23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Children's Book Explains Gay/Lesbian Parents & Prejudice, January 4, 1998
By A Customer
This review is from: How Would You Feel If Your Dad Was Gay? (Paperback)
HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IF YOUR DAD WAS GAY? by Heron and Maran tells the story of Jasmine and Michael, whose fathers are gay, and Noah, who lives with his lesbian mother. While the third grade class is making Father's Day cards, Jasmine reveals that her dads are gay. This seems to be the first time the class is made aware of this information. Word of Jasmine's family gets to Michael's fifth grade class where he hears about the incident. Michael, who wants this information kept secret, is taunted by his fifth grade classmates about his fathers until Noah announces that if his dads are gay that's "his private business." The two boys are teased about possibly being gay themselves and they walk away from the situation, clearly upset and embarrassed. Over dinner the children talk to their fathers about the incident in school. Jasmine feels that she should be able to tell people if she wants, but Michael feels very strongly that his family structure should be kept secret. The fathers speak to the children about respecting each others' decisions and decide to speak to the principal of the school. (It is interesting that this story highlights the way in which peoples lives are so intertwined that an individual acting on her behalf can affect the lives other others in intense ways.)
Also during dinner, Noah describes the situation to his mother. While Noah had come to Michael's defense in the school yard, he tells his mother that he felt he had to "since we're gay too." His mother explains that, just because she is gay, Noah may or may not be gay himself. Noah's mother also decides to speak to the principal. As a result, a school assembly is planned to talk about family diversity where gay and lesbian families are included.
This book addresses various issues which are prevalent in all families, including individual versus family privacy, teasing, sticking up for someone, feeling alone, and school/family support. It is important to note that there is little mention of the children's mother. Instead the focus on the two children living with their fathers, helps to validate the experiences of many children in gay-headed households who have no or little contact with their biological mother. Also, for older children, the difficulty and pain of being teased because of their parents' sexual orientation is an important contribution is addressed head-on by this book. It should be noted that the focus of this particular book is on the difficulties and problems of being in gay families and how these problems get solved.
Both of the families discussed in the story are people of color. The families live in average homes and the story takes place in home and school settings. There is no added detail which can take away from the experiences of an "average family." This story is most appropriate for children age nine and older. Some of the issues addressed are of little concern to young children.
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good book, May 18, 1997
By A Customer
This review is from: How Would You Feel If Your Dad Was Gay? (Paperback)
A good book for helping kids deal with problems if other kids tease them about having gay parents.
Sincerely,
John Ryan Davis, age 11.
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1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good Book, March 26, 2000
By A Customer
Great book - from the point of view of a young daughter bragging to classmates that she has three fathers - the reactions follow. Bonus - book has multicultural characters.
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