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.

Reflection of Text Set - "Cognitive Disability" or Mental Illness

Throughout the three texts, Inside Out, Humming Whispers, and Kissing Doorknobs, there were many paralleled themes in relation to individuals who are “cognitively disabled” or mentally ill. Each character that suffered from a mental illness (Zach, Tara, and Nicole) made it apparent that although they were conscious of their actions, they could not help them.

Take for example the following quotes:

• Inside Out – Zach states, “The thing is, I am not normal. I’m not, and I can’t help it” (Trueman 7).
• Kissing Doorknobs – Tara states, “Do you think I want to do this! Do you think I like it?” (Hesser 66).
• Humming Whispers – Sophie states, “Nicole says being schizophrenic is like screaming in a closet where no one can hear you” (Johnson 112).

This theme is so significant because it clears up some misconceptions people may have about those who are mentally ill. I personally wondered if people who are “cognitively disabled” are aware of their “abnormal” actions. In learning that they both aware and helpless at times, have helped me better see that the illness or disability does not make the person. Through each of the characters, I have been able to make the necessary separation of their identities and their “disabilities.” It is also important to add that each of the characters took medication or participated in behavioral therapy to help manage and control their “abnormal” actions and thoughts.

Hesser, Terry Spencer. Kissing Doorknobs. New York: Delacorte Press, 1998.

Jonson, Angels. Humming Whispers. New York: Orchard Books, 1995.

Trueman, Terry. Inside Out. New York: Harper Collins, 2003.

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.

Families are Different

Pellegrini, N. (1991). Families are different. New York, NY: Scholastic Inc.

The book Families are Different is about two girls that were adopted from Korea when they were babies. The main character of the story is Nicola, who is the younger sister. Nicola introduces her family, talking about her sister, her dog, and activities she does. She explains the adoption process and then begins to talk about how sometimes she gets sad and mad because she does not look like her parents. Her mom tells her that there are many kinds of families and it doesn't matter what they look like because love holds them together. Then Nicola goes through and talks about many different types of families that there are. At the end she says that she is not strange at all and that her family has a lot of love.

I think that this book would be a great book to use as a diverse piece of literature because it shows diversity of families. There are about ten families that Nicola talks about, and even though they do not show all the combinations there still are many types included. Nicola talks about each family and how they are not wrong just different. This is key because she is not judging, just pointing out the facts as they are, which is sometimes what diverse literature needs to include. Besides diverse families they also show diverse people, there are people of different races and genders, and the book does not choose one over the other, it puts them all in equal light which is great! I really enjoyed reading this book!