Stories for Boys Who Dare to be Different is a welcome addition to the collections of biographies designed to inspire children. Similar to Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls, it offers 100 snapshot biographies of boys and men who pursue their passions/interests/rights, often against expectations.

These accessible stories range from historical figures in all fields, such as Mahatma Gandhi, Galileo Galilei, and Nelson Mandela, to contemporary figures with strong values who set positive models of activism, such as Ai Weiwei, Jamie Oliver, or Steve Irwin. There are also individuals whose stories are more personal – dealing with gender decisions, overcoming learning or physical difficulties, or making challenging decisions – including Vedran Smailovic, who played his cello for 22 days amidst the ruins of besieged Sarajevo to honour the dead. And, finally, there are stories of boys who have taken action. For example, after learning about the shortage of clean water in Africa, 6-year-old Ryan Hreljac fundraised to buy a well and eventually formed a charity organisation.

In order to create a world in which everyone is equal and free, we must give our boys something to aim for. My 12-year-old son pored over Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls and found Stories for Boys Who Dare to be Different equally inspiring. Be prepared for all the questions, ideas and rich conversations these snapshots will generate.

Janine Larson works as a bookseller at Readings Kids.