Simple stories by the author of Helen the Fish explore all the different ways in which families are made, from traditional nuclear arrangements to foster parenting to adoption.
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Half a dozen thumbnail sketches illustrate various ways to enlarge a family: birth, adoption (open and closed, domestic and foreign), guardianship, single parenthood and so on. Each features a child asking a parent to tell "the story of me," "how you became my now mom," etc. The responses are both loving and reassuring ("I kept thinking how beautifully black braids went with blond buzz cuts," one father tells his handicapped adopted daughter) as well as instructive. Kroll carefully selects children from a variety of backgrounds (urban, suburban, healthy, disabled, white, Asian American, Hispanic, African American), and although the result feels slightly staged, it is respectful and never condescending. Kroll's thoughtful prose is ably matched by Schuett's homey, realistic illustrations, which fairly exude warmth. An agreeable reminder that happy families come in all colors and combinations. Ages 3-9.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 3-Families grow in many ways. Conversations between six children and their parents reveal some of the most common scenarios. Ruben's parents knew they wanted a baby, and his mother became pregnant soon after they were married. Katherine Grace came home to her adoptive parents from Korea as an infant; her new brother just arrived from South America. Since his mother's death when he was only four months old, Mark's Uncle Joe has been his dad. Olivia, whose birth parents were teenagers, is adopted by a single woman. Habib's parents decided to adopt a baby on Nia, the fifth night of Kwanzaa that celebrates purpose. Nicole came to her parents and three siblings when she was an older child. Full-color paintings depict families of different ethnic backgrounds in various configurations. The dialogue rings true. These respectful, fictionalized stories are likely to appeal to children who are adopted as well as to those who are not. A good complement to Gretchen Super's What Kind of Family Do You Have? and What Is a Family? (both 21st Century, 1991).
Maria B. Salvadore, District of Columbia Public Library
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Maria B. Salvadore, District of Columbia Public Library
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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More About the Author
Virginia Kroll is the author of over fifty books for children and winner of a 2004 Children's choice award. A former elementary school teacher, she lives in New York with her husband and has raised six children of her own.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Absolutely Wonderful,
This review is from: Beginnings: How Families Come to Be (Hardcover)
Being a Single Adoptive Mom-to-be awaiting a child from China, I absolutely loved how this book explored the broader meaning "Family". It provides explanations in terms that a child can comprehend, that single-parent families and cross-cultural families are normal and loving environments. Thank you, Virginia Kroll, for a wonderful synopsis of the 21st Century Family!
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Beginnings: How Families Came to Be,
By Daniel J. Largent (Ohio) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Beginnings: How Families Come to Be (Hardcover)
I really enjoyed using this with a second grade class becauseitexplores the diversity of modern families. It is a positive book thatshould be used in a family unit. END
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Gentle, lovely stories,
By A Customer
This review is from: Beginnings: How Families Come to Be (Hardcover)
This is a delightful book. I read it aloud to my 19 month old (adopted) daughter regularly, as one method of gently familiarizing her with life stories similar to her own. The pictures are sweet, and I like the mix of races, countries, and different situations. Highly recommended.
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Inside This Book
(learn more)
First Sentence:
Tell me, Mommy, about how I began." Read the first page New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Tell me, Mommy, about how I began." Read the first page New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
7
books
cite this book:
See all 7 books citing this book
- Home, School, & Community Relations by Carol Gestwicki on page 563
- Beneath the Mask: Understanding Adopted Teens by Debbie Riley in Back Matter
- And Baby Makes Four : Welcoming a Second Child into the Family by Hilory Wagner on page 80
- The Complete Single Mother: Reassuring Answers to Your Most Challenging Concerns by Andrea Engber in Back Matter
- Children of Intercountry Adoptions in School: A Primer for Parents and Professionals by Ruth Lyn Meese on page 89
See all 7 books citing this book
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