I have been following Hayward's work for a while, and this was a delightful encapsulation of his affirming and inclusive creativity. I loved it!

Ricky lives with a flock of sheep who are all the same - they all sleep at the same time, eat at the same time and dress in the same way. One day, a rainbow sheep joins them and Ricky learns how to find joy in learning to be who she really is.

Such a beautiful little story about inclusion, accepting who you are and celebrating our differences. A wonderful picture book to help children understand that diversity and acceptance is so important and that it's ok to be who you are and not feel pressured to be the same as everyone around you. An encouraging message we can all take away in a fun and simple manner that children can understand.

I loved this book! ❤️💛🧡🩵💚💙💜🤎🖤🩶🤍🩷

Thank you to NetGalley and Broadleaf Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I’ve followed David Hayward as @nakedpastor for years.

Not only have I loved his drawings, but his commentary on the current state of Christianity, has been really clarifying.

This book, with only 23 words (not counting ba-aa-ahs) is equally clarifying.

You don’t need words to understand what this book so clearly conveys.

All you need is love, acceptance, and, maybe, an amazing technicolour dream coat.

This book is a little on the nose but is good for what it is. The idea of being sheep is very prevalent in Christianity so using that imagery works to set a baseline for your audience. It is nice that there are Christian books that don't hate gays.

I love David Hayward's work, which has given me so much comfort and helped me comfort other deconstructors for years. I'm so glad to have a book of his drawings at last!

Ricky the sheep lives with a group of sheep who all like the be the same. Then a new sheep comes to live with them who is comfortable with being different. This short picture book helps show the importance of being your authentic self and accepting others. I really enjoyed the illustrations. They were simple, but very effective in showing the story progress. This would be a great story for younger readers.

Thanks to Broadleaf Books and NetGalley for an eARC of this book for an honest review.

This is a cute little picture book about embracing our own individuality. I think that this is super cute for kids I was a little horrified at the prospect of sheep's just taking off their wool like a shirt but I think that that is my adult autistic brain coming in hot there.

My only other slight struggle with this book is at the very end there's some art that has all these different sheep with all these different colors and there are pride flags included however there are so many that are excluded even just not having a bi or ace flag was wild but I would have loved to see more inclusion on that aspect. I went to the author's Instagram page and I'm not sure why they weren't included because the Instagram page just filled with so many different pride inclusive works of art. I would just like to see that translated to this book as well.

For all the stupid people who think that we're tricking children by slowly incorporating pride flags, just a reminder that a queer book is not going to turn your children queer but it might make them feel accepted which is more than you're doing. Have the day you deserve.

I'm giving this book five stars to combat the absolute nonsense of the negative reviews. I would absolutely buy it for my nieces and nephews.

I ied the book a lot mainly because I like the author's instagram page. However, I would have liked if Hayward addressed the issue in a more expansive way. I like it and my progressive friends like it and maybe some will buy it for their friends with small children. However, it would have been interesting an illustrated book that you can offer to your conservative friends, that might open their eyes to the beauty of a more diverse world.

This was a really cute read with an important message. I just wish the sheep dialogue had more baa-a-as in it. Like “baa-a-a-ad influence” instead of bad influence for example. That would’ve been cute and on theme. I love David’s art work. I’m so glad he created a book.

A flock of sheep dress the same and all do the same things at the same time. Specifically, sleep, eat, and baa.

A rainbow sheep shows up and doesn’t fall into this pattern. They are initially outcast and asked to wear a white sheep outfit. One of the sheep befriends rainbow sheep and starts doing activities like jumping and chasing butterflies with the rainbow sheep.

Eventually they all embrace rainbow sheep, sleeping only when they are tired, eating only when they are hungry, and dressing how they want, many of which are dressed in different LBQTIA+ flag patterns.

3.0/5.0

Illustrations were okay.

Regionally, “sheep” is often used to mock people who chose to vaccinate or wear masks during the pandemic and it is making a comeback with MMR and the measles outbreak. So we have had conversations about that and how we do some things for the good of the group.

Our kids are of the age where they do need to sleep and eat on somewhat of a schedule. So those were not the best examples of conformity for young children.

I wish it would have focused more on dress and perhaps what activities, sports, hobbies, they liked to do instead of eating and sleeping.

I loved this so much! A lovely and important message for all of us at any age. I loved how this book both encouraged us to be our full selves and showed the beauty and importance of celebrating other people just the way they are too. Seeing the trans flag in this book made me very emotional and was very appreciated!

Thank you very much to both NetGalley and Broadleaf Books for the ARC!

Beautiful story demonstrating why diversity it’s important. Lovely, suitable for any age. Thank you to the author. Thank you to # NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.

Such a lovely book about being accepting of everyone’s differences and learning to be yourself. The little sheep are super cute.

Great message in this book. I like how it encourages the reader to be themselves even if you are the only one doing it. Also like how the book pivots from the rainbow to all different colors and patterns! Avoids making a political statement and focuses on sharing acceptance!

Pure Fun and Joy

The writing of this book probably took far more work than can by judged by the word count, for it was incredibly expressive. By leaving out the standard page by page text, the sheep themselves tell a story that could be about whatever the reader imagined.

It's not only a great tool for counselors or teachers, it's fun for parents and kids of all ages. The illustrations are so cute and clever! And everyone loves rainbows and playful, fluffy sheep (of all colors.)

Thank you to author David Hayward and NetGalley for the free advance readers' copy. I'm under no obligation to them, I was delighted by The Rainbow Sheep and think it will make a fine gift for all ages.

The Rainbow Sheep is a story about acceptance, happiness in one’s identity and interests, and honoring differences. Inclusivity is the main theme which subtly has themes to support our LGBTQ+ friends and family (there is no mention of LGBTQ+ ideas other than a rainbow colored sheep and one in trans colors, but many solid color characters too, even the elusive black sheep).

Ricky is a sheep that does just that, follows everyone around her. She eats when the flock eats, sleeps when the flock sleeps, looks identical to her flock (white wool). Humor added in by showing the sheep getting dressed in their onsie-inspired wool clothing everyday (complete with snap buttons).

The one day a new sheep, Rainbow, arrives in a rainbow wool covering. Immediately the flock hands over a white wool outfit telling Rainbow to change into it. Rainbow is true to himself and continues in his own clothing and enjoys different things: frolicking with butterflies, jumping in puddles, and just being him.

Ricky decides she would like to befriend Rainbow! And eventually, she shows her true colors and even more of the flock decide they want to try new things!

But a flock meeting is called! What will happen? Will they accept differences or keep pushing their sheep mentality and want all to stay the same?

The illustrations are simple, delightful, and colorful! A great read for kids to accept differences in others.

Thank you @NetGalley and @BroadleafBooks for the advanced digital copy

This book has a great message to encourage kids to be themselves, even if they stick out in a crowd. The illustrations are fun and engaging. The high contrast and bright colors would be great for the developing eyes of babies also.

This is very cute! I recognize those flag colours! Quite simple, but gets the message across.

The Advanced Review Copy (ARC) was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you for the ARC. Rainbow sheep joins the flock and everything changes. This is a wonderful story about acceptance and that being different is ok. We aren’t all the same and should be able to express ourselves and not “follow the flock”.

I love this! This is a book about embracing your true self and not succumbing to the pressures of conformity. It's also an empowering message about the impact a single person can make when they embrace their differences.