This paper describes how influential
children's literature can be in forming ideas and stereotypes with relation to
gender issues. It explains how crucial the early stages in life are in forming opinions of the society we live and grow up in. From the paper: Books are not only an
important resource for helping to develop the language skills of a child, adding to his imagination by
presenting to him new ideas and thoughts as well as to the child's vocabulary by presenting to him or her new words and phrases. The books that a child reads also play a significant and important
role in transmitting the
culture of the society to the child of which the child is a member. An important part of the culture of the society where the child is born and grows up are the various gender roles. The way that genders are portrayed in the children's books in this way contributes to the
image children develop of their own role and that of their gender in society.