Families [Hardcover]

Ann Morris (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up | Grade Level: P and up

Some children live with their mothers and fathers. Others have stepparents or live with just one parent. Still others live with grandparents or foster parents who chose them specially. But all children all around the world, are part of families--big and small, loving, sharing, and caring for one another.

This look at all kinds of families from all over the world helps young children begin to think about families they belong to, as it gives them a glimpse into the rich variety of world cultures.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2-Through spare, simple text and appealing color photographs, Morris shows readers that "all children-are part of families" and that they come in all sizes, nationalities, and configurations. The format varies so that each page features one large or several smaller pictures. The text explains that "People in families love and care for one another-help one another-play together-cook-eat-and celebrate together." The book depicts family interactions in the United Kingdom, the United States, Ethiopia, Canada, Vietnam, South Korea, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Japan, and India. An index of photographs identifies each group and its nationality and a map indicates where the photos were taken.
Joyce Rice, Limestone Creek Elementary School, Jupiter, FL
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Similar in look, concept, and layout to Morris' other photoessays, such as Weddings (1995) and Teamwork (1999), this volume offers photographs of families around the world, strung together along a thread of text. Each page carries one, two, or three photos, and sometimes a word or phrase as well. Visually, the book makes the point that families come in many varieties, with one parent or two, with or without brothers and sisters or extended family. Sometimes family members look like each other, but not always. The text explains that some members are adopted or living with a foster family or a grandparent. The book will be generally reassuring to children, except those old enough or observant enough to question the basic truth of sentences such as the one that opens this book: "Everyone, everywhere is part of a family." Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (March 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688171982
• ISBN-13: 978-0688171988
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 10.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #442,860 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Ann Morris's many books include Families, Bread Bread Bread, Hats Hats Hats, On the Go, and Loving. She lives in New York City. As a children's book writer, Ann Morris has been able to successfully integrate her varied experiences in teaching young children, travel, writing, and editing. Having grown up in the polyglot public schools of New York City, where each child's ethnic heritage was revealed by his name or by the contents of the lunch box from home filled with sausages, egg rolls, matzos, or pizza, she developed a strong Interest In cultures other than her own. "I'm a gypsy by nature," she says. "I always have my suitcase packed."
She and photographer Ken Heyman once traveled across the United States to document the lives often different families. Both she and the teacher's pupils liked the snake charmer/teacher who taught class in a circus trailer with her favorite boa around her neck. Although Ms. Morris has never tried this stunt he herself, she has taught children in public and private schools in New York City, and adults at Bank Street College, Columbia Teachers College, New York University, and Queens College of the City University of New York. More recently she has been teaching writing for children at The New School.
Ann Morris left teaching to become editorial director of Scholastic's early childhood department. Now she devotes her professional time to writing and all her other time to people watching, music in any and all Forms, cat care, cooking and eating, and travel. All of these experiences, she says, provide material for her books.
In Israel Ms. Morris was caught up in the enchantment of the place as well as the conflicts that are a consequence of its history. One of her books, When Will They Stop Fighting? (Atheneum), reflects her concern about children who have become the victims of these conflicts.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Families, December 6, 2000

By 

Mary Ziller, Librarian - See all my reviews

This review is from: Families (Hardcover)

Multicultural family photographs show families from many countries working together and celebrating. The pictures have an index, which tell where the picture was taken. Children can locate the countries on an outline world map. Families are different, but we are all part of a family is the message.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars There are better books about families., February 5, 2008

By 

Heidi (New Mexico) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Families (Library Binding)

Very similar to the other book we read by Ms. Morris. It even has some of the same pictures. I felt it was not as good as other books we read by her. Shows pictures of families with very little text. I would recommend it for Kindergarten and below.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Families for the classroom, November 25, 2008

By 

Amy L. Barradas (Paxton, Illinois United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Families (Hardcover)

I used this product as a theme week for my preschool class of four and five year olds. The beautiful photos and simple text made it a big hit! We were able to show the different types of families and how they were made up. The children used it to identifiy with their own family.