Thursday, September 15, 2011

The Great Big Book of Families by Mary Hoffman- OPTIONAL / NO

Hoffman, Mary.  Asquith, Ros.  The Great Big Book of Families, 40 pgs.  Dial, 2011.  $16.99.  Inside cover:  “What’s your family like?  Families come in many shapes and sizes- and here we celebrate them all!  Featuring homes and holidays, school and pets, feelings and family trees, this book explores every aspect of family life with warmth, wit, and sensitivity, challenging preconceptions and inviting discussion.  As expansive and fascinating as the world of readers who will find themselves in its pages, The Great Big Book of Families is a great big treat for every family to share.”  In addition to celebrating all the differences in families, this book also introduces same sex marriage.  Just a fair warning to parents and teachers who might not want to explore such topics in their homes or classroom.  My kids noted that the characters on the family tree for one side of the family were all sad or angry, while the other side of the family was happy.  While this might be the case in some real families, and maybe the illustrator was trying to be funny, we thought it was a little weird.  Pre-K.  EL (K-3).  OPTIONAL/NO. 

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