Topic 8: Families
What makes a family? What do families do? Do all families look the same? Are there different kinds of families?
The books the panel has selected for our Families topic explore these questions as well as encourage discussion about the values and characteristics of your own family. The books selected for children ages birth to three introduce the basic roles and relationships that many families may share, helping children construct a foundational understanding of what defines a family and what function a family serves. Children ages three to six will explore a broader range of differences in family composition, as well as the differences and qualities in relationships between family members. The books are intended to help children explore the dynamics within their own families and to recognize the diversity of families around the world.
Children's Books
Ages 0 – 3
We Belong Together by Todd Parr
This book illustrates how and why families come together through adoption in a heartfelt manner by emphasizing what all families provide - the basic care that all children need, such as a home, as well as emotional needs, such as feeling loved. We Belong Together book recognizes the diversity of families including single parent and same sex parent families.
Ages 0 – 6
One World, One Day by Barbara Kerley
In this National Geographic publication, the author uses real life photographs to illustrate children from all around the world. From morning to night, we see pictures of different food, schools and customs. At the end of the day the simple text, “Around the world kids dream of tomorrow”, leaves the reader to ponder the possibilities of one world, one day!
Families by Ann Morris
Ann Morris' Families highlights what the essence of family is with simple descriptions and photographs of all kinds of families from around the world. It illustrates that families vary in many ways and what defines a family is those that love and care for each other as they play, work, and live together.
A Tale of Two Daddies by Vanita Oelschlager
A Tale of Two Daddies describes the roles of two fathers from a little girl's perspective. In a simple, rhyming way, she explains, for instance, which daddy does her hair and who helps her when she is hurt. This book conveys that different parents, whether a child has two mothers, two fathers, or a mother and a father, have different ways and different strengths in helping their children, but also that they all strive to provide a loving and caring environment for their children. The cute and colorful illustrations add to the delightful way the author conveys this little girl's story.
Ages 3 – 6
My Family Is Forever by Nancy Carlson
There are many ways to talk about adoption and Nancy Carlson's My Family Is Forever adds yet another perspective. In this story, a young Asian girl tells about her family and some of the many things they do together. She shares that she sometimes wonders about her birth parents, while conveying that she knows that her adoptive family is her forever family, "And no matter where I go or what I do, I'll always have my family by my side... because families are forever!"
The Great Big Book of Families by Mary Hoffman
The Great Big Book of Families provides examples of just about every type of family you could think of! In addition to discussing that families come in all shapes and sizes, this book illustrates the different kinds of homes people live in, jobs parents may have or not have, and traditions and hobbies that some families enjoy. What is especially remarkable about this book is its attempt to touch not only on different family compositions, but also different cultural aspects and socio-economic levels that affect how families live. The Great Big Book of Families provides an excellent platform for discussions about diversity, tying it all together in the end by saying, "So families can be big, small, happy, sad, rich, poor, loud, quiet, mad, good-tempered, worried, or happy-go-lucky. Most families are all of these things some of the time. What's yours like today?"
I Love You Like Crazy Cakes by Rose Lewis
This book tells the story of a baby girl in China who had lots of friends but, "was missing something - a mother," and an American woman who also had lots of friends but, "was missing something too - a baby." All adoptions are unique. This book is short and generally describes the first meeting of mother and daughter. However, one can imagine that there are more specific details. Perhaps the expression, "crazy cakes" has a special meaning in their family? Perhaps, like the lovely cover painting, there is a Lewis family photo of baby wearing a floppy hat? Optimally, this book will spark conversations between parent and child as they tell and retell their own unique story.
And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson
And Tango Makes Three is a story about a loving relationship between two same-sex penguins and their desire to have a child together. Based on an actual relationship between two male penguins at the Central Park Zoo, And Tango Makes Three is a heartening and cheerful story that illustrates the depth of love that a same-sex couple shares for their child and each other. The use of animals to depict the process of adoption makes this story unique and enjoyable for children ages five and older.
While You Are Away by Eileen Spinelli
Deployments are hard for all involved. Inevitably, families change when someone deploys. Children are especially vulnerable because they often don’t know how to handle all of the feelings, changes, and uncertainties. This book captures a child’s experience of dealing with a parent who is deployed. Beginning with the initial separation all the way until the child and parent are reunited, Spinelli shares many concrete examples of various ways children and deployed parents can maintain a connection during deployment.
Who’s In A Family? by Robert Skutch
Who’s in a Family? portrays the uniqueness of all families by providing many examples of different family compositions, arrangements, and roles. Suggested for children ages three and older, Who’s in a Family? satisfies a younger reader’s interest through its simple text and colorful illustrations, and also relates to a young child’s developmental interests through descriptions of animal families. Some examples of the families represented in this book are single parent families, same-sex families, families with children raised by extended family members, and divided families.
Parent Book
Scrapbooking Your Family History by Laura Best
All families have their own history, traditions, and memories and one way to begin to capture and document these elements is through family scrapbooking. Even the youngest family members can become involved in this fascinating process, collecting pictures and special objects, recalling favorite games and activities, drawing pictures of family pets, simple journaling, etc. Scrapbooking Your Family History by Laura Best is an excellent, easy to read guide that provides ideas, instructions, and guidance for families as they begin to navigate and organize the materials they choose to include. The results…an entertaining and thoughtful family project and as well as a truly special family heirloom!
