Customer Reviews

Molly's Family

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4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(3)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

Why are two Moms always presented as a problem? I have an 11 year old son and a 6 year old daughter. In Kindergarten neither of them even had the concept that having two Moms was bad or that one or the other of us was or was not their real Mom. I sure don't want to introduce those ideas thru a childrens book. Sure, kids have asked how you can have two Moms or do you have a Dad? But they are not so mean about it as presented in this book. Even though it all turns out well in the end, I wouldn't want to read the first half of the book to my daughter. It's time for a book for kids where there are two Moms, but that fact is just incidental to the story -- not the problem to be dealt with.

I bought this because my daughter will be in Kindergarten this Fall. She has already been in preschool for a year and a half, but Kindergarten will bring new friends at a new school. This story of an Open House and introducing new friends to a two mom family is very realistic and ultimately reassuring. She enjoys hearing the story and I enjoy reading it to her. I think it's a valuable addition for any two mom family or for anyone wishing to share family diversity issues with their kids.

I was fortunate enough to sneak a peak at an advance review copy of "Molly's Family". Again, Nancy Garden has created another essential piece for children's literature that teaches its readers that all families of all types should be celebrated.

Molly's kindergarten class is preparing for Open School Night and decide to decorate their classroom for the visiting parents. Molly's contribution is a picture of her family, which includes Mommy, Mama Lu and her puppy, Sam. This, of course, is greeted by speculation from some of the other children in her class, who tell her that families cannot have two mothers. This crushes Molly and she is embarrassed to display her picture with the other children's art. One of the greatest parts of this book is that not only does Molly's two mothers explain to her that family's are based on love and commitment, but even her teacher takes time to explain to her students that families are different. The other children respond well to this and began describing their own families, each comparing the differences openly and proudly.

The presentation of this book is fantastic - the art is playful and colorful, very appealing to the target audience but also enjoyable for the mature reader. Molly is simply adorable and her facial expressions are captured beautifully. But its the simplicity and the gentle nature of the storytelling that makes "Molly's Family" so inspirational. Children who are read this book will come away with an important lesson: that all families are families as long as they are based on love. Bless your heart, Nancy Garden!

When my daughter was in 2nd grade, her teacher read this book to the class and then used it to open discussion about why a person might feel that their family was different. It turned out that many children in his class felt different. Families are big and small, have grandparents living with them or not, some have lost members, some have immigrated to the US or moved recently, some have members of different races, some have two moms or two dads. What a great way to introduce the topic of diversity and how we all feel it, and that's OK.

This is a nice little book with a clear explanation for children of what makes a family unit. If you have this situation in your child's kindergarten, this is just the right book to explain mixed families. I'll keep it on the shelf and offer it to parents in my school as needed.

I like the gist of this story, but it's maddening to read aloud to my children, as every main character has a name that sounds very much like the next one's. Did the four most recurrent names in this book really have to be Tommy and Mommy and Molly and Mama-Lu? And with so many M names already, did the teacher have to be Ms. Marston?

At school Molly draws a picture of her family to hang on the wall. She draws herself, her dog and her two mommies. When other kids tell her that a family can't have two mommies she gets upset. This is an adorable picture book which spreads the message that not all families are the same. It speaks of tolerance and acceptance of others, even if their living situation is different from your own.

Bought it along with several other books to reassure my son with 2 lesbian mommies but it was too mature for him. I think this will be more understandable over age 6.