One Dad, Two Dads, Brown Dad, Blue Dads (Alyson Wonderland) [Hardcover]

Johnny Valentine (Author), Melody Sarecky (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 2 and up | Series: Alyson Wonderland

Two children—one with blue dads, one from a more traditional family—compare notes in this light hearted book about parents who are different. In the end, of course, they discover that blue dads aren’t really that different from other dads. Except for one thing.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2-The message that all people are basically the same whatever their skin color or sexual orientation is a worthy one, but this book, despite its cheerful pictures, is too didactic to have much appeal. In rhyming text, two children discuss a boy's two blue dads. He points out that, aside from their color, they are the same as other fathers-they work, play, and laugh. His friend wonders how they got that way and offers numerous explanations, but he tells her that they are blue simply because they are. The only trouble with the situation is that they are hard to see against the sky. "But except for that problem,/our life is routine,/and they're just like all other dads-/black, white, or green." And when the girl declares that she has never seen a green dad, a new child appears, stating that her two fathers are both green. Children young enough to take the tale at face value will probably think it is silly (since people are neither blue nor green), while older readers would be better served by a straightforward presentation of the subject matter.
Louise L. Sherman, Anna C. Scott School, Leonia, NJ
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Johnny Valentine is also the author of The Day they Put a Tax on Rainbows. He lives in Boston.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 2 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Alyson Books; 1st edition (July 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1555832539
• ISBN-13: 978-1555832537
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,192,332 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nicely ridiculous and innocuous., September 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: One Dad, Two Dads, Brown Dad, Blue Dads (Alyson Wonderland) (Hardcover)

Funny and light-hearted, with nothing blatant. Appeals to a preschooler's sense of the ridiculous without insulting them. My five-year-old loved it, and he only has one dad and one mom. Also encourages thinking about racial issues and questions about how "other" kids families might be structured (divorced, single-parent, step-families, gay families, adoptive families). Bright, well-composed illustrations. Vibrant text. MUCH more fun (and less preachy) than "Heather has two mommies" or the "Daddy's Roommate" books.

37 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book for family studies!, September 11, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: One Dad, Two Dads, Brown Dad, Blue Dads (Alyson Wonderland) (Hardcover)

I use this book in my preschool classroom with 3, 4, and 5 year-olds. They love it, and instantly see the silliness in being afraid or worried about a family with two dads OR blue dads. We use it every year during our unit on families.

34 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Allegorical Children's Book Explores Prejudice, January 4, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: One Dad, Two Dads, Brown Dad, Blue Dads (Alyson Wonderland) (Hardcover)

ONE DAD, TWO DADS, BROWN DAD, BLUE DADS tells the story of Lou and his gay fathers, who happen to be blue. A young girl is very curious about his blue dads and asks many questions which Lou thinks are rather silly. For example, she wants to know if his blue dads can sing, cook, work, play, and stand on their heads like her dad can. Lou replies, "What funny ideas you have. Do you think dads are different because they are blue." The message is quite clear; blue dads, or gay dads, experience family life similar to white, black, or heterosexual dads. Alyson Press has recommended this book to children as young as two years old. I question whether or not very young children will be able to separate the blueness of the fathers to actually understand that having two dads is as "normal" as having one. I suggest introducing this book to a three or four year old who is better able to understand the humor in having blue or green dads. The illustrations are eye catching, include diversity in many areas and display the fathers in many cross gender activities.