For the Post Below

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Book Reviews: Children's Books with Same Sex Parents

And Tango Makes Three

Richardson, Justin and Peter Parnell. And Tango Makes Three. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2005.

Richardson and Parnell have created a heart warming and endearing book that opens the door to young readers about different family units. And Tango Makes Three is a story about two male penguins, Roy and Silo, in the Central Park Zoo who do everything together, like and other male and female penguin partners do; they swim, eat, sing and build a nest together. When the zoo keeper notices that they have built a nest and are trying to hatch a rock, like the rest of the penguins are trying to hatch an egg, he slips an egg that needs a family into their nest. Roy and Silo take turns sitting on and taking care of the egg, until it hatches and a girl penguin chick joins their family, named Tango. This cute story introduces readers to the concept of same sex partners in a way that does not label them as anything different than a family. Its colorful and playful images of Roy and Silo shows their personality and there love of each other and Tango. This book sends the message that there is nothing wrong about Tango having two fathers because they love and take care of her the same as all of the other penguin families. This story ends with Silo, Roy and Tango being celebrated members of the Zoo’s families by the people in the community. Richardson and Parnell make this concept easy to understand for children they may have no understanding of the concept to begin with. At the end, the author notes that it is a true story, and that Roy, Silo and Tango are real penguins at the Central Park Zoo, showing that this is not a story that was created for a book, but a story and situation that is real and a concept that could be reality for many children.

One Dad, Two Dad, Brown Dad, Blue Dad.

Valentine, Johnny. One Dad, Two Dads, Brown Dad, Blue Dads. Los Angels: Alyson Wonderland, 1994.

In this easy rhyming story, Valentine tries to address the questions that kids might have about families with same sex male parents while showing that they are still wonderful and caring dads. One Dad, Two Dad, Brown Dad, Blue Dad focuses on trying to show through the questions by a little girl to a little boy named Lou who has two dads, who are both blue. The fact that the Lou’s dads are blue is another thing that makes them different than other parents. This concept of two male partners having a different appearance that other people is something that takes away from the central message of the story and may be confusing to children. As Lou answers questions about the things that his dads can do, we see in the illustrations two men that are blue in color completing everyday tasks. These images of blue people are ridiculous within the story. It is showing kids that there is a certain look that homosexual couples would display. Not only that but further in the story, the little girl asks “if they hug you to hard does the color rib off?” and the question is never answered by Lou. This could lead children to think that someone could become “blue” by being in contact with people who are gay, and enforce negative perceptions and stereotypes. The story is trying to address the curiosities that children could have about same sex parents and couples, but takes a wrong turn by characterizing them by a color. By the end of the story Lou concludes the question session when the little girl asks how they became blue, by simply saying that they always were and that they are “remarkable” fathers. This is the only place in the story were they are referred to as being a good dads. This book is trying to use a good concept of question and answer for children who do not know about families with same sex parents, but the presentation of Lou’s two fathers needs to be taking into great consideration when trying to explain the concept of same sex parents to young children to avoid confusion and misconceptions.

Heather Has Two Mommies

Newman, Leslea. Heather Has Two Mommies. Los Angels: Alyson Wonderland, 1989.

Newman confronts different family types in a way that shows that it does not matter what kind of family you have because all families are different and filled with people who love each other. Heather Has Two Mommies centers in on the life of a little girl named Heather that loves the number two because of her tow eyes, arms, pets, and of course her two mommies. Heather loves everything about her two moms, who are portrayed as happy and loving people through the black and white illustrations. Newman shows the reader that there is nothing different about this family unit in the beginning, not once drawing attention to the fact that Heather does not have heterosexual parents that the majority of the population may have. Newman shows that Mama Kate and Mama Jane love and care for Heather and they do things like going to the park, and cooking that other parents do. It is not until Heather attends a play group that she is exposed to the fact that she does not have a father like many of the other children there. This is where Newman addresses the issues of different family types through the role of the play group teacher Molly. Molly comforts Heather as she points out the different families that the other children have. More than just the issues of same sex parents are addressed in this part of the book. Newman incorporates children who have parents that are divorced and remarried, single parents, and even a girl who has two daddies. The discussion between the teacher in the book and the students is a great discussion that a teacher or parents could use with there own children to answer questions and explain the differences in families in a positive light. The story concludes with the children drawing pictures of their families and Molly explaining that all families are special and have people that love each other. Newman does an excellent job of painting different family structures in a radiant light. Though her story, she gives every child something to relate to in Heather or her classmates. This story avoids the negative stereotyping and misconceptions and is focused on the total acceptance and appreciation of same sex parents, but also the acceptance of all families. This book offers many great discussion points for children and drives the central message of loving families home to the reader.

TE 448

This class has taught me a lot about adolescent literature and what to look for when introducing new concepts and cultures to children. It is a class that I have benefited a lot from and I would recommend it to anyone who is in the teacher education program. I have learned many things that
I will use in my classroom as well as stepping stones in creating a multicultural library in my classroom.

Confessions

The portrayal of Catholics in the book Confessions of a Closet Catholic is something that i found interesting. I know the question was brought up in class if it offended anyone who was catholic. Being a Catholic myself, i can say that i did not find it offensive at all. I thought that parts, like the seven deadly sins, were funny. My mom is also a devoted Catholic and I had her read the book as well and she thought that it was cute and did not take offense to it at all. I think that this book was interesting in its portrayal of Catholic and Jewish families.