Donovan's two moms are getting married, and he can't wait for the celebration to begin. After all, as ringbearer, he has a very important job to do. Any boy or girl with same-sex parents—or who knows a same-sex couple—will appreciate this picture book about love, family, and marriage. The story captures the joy and excitement of a wedding day while the illustrations show the happy occasion from a child's point of view.
| ||||||||||||
Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Editorial Reviews
Review
Review, School Library Journal, April 1, 2011:
"As in Newman’s Mommy, Momma and Me (Tricycle, 2009), this book broaches a controversial issue in an appealingly nonthreatening way."
Review, Kirkus Reviews, March 1, 2011:
"Centered on the child’s experience and refreshingly eschewing reference to controversy, the book emerges as a celebration of not only Mommy’s and Mama’s mutual love but progress toward equal marriage rights for same-sex couples."
About the Author
LESLÉA NEWMAN has written over 20 books for children including the best seller Heather Has Two Mommies. She has received many literary awards and is currently the Poet Laureate of Northampton, Massachusetts.
MIKE DUTTON has worked on children's books, comics, coloring books, landscape paintings, and video game art. He lives in Berkeley, California, with his wife, Alex, and their cat, Raven. He is an active blogger.
MIKE DUTTON has worked on children's books, comics, coloring books, landscape paintings, and video game art. He lives in Berkeley, California, with his wife, Alex, and their cat, Raven. He is an active blogger.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images? |
More About the Author
Lesléa Newman is the author of 64 books for readers of all ages including the teen novel in verse, OCTOBER MOURNING: A SONG FOR MATTHEW SHEPARD; the middle grade novel, HACHIKO WAITS; the poetry collection, STILL LIFE WITH BUDDY; the short story collection, A LETTER TO HARVEY MILK; and the children's books, A SWEET PASSOVER, THE BOY WHO CRIED FABULOUS, THE BEST CAT IN THE WORLD, RUNAWAY DREIDEL! and MATZO BALL MOON. Her literary awards include poetry fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Massachusetts Artists Foundation. OCTOBER MOURNING: A SONG FOR MATTHEW SHEPARD was named an American Library Association 2013 Stonewall Honor Book, and A SWEET PASSOVER was named a 2013 Sydney Taylor Honor as well. A past poet laureate of Northampton, Massachusetts, she is a faculty member of Spalding University's brief-residency MFA in Writing program.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Dana Rudolph
Format:Hardcover
Donovan's Big Day is a delightful story about a boy preparing for the wedding of his two moms. Unlike the author's classic Heather Has Two Mommies, which focused rather pedantically on a girl trying to understand why she doesn't have a dad, there are no "issues" here -- other than the problems any child might face while attending a wedding of any sort. He has to dress up, keep clean, and not fidget. Most of all, he has to make sure to hand his moms their rings at the proper moment.
There is just enough light tension to keep young readers engaged as Donovan goes through each step of his preparations. Illustrator Mike Dutton's dynamic gouache drawings capture Donovan's earnest spirit with gentle humor.
The book is also a celebration of wider family. Donovan stays with his grandparents the night before the wedding. His aunt and uncle drive him to the ceremony, and he shares the back seat with his cousins. Upon arrival, there are more relatives and friends to kiss and compliment him.
Any child participating in a wedding -- of either a same-sex or opposite-sex couple -- should enjoy Donovan's adventure and the spirit of joy it brings.
There is just enough light tension to keep young readers engaged as Donovan goes through each step of his preparations. Illustrator Mike Dutton's dynamic gouache drawings capture Donovan's earnest spirit with gentle humor.
The book is also a celebration of wider family. Donovan stays with his grandparents the night before the wedding. His aunt and uncle drive him to the ceremony, and he shares the back seat with his cousins. Upon arrival, there are more relatives and friends to kiss and compliment him.
Any child participating in a wedding -- of either a same-sex or opposite-sex couple -- should enjoy Donovan's adventure and the spirit of joy it brings.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
From the author of the pioneering children's book "Heather Has Two Mommies" comes a timely storybook for 4-7 year olds whose parent is about to enter a same-sex marriage, civil union or similar event commemorated by a ceremony.
Donovan two moms are getting married, and he is made an integral part of the day's festivities as ring-bearer. The book stresses the continuity of Donovan's life before and after the ceremony, and portrays the day as a joyful experience to be shared with his family and friends.
Excellent gift idea for gay or lesbian couples with small children, who may not often have the opportunity to see someone in their situation portrayed in a children's storybook. I pronounce it five stars out of five.
- Bob Lind, Echo Magazine
Donovan two moms are getting married, and he is made an integral part of the day's festivities as ring-bearer. The book stresses the continuity of Donovan's life before and after the ceremony, and portrays the day as a joyful experience to be shared with his family and friends.
Excellent gift idea for gay or lesbian couples with small children, who may not often have the opportunity to see someone in their situation portrayed in a children's storybook. I pronounce it five stars out of five.
- Bob Lind, Echo Magazine
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Vickie Long
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
My two boys are 7 and 10 and both on the Autism Spectrum. Their sister was married last July, to a woman. I was worried for the longest time about how exactly to explain this to them in the best way possible. (They were also ring bearers) This book helped SO much! I highly recommend this book. It was so much help. Remember, just because a child doesn't ask questions doesn't mean they don't have a TON of them in their little heads!!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
We love it!
My partner and I live in a small town in the south. So we try hard to surrond our twins with books to show them that there are familys out there like theirs. Read more
Published 1 month ago by GyngerBee
5.0 out of 5 stars
Product Review
The book arrived just in time, in the condition advertised and was the perfect story for our church service. The congregation enjoyed the story and the illustrations.
Published 2 months ago by Kathleen M. Hueser
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love does make a family.
My Review:
When you start to read this book you wonder why Donovan is getting so excited and what is this BIG job he has to do on this BIG day? Read more
When you start to read this book you wonder why Donovan is getting so excited and what is this BIG job he has to do on this BIG day? Read more
Published 18 months ago by Mymcbooks
5.0 out of 5 stars
Donovan's Big Day
A great way to introduce the idea of same sex parents and families to young children. Told through the eyes of the young boy, the words and tone are perfect. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Ross Bernay
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
