families

You and Me and Home Sweet Home

| Tasha

You and Me and Home Sweet Home by George Ella Lyon, illustrated by Stephanie Anderson

In poetic form, Lyon tells the story of a young girl, Sharonda, and her mother who have a Habitat for Humanity house built for them.  The story moves from them living in a tiny room together in her Aunt Janey’s apartment and through the process of the home being built and completed.  Beginning with the empty lot and hope, the story is built as sturdily and lovingly as the home itself.

Lyon’s poetry does not rhyme and for most children will not read as a poem, but it is.  Filled with imagery, captured moments and truth it is a powerful message of community.  Anderson’s illustrations add so much to this book.  They too are real, concrete and yet elevated.  Her paintings have unique perspectives, strong emotions and great composition that allow for deep colors. 

A beautiful picture book that really speaks to the power of hope, community, and family.  Appropriate for ages 4-8.

Reviewed from library copy.

Would I Trade My Parents?

| Tasha

Would I Trade My Parents? by Laura Numberoff, illustrated by James Bernardin

The author of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie has a picture book that speaks to all families.  The question of whether you would trade your parents for another set is answered through a series of different families.  They all have differing routines, differing rules, differing perks of being a child in that family.  Some families have blueberry pancakes, another has chocolate milk, another allows lots of TV, and another allows all sorts of pets.  In the end, the boy narrating the book sees the positives about his own family even though he doesn’t have everything the other families have.  And he realizes that he would never trade his family because just like all of his friends, he think his family is the best of all.

Written with Numeroff’s trademark ease and humor, this book will inspire children to think about their own families in a positive way.  Bernardin’s illustrations are colorful and bright, showing a wide diversity of families.  The text and pictures meld into a friendly package that invites introspection and thought as well as smiles.

A positive view of families and all of their differences, this book is appropriate for ages 4-6.

Reviewed from library copy.

In Our Mothers’ House

| Tasha

In Our Mothers’ House by Patricia Polacco

A joyous look at a family with two mothers and children of all different colors, this book is filled with laughter and love.  Children who live in all sorts of families will find themselves at home here as we learn about favorite sun-filled rooms, the surprise of puppies, building a treehouse, and a colorful blockparty.  The book basks in normalcy, family and everyday moments that mean so much to children.  There is a moment when a neighbor expresses her fear about their lifestyle, but that incident too is handled with a gentleness and grace that marks this entire picture book.  As the children grow into adulthood, we get to see the wonderful job of parenting come to fruition.  Most picture books would not need this button at the end, but in this case, it was important to underline this. 

Polacco has created a complete vision of a family here.  Readers get to see them be together for important events and everyday moments.  Her writing invites us into their lives, demonstrates their love for each other and their children, and leaves us hoping that we as parents can do this well.  Children of gay and lesbian parents will find this book a wonderful mirror of their lives, celebrating what two parents of any sex can create in a family.  Polacco’s art enhances the story, underlining the warmth and love that is inherent in the book.

An important book to have in public libraries, this is a real celebration of families and the many forms they come in.  Appropriate for ages 5-9.

Reviewed from copy received from publisher.

Big Wolf & Little Wolf: The Little Leaf that Wouldn’t Fall

| Tasha

Big Wolf & Little Wolf: The Little Leaf that Wouldn’t Fall by Nadine Brun-Cosme, illustrated by Olivier Tallec

Released December 2009.

This sequel to the lovely Big Wolf & Little Wolf continues the story of their friendship.  Little Wolf spots a special leaf in the spring and wants Big Wolf to climb up their tree and bring it down.  Big Wolf tells him to wait, that it will fall.  Little Wolf asks again in the summer and autumn, as the leaf turns into a deep green and then a soft brown.  When winter arrives, the leaf is still up in the tree, now a black color.  Then one day, Big Wolf decides to climb the tree and bring down the leaf for Little Wolf.  After a harrowing climb, Big Wolf reaches the leaf and it crumbles to pieces.  Beautiful pieces.

Brun-Cosme’s prose is lovely, spare and yet manages to be dynamic too.  She evokes the seasons, colors and wonder of each time of year without becoming maudlin at all.  There is the drama of Big Wolf’s climb and the unexpected resolution of the story that is surprising but fitting.  The first book was about the awkwardness of new friendship.  This second book is about a deepening connection and the beauty of togetherness. 

Tallec’s illustrations are less colorful this time, sticking to a more natural palette of colors.  But they still have an expansive feel, a clear sense of space, and they play with perspective.  They are simple but dynamic, just like the text.  A lovely combination.

Highly recommended, this series has its own unique feel and style.  These are quiet books, filled with natural beauty and deep connections.  Appropriate for ages 4-7.

Full disclosure:  My review of the first book is blurbed on the jacket of this second.  A great surprise to discover!

Reviewed from copy received from publisher.

I’m Your Peanut Butter Big Brother

| Tasha

I’m Your Peanut Butter Big Brother by Selina Alko

A boy wonders what his new sibling will look like when he/she is born.  With his parents the colors of semisweet dark chocolate and strawberry cream milk, there are many colors that his new sibling could be.  And what about hair, lips, nose and eyes?  So many combinations are possible!

This book is written with such love and attention to detail that it sings.  Not only a lovely book for mixed-race families, but a book for all families who all have differences and similarities that should be embraced.  Alko writes about colors in a way that brings them to life, we know just what a “jelly-bean smile” is like, what “ginger cookie brown” is and one of my favorites: “cinnamon sand castle.”  This speaks to the myriad of colors, shades, and hues humans come in.  It is a thrilling world of acceptance and love.

One of my favorite memories as a children’s librarian was traveling to ALA with the daughter of an African-American co-worker.  She and I bonded on the trip and she spent an evening looking at my skin, talking about how we were the same and different.  My freckles and moles set me firmly apart!  But some of them were almost her skin color.  This book brought that sweet moment out of my memory bank.  For that alone, it was a treat to read.

Share this with all the families at your library.  It is one to be shared with new older siblings but also one that can lead to great discussions and even greater acceptance in our children.  Appropriate for ages 4-6.