Different and Complementary addresses the concerns of 10–11 year olds (Year 6). Charlie, Alice and their classmates have their eyes opened at school to the cultural differences that exist in the world. There are differences, too, between one person and another in the same neighbourhood and among their friends at school. They discover that some differences are complementary, and it is these which help build the bonds of society, starting within the family.
There is a tension we all feel between wanting to belong and be accepted by others and wanting to be appreciated for our individuality. The most puzzling differences are between the sexes, as the young students discover. They learn that, to live happily alongside other people, the key is to accept and respect themselves.