustrations by Margaret Chamberlain lies a powerful message: accept those around us who are different from the norm, and confidently embrace our identity if we ourselves are the ones labeled as “abnormal.” He effectively integrates the theme of diversity into a story that even children in pre-school or primary school can grasp.
“Made by Raffi” has received widespread attention and acclaim for its positive influence on the younger generation. The book has not only been chosen for various social campaigns but also has sparked conversation among educators and parents on how to teach children acceptance and diversity.
“We believe we have conquered so many old-fashioned notions and, yet, when we look at entertainment for kids, there is still a lot of stereotyping,” he said in one interview. “I wrote the book to support young boys and girls who are perceived as different because of their appearance or hobbies.”
Published by Frances Lincoln in the U.K., the book has been translated into eight languages and released in 11 countries with Korea being one of the most recent additions to the list.
Jin Yu-young is a Korea Times intern.