Heather Has Two Mommies

Newman, Leslea. Heather Has Two Mommies: Tenth Anniversary Edition. Los Angeles: Alyson Publications, 2000.Heather Has Two Mommies is about a girl named Heather who is not quite school-age yet who's favorite number is two. She has two arms, two legs, two eyes, and two mommies. Her mommies names are Mama Jane and Mama Kate. Mama Jane is a carpenter. In Mama Jane's toolbox there are two hammers: one for Mama Jane and one for little Heather. Mama Kate is a doctor. Mama Kate gives Heather aspirin to feel better and puts bandages on her cuts. Mama Jane and Mama Kate tell Heather that she will be joining a play group with a bunch of other kids and a teacher, Molly. One day, while playing with the other kids, a few of the kids start talking about what jobs their daddies have. This makes Heather upset because she doesn't have a daddy and she begins to cry. Molly gives Heather a hug and explains how not everyone has a daddy. She explains how some kids don't have daddies just like Heather and how some kids have two daddies and how each family is special. Molly says, "The most important thing about a family is that all the people in it love each other."The story of Heather and her two mommies has a very important message. The book allows each child to see that not any one family is the "right" family; that each family is special. Through children's drawings we are able to see what they do with their family members and how being a part of their family makes them happy. The illustrations are in black and white and I wonder what the purpose of this decision was. One strength of these illustrations is the chilren's drawings depicting their family. I feel like it adds a sense of relatability and realness to the book. However, one fear of mine when reading this book is how the stereotype of one lesbian being portrayed in a "manly" way is perpetuated by Mama Jane having short hair and being a carpenter. I do really like the moral of the story, as Molly put it, "The most important thing about a family is that all people in it love each other." I would use this book in my classroom, even as an introductory text to a unit on family, because it does incorporate blended families, nuclear families, single parent families, and adopted families.

Emma and Meesha My Boy a Two Mom Story

Considine, Kaitlyn. Emma and Meesha My Boy a Two Mom Story.Xlibris,2003.

This story is about a young girl learning how to take care of her pet cat. She just happens to have two moms. I really like this book because at first glance you may or may not know if her mom’s are a couple or if she has a step mom. However there is a page that states that she has a mommy and a mama this gives the impression of a same sex parented household. I think this book is a positive portrayal of a diverse family unit because it shows the family doing everyday relatable tasks. I also like how the focus of the book is not on the mom’s orientation. Through I think books that focus on the culture are important I also think it is important for the focus not to be on that culture. However, I think it is also pertinent to ensure that the culture’s voice is not being silenced trying to make the character appear normal. In this case where the family was not encountering issues or discriminations that affect this culture. I think is nice to just see a same-sex parented family going through day to day life.

"One Dad, Two Dads, Brown Dad, Blue Dads"

Valentine, Johnny. One Dad, Two Dads, Brown Dad, Blue Dads. Los Angeles: Alyson Books, 2004.

"One Dad, Two Dads, Brown Dad, Blue Dads" is a story about a little boy with two blue, dads. Throughout the story a little girl questions what it is like to have two blue dads and the boy continuously stresses that his dads are just like any other dad. The ending leads to another unusual type of dad, a green dad!

Although the story presents the idea that the little boy has two dads, I feel the main focus of the story can be confusing due to the fact that the fathers are blue. The little girl in the story is consistenting questioning the boy about his fathers, however the questioning centers around the fact that his fathers are blue. Is it possible that children could misinterpret the idea of two fathers? Maybe they will think if a child has two fathers, they will be different in appearance like the blue dads. Although the book presents the idea that having two dads does not make them different, I feel children could misinterpret the message of this picture book. A similar concern is the image that the illustrations accompanying the text present. On one particular page, one of the fathers is shown wearing an apron and holding a pie because he is the one that cooks. Though the idea behind the book seems to have good intensions, some of the text and illustrations could present stereotypes about gay individuals.

Article Review: GBLTQ Literature in the Classroom

Missing! Picture Books Reflecting Gay and Lesbian Families. May 2007. National Association for the Education of Young Children. November 20, 2007. http://www.journal.naeyc.org/btj/200705/pdf/Missing-Rowell.pdf

"As long been recognized, literature has the power to touch the hearts and minds of readers of all ages (Chapman 1999)" (Rowell).

