All Kinds of Families! [Hardcover]

Mary Ann Hoberman (Author), Marc Boutavant (Illustrator)

Book Description

Grade Level: P and up

With irresistible, rollicking rhyme, beloved picture book author Mary Ann Hoberman shows readers that families, large and small, are all around us. From celery stalks to bottle caps, buttons, and rings, the objects we group together form families, just like the ones we are a part of. And, as we grow up, our families grow, too.

Mary Ann Hoberman gives readers a sense of belonging in this all-inclusive celebration of families and our role in them.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 3—Hoberman has tackled the elusive question of what makes a family a family in this sometimes silly, sometimes serious book of rhymes. She likens families to numerous items that share a relationship and are inherently the same. Her refrain says it all, "Bottle caps, gingersnaps, buttons, or rings/You can make families from all sorts of things!" Other families include tools, balloons, thimbles, and marbles, but the verses make it clear that human families are much more than a conglomeration of like, easily categorized, things; they share a human history and the promise of many more families to come. No matter what, making a family is about seeing the likenesses, not the differences. Boutavant provides colorful illustrations that vary from page to page, but as a group, complement the rhymes. Pair this with Jusin Richardson and Peter Parnell's And Tango Makes Three (S & S, 2005), Arnold Adoff's Black Is Brown Is Tan (HarperCollins, 2002); Nancy Coffelt's Fred Stays with Me! (Little, Brown, 2007), and Remy Charlip's A Perfect Day (HarperCollins, 2007) to introduce the idea that, indeed, there are all kinds of families.—Joan Kindig, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA
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About the Author

Children's Poet Laureate Mary Ann Hoberman is the author of more than thirty-five books for children, including the critically acclaimed A House Is a House for Me, which won a National Book Award, the New York Times bestselling You Read to Me, I'll Read to You, and the Sing-Along Stories series.

Marc Boutavant has created picture books in English, French, and Japanese. He also does editorial illustration and comics. Mr. Boutavant lives in Paris.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (August 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316146331
• ISBN-13: 978-0316146333
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 0.5 x 11.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #50,507 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Mary Ann Hoberman is a poet and the critically acclaimed author of many books for children, including the beloved A House Is a House for Me, which won a National Book Award. She was also the editor of the poetry anthology My Song Is Beautiful: Poems and Pictures in Many Voices. Ms. Hoberman gives readings in libraries and schools, and her poems are included in countless anthologies. She lives in Greenwich, Connecticut

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars So sweet!, February 8, 2010

By 

Nicole Hardacre (L.A.) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: All Kinds of Families! (Hardcover)

I am in love with this book. The words and sentiment are perfect. It really touches my heart everytime I read it with my children. The author Hoberman uses humor in grouping everyday objects into families but also explains to children that they are changing, altering and creating families when they are born and that they may someday create their own family. The sentiment is heartfelt. The artwork is just as beautiful as the words. Marc Boutavant is my new favorite childrens artist. My one and half year old wants to read this book everynight before bed because there is just so much to look at. I will be giving this book as a gift at every baby shower I attend. It is perfect for a new mom and baby!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Eye Candy, August 1, 2009

By 

S. Pilevsky (United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: All Kinds of Families! (Hardcover)

This book has wonderful illustrations. We couldnt get over the colors and details on every page, not to mention the charming story to go along. I recommend this book to everyone that wants a good read for children AND adults alike.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars It's complicated, August 25, 2011

By 

Jennifer Arrow - See all my reviews

This review is from: All Kinds of Families! (Hardcover)

I don't know what to make of this book. All Kinds of Families has the kind of metaphor-rich lyricism that I love about Hoberman's award-winning A House Is a House for Me, but it some ways it ends up seeming to be more about set theory than about families.

I had this in mind for a child I know who has a rather complicated family situation, even though it's definitely not a book that explicitly states "divorced/blended/lesbian/step/adopted families are families too!" (although that is implied, of course).

The emphasis seems to be two part: (1) You are part of a family and a legacy and a future by dint of your existence, and (2) any conglomeration of items, objects or people can be a family should you choose to make it so. (Hmmm...I wonder if this book would make more sense to children than it would to adults with a didactic agenda in mind?)

The illustrations are interesting, which is not to say that they are either good or bad. They're sort of in that "Japanese kawaii" cutesy style, and they're so tangerine-colored and googly-eyed, if you know what I mean, that they can be a little distracting, but then again, there's a lot of wit to be found in the details, so a deeper look can be worthwhile.

Long story short, I'm glad that I checked this out from the library before buying on the basis of Hoberman's "brand name" alone, and I think I'm going to sit with it, so to speak, for a while before deciding if it's really something worth paying for.