Customer Reviews

Who's in a Family?

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Like another reviewer, I was disappointed that none of these families reflects the reality for so many children: you can have two mommies, or two daddies. "Mom and her partner" not only doesn't come close to describing families with two moms, it undermines one of the child's primary relationships.

And I just found it rather boring. There's no plot. Most children would much rather read a story, and I'd much rather they saw a variety of families within stories instead of having this friendly little lecture.

As a white single mother of a bi-racial child, I'm always excited to find books that validate our family's composition. The problem with this one is that the main character whose family begins the book is a white girl who lives with her two white parents and sibling, has a dog and white grandparents. So the set-up is that her family is the "regular" kind and others are variations that aren't quite the same and are kind of exotic. I don't read this to my daughter anymore and I plan to throw it away.

We searched for months for a book for our son that showed ALL types of families. This one hit the mark. While the illustrations may not be museum quality, the message is clear and understated. We have used this in our Sunday School class and based a Sunday service on the idea that "Families Valued" are not all plain vanilla. An excellent book to validate YOUR family's configuration.

I'm disappointed to see that the negative reviews of this books are largely due to concerns about the inclusiveness and diversity of this book. Frankly, you should avoid this book primarily because it's badly written, poorly illustrated, and boring to read. We had the misfortune of being given a copy as a gift.

The writer makes utterly strange analogies with the animal world in ways that make no sense and that only superficially follow the point being made. There is no "plot" per se, and it won't hold the interest of a child or the adult reading it, especially since the "message" of the book is transmitted not with skill and grace but through beating the reader over the head with it. The illustrations are flat and uninteresting, and the one attempt at showing physical resemblance between a grandfather and his grandchild is accomplished by the apparent fact that they both shop at Bob's House of Soviet Eyewear.

I'd give them the one star for effort and for trying to counter the intolerant mindset out there, but that's about all that's redeeming. This book has taken an important, valuable message about diversity and tolerance and left it lying senseless and bleeding in a dark alley.

I am a single mother in an area where this is not the norm. This book was wonderful in showing many different types of families to my three year old son. He really enjoyed the book and was especially excited to see photos of his own family in the back of the book. I put the pictures in before we read it and he felt so confident about his own family configuration afterwards. Family has been a very important topic lately as his friends have been asking why my son's family is different. The book is simple and to the point and allows for any additional comments a person might want to add. Thank you to Robert Skutch for writing such a needed book that helps instill family confidence.

This colorful story is one of the best picture books that I have seen for portraying families in all their diversity. A very bright and inclusive look at who makes up a family in America today

I bought this book while I was preganant and worried about how to explain where her Daddy was. I love it. Ava asks for it now, she will be 3 in December. Its all about the different kinds of families. Single mom, dad, 2 mommies, 2 daddies, step parents etc... She told me, I don't have a Daddy, not in my house, but he is my family too! I almost cried. It really helps to open up the convo about Daddy. Tonight she said, "My Daddy doesn't live here, but I have an uncle Mike" So flippin'cute. Totally helps to let her know that not every family loks the same.

I have purchased this book for different schools my son has attended as well as for a great gift item. It portrays many different family configurations and is fun to read. The last page offers a place to paste in pictures of your own family to tell your "story".

This is a great book that encapsulates that many forms that families take in our society. Designed for children, it validates that your family is described as being comprised of those people who love you. This book is inclusive and respects diversity in families. All children who read this book will then find their family in the pages of this beautifully written and illustrated book.

Susan Doiron
Author of Finding Blue Beach Glass: Uncovering the Extraordinary in the Ordinary A Book About Personal Transformation

I have order a lot of products from amazon.
This product took for ever to come in.
over all happy with product.