Families [Paperback]

Meredith Tax (Author), Marylin Hafner (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up

 Available for the first time in Spanish, tis charming book is a winning introduction to the rich variety of families. Realities such as divorce, stepfamilies, adoption, single parenting, and gay and lesbian parenting are explored through the curious, affectionate, and non-judgemental eyes of six-year-old Angie as she introduces readers to her multicultural group of friends, who are loved and cared for within many different types of families.

   Meredith Tax's funny, engaging text reveals what families have in common while encouraging an acceptance of difference. Marilyn Hafner's appealing illustratiopns convey the warmth and individuality of the characters. In the end, the book's message is a simple and heartfelt one: As Angie says, "Las familias son los que viven contigo y a quienes tu quieres." ("Families are who you live with and who you love.")

   As one of the earliest books on "nontraditional" families, the English-language original has been revered by a generation of parents, teachers, and children, and also attached by censors. It remains a simple testament to the importance of acceptance, respect, and love.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Six-year-old Angie explores the dizzying number of possible relationships created by marriages, divorces, adoptions and single parenting. "Tax can help kids to understand their own situations and the various home lives of other boys and girls," said PW. This new edition adds full-color watercolors to Hafner's "delightful" drawings. Ages 4-8.

Copyright 1996 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: The Feminist Press at CUNY (October 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1558611576
• ISBN-13: 978-1558611573
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 9 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 1.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #654,498 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Stereotypes in a Book that Should Have None, September 23, 2001

By 

Cassandra L. Bates (Cincinnati, Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Families (Paperback)

Angie, the narrator, introduces the reader to the many different family structures in an attempt to show that when it comes to families size doesn't matter as much as love. The message that it doesn't matter where a family lives or how big it is but how much they love each other that matters most is somewhat lost in this book behind many clear-cut stereotypes that should have been avoided in a book discussing the variety of family structures existing in our society today. While the narrator is quick to gain appreciation from readers by overcoming the stereotype that step-siblings have trouble getting along and saying, "He's my half brother. We have the same father but not the same mother so he's only a half, but he's just as good as a whole" she later begins to reinforce several stereotypes. The fact that her Spanish friend Marisol does not live with her dad is overshadowed by the stereotypical large Spanish family she does live with, containing Mom, Grandma, Grandpa, brothers, a sister, and an aunt. The high quality discussion about families with adopted children is forgotten when the narrator introduces us to Susie who lives with a mother and godmother but doesn't have a dad. While a brief discussion about non-traditional families could have been appropriately discussed here I am fearful that many children will have difficulty grasping this concept.

1 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Attacked by censors..., January 28, 2008

By 

Meme "Meme" (Flyover Country) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Families (Paperback)

This book has been "attacked by censors"?! I read that ALA lie all the time. yet, nobody has been able to point out a single book that has been CENSORED or BANNED (another ALA con word!) in the US. Yet, books are banned and censored in communist countries daily and no word from librarians, teachers, book critics nor ALA. How interesting... So much for "censorship"!