Customer Reviews

ABC A Family Alphabet Book

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

We are a two mom family with a 5 year old son and a 16 month old daughter, and we have been waiting a LONG time for books that reflect our family constellation. I have been reading to my son since he was born, and "ABC A Family Alphabet Book" by Bobbie Combs is the first book to accurately, tastefully, creatively and humorously reflect the world of lesbian and gay families. Combs' books (see "123 A Family Counting Book" as well) are well written and beautifully illustrated and depict the every day lives of children who live in non-traditional families. What is wonderful about Combs' work is that the books are about learning to count and learning the alphabet foremost, and the illustrations of lesbian, gay, and multicultural families provide a natural backdrop for this learning. There is no heavy-handed political "message," only quality children's books that are a VERY welcome addition to our family library. I look forward to more works by Combs and by Two Lives Publishing, a company dedicated to producing children's books for alternative families.

I am pleased to see a children's book incorporating LGBT families as characters without presenting LGBT-specific issues as the central topic of the book. Kudos to the authors for choosing to depict a fair amount of racial diversity including interracial families. However, I was disappointed to see a lack of heterosexual couple representation. Heterosexual couples are overrepresented in children's literature generally, so I fear that the lack of representation in books like this contributes to a sense of other-ness: Non-traditional families do exist, but they are so different and separate from the mainstream that they all crowd together in the safety of their own book and are rarely if ever seen interacting with heterosexual families.

I don't really have a big issue with this book... it's a nice addition to our kids' library and helps to show families that don't usually make it into children's books. My only problem is with the depiction of the gay dads in the book... for whatever reason, the illustrator has chosen to show just about every one as a stereotypical queen. Thin, wispy moustaches, pinky fingers splayed to the side, effeminate poses. Something about it bugs me. I'm all for representing diversity, but the illustrator seems to have a pretty singular vision of gay men. The lesbian moms, on the other hand, are well drawn and aren't all uniform in appearance. If this book had some dads that didn't appear to be taken from some anti-gay propaganda book, I'd give it 5 stars.

This book is quite groundbreaking, and is excellent in the way it portrays our differences as not-so-different to children. Very thoughtful, well-written - a must have in any child's collection! ABC A Family Alphabet Book, and many more like it, are the focus of our website, www.[...].com, which caters to gay parents and their children.

ABC A Family Alphabet Book
This alphabet book features two-dad and two-mom families, both in the illustrations and text. The families are shown doing all of the things that families do, and children will find the humorous illustrations very amusing.

It is about time that LGBT families have books that reflect their lives in children's books without being hammered over the head with issues. This is a wonderful book and finally our kids can look at a picture book and see illustrations they can actually relate to.

Cute alphabet for the alternative family. I will need to buy another copy for my second son. The other loved it too much.

this book had one problem... to many animal shots. other than that this book really gave me a new out look on life. i've learned that some parts don't have to be hiden. my new found freedom has made me more popular than ever! im making new friends... i spend alot of time with my uncle i never knew! this is GREAT! i recomend this book to anyone who is struggling to find them selves... (my hockey coach recommended this book.. hi mr.Sroman)