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Daddy's Roommate Hardcover – June, 1990

by Michael Willhoite (Author)

26 customer reviews

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Product Details

Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Alyson Books; 1st edition (June 1990)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1555831788
ISBN-13: 978-1555831783
Product Dimensions: 0.2 x 8.8 x 11.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,869,358 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #2496 in Books > Children's Books > Growing Up & Facts of Life > Fiction
- #16339 in Books > Gay & Lesbian > Literature & Fiction > Fiction > Gay
- #28502 in Books > Children's Books > Growing Up & Facts of Life > Family Life

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Customer Reviews

3.9 out of 5 stars

5 star		42%
4 star		31%
3 star		12%
2 star		4%
1 star		11%

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 44 people found the following review helpful

Just sent a copy to Wasilla Public Library

By Sebb on September 15, 2008

Format: Paperback Verified Purchase

Apparently they (she) didn't manage to ban this book, but it seems that activists are taking out the book on loan and defacing it. Some people don't know what public libraries are for. If you don't want a copy in your god's church, that's your decision. If you don't want a copy in our public libraries.....write a letter. Or just get over it.

This is a book that is meant to help people living in the real world, where people really are born both gay and good.

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69 of 95 people found the following review helpful

Our family was not the only good family

By Robin Orlowski on December 7, 2003

Format: Paperback

During my own childhood, my parents tried to instil open values in myself and my younger brother. We were regularly encouraged to read books about groups outside of our own and develop a strong sense of fairness.
While we did not have a chance to read this book during our own childhoods, I can vouch it is an important library addition for any parent wanting their child to grow up secure enough with themselves so they do not pick on others and/or deal with personal problems.
In his age-appropriate text (although the 'roomate' terminology is confusing after the depth of description), Willhoite demonstrates there are all kinds of good families. Both Daddy and Frank are very interested in providing a safe and stable enviroment for the youth---and enjoy an apparently supportive relationship with the mother (finding out you are the spouse of a GLBT person is not an easy position in our society) making his own growth an innately easier journey.
Not fancy by today's computer-pumped standards, the illustrations help reinforce the true meaning of caring. It is ultimately how you treat yourself and others which should determine what happens. Thus, the book purposefully ignores the possibility of daddy and Frank being hate crime and/or discrimination victims, a scenario which may worry older children after a parent's disclosure.
Realizing there are other families across the USA for whom the journey is nowhere near as smooth, I appreciate the candor attempting to end the cycle of hate-depression which takes a heavy toll on our youth. Like GLBT people themselves, the children of GLBT parents (a growing category!) have few 'safe' resources to utilize.Read more ›

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42 of 58 people found the following review helpful

Children's Book Explores Divorced Families & Gay Fatherhood

By A Customer on January 4, 1998

Format: Paperback

DADDY'S ROOMMATE, by Michael Willhoite, is a story told by a young boy about his weeks with his father and his father's partner, Frank. The child discusses some of the activities his dad and Frank do together (activities which are familiar to all kinds of families). For example, they work, eat, sleep, shave and fight together, and always make up. The boy then describes how important Frank is to him and how Frank, as a co-parent, likes him and helps the boy feel comfortable, safe, and loved.
This book might appeal to children who, after their parents get divorced or are separated, live with one parent and visit the other parent and his/her new partner. The explanation given by the mother for being gay is one many children will understand. She says being gay is "just one more kind of love and love is the best kind of happiness." One teacher of nine- and ten-year-old children was uncomfortable with the fact that it is the mother in this story who explained the father's sexual orientation. It would be nice to see the adults in these stories take responsibility (and control) over explaining and feeling proud of their own lives and families.

Still, DADDY'S ROOMMATE presents a positive connection among gay people, love and family with illustrations of the father and Frank hugging, shaving, sleeping and caring for each other. Of the five illustrations which show the two men physically and emotionally together, only one occurs outdoors, when Frank is placing suntan lotion on the father's back at the beach. The almost exclusive private expression of love may reinforce, for some, the fact that their intimate lives cannot be exhibited in the public eye.Read more ›

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36 of 52 people found the following review helpful

My daughter loves this book

By A Customer on November 22, 1999

Format: Paperback

My 18-month old daughter just loves this book. I picked it up from the library just because I wanted to take a look at it, and now have it memorized, beacause she wants it read to her over and over again. My only complaint is that it elides the mother's real explanation to her son of why she has said that his father is gay (I'd like to see a sentence that actually *says* that she has said that he is "gay" because he is in love with another man -- to be told that "being gay is just one more kind of love" is good but it seems to me that any child would find this an insufficient explanation). Still, I'm happy as a straight mom to have a book that my daughter loves which will help show her that ours is not the only kind of family.

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46 of 67 people found the following review helpful

Well Thoughtout And Helpful

By A Customer on July 21, 1999

Format: Paperback

As a father myself I was put in a situation many years back and had to tell my 4 year old son about the man that had been apart of his life for the last three years. It was suggested to me by a family therapist to pick up a copy of Daddies Roommate. My Partner and I sat down with my son and read the book to him, we asked him for questions and what he was feeling. As in the book, he was so well adjusted from the exposer to my partner most of his early life he didn't feel any different knowing our sexual preferance. He is now much older and we still have a wonderful caring relationship. I hope this book helps other gay couples with telling there children about them. Thank you Kenneth J. Wheeler

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

Five Stars

Great condition - - better than described

Published 6 months ago by Alan

Daddy's Roommate Review

Daddy’s Roommate by Michael Willhoite is a picture book about a child with divorced parents, and his dad is gay. The kid has to deal with a different family lifestyle. Read more

Published 14 months ago by toki8th grader

What was the author thinking????

Like my title said, WHAT WAS THIS AUTHOR THINKING??? I have no problem with gays and lesbians but teaching CHILDREN that it's okay to be like that, i have to disagree. Read more

Published on July 26, 2012 by rebel

Daddy's Roommate

A charming book about a child experiencing an alternate relationship with and for his gay dad. Beautiful illustrations to the story.

Published on June 26, 2011 by Stephen J. Titus

It's ok. Not as great as I was expecting. Not worth all the protesting it received from society.

Published on January 29, 2010 by Edwin Jackson

Boring

The School Library Journal got it right in noting "to consider for purchase because of the treatment of the subject rather than for the quality of writing or art"

When... Read more

Published on June 6, 2009 by frisco mama

I Cried

The themes of adult selfishness, divorce, and same-sex union converge in "Daddy's Roommate." This story is particularly sad. The little narrator here has no name! Read more

Published on September 5, 2008 by Mishima

Positive and Family Friendly!

I'm not sure that the books message that "gay" is a different kind of love is exactly right, I think this might be more simplistic than necessary... Read more

Published on November 5, 2006 by Amy Aldrich

Perfect!

As a child of gay parents, I wish I had this book when I was growing up in the 70's. !!! It is perfect! Thanks soooo Much! Read more

Published on June 22, 2006 by Ibsen Freak

Good book to open your children's eyes

As a straight person, I am glad to see a book such as this one. I'm a 20 year old college student and was assigned to read a children's book which has created some controversy. Read more

Published on November 20, 2003