A woman has written a children's book starring a transgender teddy bear after being inspired by her father who transitioned into a woman.

Jessica Walton, 30, from Melbourne, and her wife welcomed their 18-month-old son Errol into the world shortly after her father became Tina.

But Ms Walton was frustrated by the lack of books aimed at young children that featured transgender characters – so she decided to create her own.

'We really wanted a picture book that reflected the diversity in our family,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

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Tina pictured with 18-month-old Errol. Jessica Walton created a book inspired by her father's transition

The book is about a teddy bear named Thomas 'who finally tells her friends that she is a girl teddy, not a boy teddy' and wants to be called Tilly

Ms Walton (pictured) was frustrated by the lack of books aimed at young children that featured transgender characters, so she decided to create her own

'Obviously as gay parents the first thing we thought of was finding books that had gay parents, and we found some really great books, but it was harder to find books that had transgender characters.

'[We wanted] ones that were really aimed at children and that we could read to our son right from the beginning.'

Ms Walton, a public servant, decided to write the book Introducing Teddy for her son, and created a Kickstarter funding page to try to raise money for illustration and printing costs.

'I wasn't really sure how many people would be interested in a book like this,' she said.

'I wrote it for my son - even if I had just self-published one copy of the book I would have been really happy to have it.

Ms Walton said it was a surprise when her father told her she was a woman, but it has made her family grow

The book, illustrated by Dougal MacPherson, features a character named Errol named after Ms Walton's son

Ms Walton created a Kickstarter funding page to try to raise money for illustration and printing costs

INTRODUCING TEDDY - A SUMMARY The story starts out with Errol and his best friend Thomas the Teddy having fun together at home gardening, riding their bike, having tea parties and hanging out in their treehouse. On a particularly sunny day, Errol is excited about going to the park... but Teddy isn't. Teddy is sad, and Errol can't work out why! Teddy finally tells Errol that she has always known deep down that she is a girl teddy, not a boy teddy, and wants to be called Tilly. Errol is relieved that nothing is wrong. 'I'll always be your friend!' he tells Teddy. Errol calls his cousin Ava. When Ava meets them at the park, she greets Teddy as Thomas. Errol explains that Teddy is a girl, and introduces her as Tilly. 'What a lovely name!' says Ava, 'Let's go and play!' The three of them have fun at the park together. The book finishes with Errol and Tilly doing all of the things they did at the start of the book, illustrating that the two are still the best of friends. Advertisement

'I put it on Kickstarter and thought if other people are interested in this that would be great. We have been really blown away by the response.'

Ms Walton has already exceed her $10,500 goal, raising more than $12,300 with 31 days of the campaign to go.

On the Kickstarter page she writes that the story is about 'a teddy bear named Thomas who finally tells her friends that she is a girl teddy, not a boy teddy'.

'I had Teddy's friends respond with love, care and respect,' she wrote.

'In no way does the friendship between them change when Teddy transitions, except perhaps that their friendship is strengthened by the experience.'

Ms Walton said it was a surprise to her when her father told her she was a woman, but said it has made her family grow.

'You go through different stages when your parent comes out as transgender,' she said.

'Everyone in my family has grown and changed. When something like this happens, it's not just the person who transitions that changes. All of us have come a really long way.

'There may have been moments when it wasn't easy, but ultimately as a family we're stronger and it's been a really positive thing.'

She has already exceed her $10,500 goal, raising more than $12,300 with 31 days of the campaign to go

Ms Walton said she hopes the book will help foster discussion about transgender issues as Errol gets older

The book will be finished in early December and the money raised will be used to pay for illustrator Dougal MacPherson, print production, shipping costs and Kickstarter fees.

Ms Walton said she hopes the book will help foster discussion about transgender issues as Errol gets older.

'[Tina's] an absolutely wonderful grandmother, really doting and very nurturing. It's been a lovely thing to see,' Ms Walton said.

'And the wonderful thing is that my son will only ever know Tina as Grandma, and I think that for my son there will be nothing unusual about Grandma.