Customer Reviews

Daddy's Roommate

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

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.

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.

That many school districts and libraries outside of 'GLBT mecca's' do not presently stock this title unless a battle ensues ultimately reveals more about their fear of the 'different' and unfamiliar, than any inherent flaws within this book (and simmilar titles). Isolating the children of GLBT parents and potential heterosexual alies is much more simple than recognizing and overcoming our own bigotry.

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

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 this book came out, I happened on it in the library and was amazed at how much negative attention it had been getting. The book is too boring to bother squabbling about.

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.

With the mention of the parent's divorce on the first page, the story implies that the young boy was once raised by and lived with his mother and father until his father moved out and fell in love with another man. Given the often messy divorce relationships after a marriage breaks up, it is interesting to see how well this child's biological parents get along (this may not reflect the reality in the lives of many children). As well, in the case of children who were born and raised or adopted into a gay-headed household, the biological mother may not have ever been a part of the family structure or the child's experiences. When reading the book to these young children, the first two pages can be skipped so that the story is begun where it reads: "Daddy and his roommate Frank live together." The color illustrations and short text make DADDY'S ROOMMATE appropriate for children as young as three.

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.

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. It's obvious that I had picked a good book.

When I showed my boyfriend the book he said something along the lines of ..."Oh this is wrong because it's promoting homosexuality..." This is completely false.

Informing our children that there are millions of people who are gay and that they are not bad people (unlike what many hypocritical religious freaks would say), is not promoting it. Being a heterosexual is not an excuse for being ignorant.

The book does not concentrate on the divorce of the little boys mother and father, but why should it? The main topic is about his gay father's new relationship, not the divorce.

One last comment to the people who have complained about this book...especially the so called 'religious' people: You are so hateful and I think it's a shame you can even use the word 'GOD', to support the hate that lives in your heart. You are too concerned with telling everyone else to read the bible, when actually, you are the ones who might need to sweep the cobwebs off and take a peek.

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

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

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! Hopefully, we'll soon be able to embrace love and do away with our violence praising culture....