The main point this article brings about is the fact that, "The lack of inclusive, gay-friendly picture books means some children cannot see their own lives or the full diversity of family life reflected in books" (Rowell). This saddening fact cannot be more plainly stated. As the article continues on and explains that more and more families are identified as LBGTQ and those children of those families are not able to see their lives represented in literature, and as books are such a source of comfort for many kids, these kids do not receive this comfort and ability to relate. The article further discusses how few books are available in classes that are identified as LBGTQ and the ones that are, many times, the LBGTQ character may be in the story, but not the focus of the story. The article makes a strong case for including all-inclusive libraries in early childhood classrooms in order to enrich the children's lives as to what families and communities are---all encompassing. The article then goes on to list many different ways LBGTQ books can be included in different parts of early childhood curriculum, from math counting books to science to social studies. The article then gives a book list and mini-reviews of many different LBGTQ books a teacher could choose from, and includes all bibliographic information needed. The article concludes by stating that, "Children from all types of families can develop their understanding and appreciation of the commonalities in loving relationships in the homes" (Rowell).
I think this is an excellent article that gives insight to how enlightened early childhood classrooms can be with the inclusion of LBGTQ books into their curriculum in order to promote diversity and inclusion of all sorts of families in their students communities. This article also gives a good list of books for teachers to consult and look through to improve their libraries. Happy reading!

Bryan, Jennifer. The Different Dragon. Illus. Danamarie Hosler. Ridley Park, PA: Two Lives, 2006.

Noah is a young boy living with his two mothers, little sister, and a plethora of pets. Although he no longer needs much help getting ready for bed he still loves to have a bedtime story told to him by his mom, Go-Ma. In a collaborative effort, Go-Ma and Noah weave a fantastical tale about journeying on a sailboat to a faraway land and meeting a dragon who may not be as fierce as he first seems.

Most of this book centers around the interaction between Noah and Go-Ma. While Noah’s other mother is pictured, she is never named. The illustrations depict Noah’s mothers as the matriarchs of a loving home, simply helping their children with all of those familiar bedtime routines. The fact that Noah comes from a family with same-sex parents merely frames the narrative. The central focus is Go-Ma and Noah’s bedtime story which carries a positive message about character, expectations, and acceptance. Jennifer Bryan presents Noah's family as normal part of his life, incidental to the overall story of The Different Dragon.

Illustrator Danamarie Hosler creates a beautiful home for Noah and his family, sprinkled with all the charms of a family living with two young kids. She is able to seamlessly transport the reader into the dreamy world of Noah and Go-Ma’s bedtime fairytale, making this a perfect book for anyone’s bedtime routine.

And Tango Makes Three

Richardson, Justin and Peter Parnell (Writers)& Henry Cole (Illustrator). (2005). And Tango Makes Three. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

Who says only human families can be different from one another? In the story, And Tango Makes Three, two male penguins are depicted as a gay couple in the respect that they take care of and raise a baby penguin. This is a true story that is based on two chinstrap penguins from New York’s Central Park Zoo, Roy and Silo. Roy and Silo had at one point in their lives came together as a couple. The zoo keepers decided to give an egg that another couple was un-able to hatch and give it to the couple. The story ends up with the hatching, birth and life of Tango, a baby female penguin, the couples’ newest member of their family.

I think this a great book that depicts a non-traditional family in a positive light. This book being a true story gives more dimensions to it; adding more depth behind the characters. Even though the main characters are penguins, it is extremely relatable. It shows young children that it is absolutely okay to be a part of a non-traditional family, in fact it is depicted as being no different that than a traditional family. The best part of the book to me was the end page. “There they snuggled together and, like all the other penguins in the penguin house, and all the other animals in the zoo, and all the families in the big city around them, they went to sleep.” This book has received numerous amounts of awards including, the 2006 American Library Association (ALA) Notable Children’s Book, ASPCA’s Henry Bergh Award, Gustavus Myer Outstanding Book Award, just to name a few. Along with these amazing awards and others, And Tango Makes Three was considered to be the most challenged book of 2006 according to the ALA.