Families Come in Different Shapes and Sizes

families-come-in-different-shapes-and-sizes-great-big=book-of-families

Mary Hoffman, author of the highly acclaimed Amazing Grace picture book series, has written a powerful book about families: The Great Big Book of Families. This book is big both in physical size and in scope. It depicts a comprehensive range of diversity: how they look, who they can include, where they live, how they connect with one another, and the challenges they face together. She gently makes the point that regardless of their individual challenges or differences, families are valuable and important to each other.

Originally published in 2011, it ranks number 14 on Amazon. I assert that this proves that readers are hungry for books that respect and include diversity.

The Great Big Book of Families fills a need for children to see their life experiences reflected in the books they read. Kids need this affirmation. Equally important, it opens a window onto the life experiences of others whose family appearances or circumstances may differ from the child’s personal experiences. [bctt tweet=”As children gain a broader view of the world, their empathy, tolerance. and sense of exclusion expands. #ValueDiversity #GlobalCitizens #EmpathyKindnessTolerance” username=”GayleHSwift”]. The benefit of this inclusiveness is significant.

Ros Asquith’s lively illustrations respectfully depict an inclusive range of differences in looks, circumstances, or challenges. While some of the differences are the ones which easily and quickly come to mind, others are more unusual, especially in a picture book. The text mentions a variety of homes in which people live and even mentions that some people struggle to find homes and some are homeless. This is done without judgment or finger-pointing. Similarly, it talks about jobs: “In some families, everyone has a job. In others, only one person goes to work. Some parents work from home. And some can’t get a job at all.”

These are the kind of realities that kids actually face. This book offers the chance for children to further explore these hard truths with the adults in their lives. Some other topics mentioned include holidays, foods, clothes, pets, transportation, feelings, and family trees.

The Great Big Book of Families serves up an important chance to open children’s eyes. [bctt tweet=”Our experience of life does not define the standard for what is “right” or “better” or the only way that is acceptable or good. #TeachToleranceSeekJustice” username=”GayleHSwift”]. This book would make a great addition to the family, classroom or school, or public library as a way to teach tolerance and acceptance.

adoption-attunement-lens-AQ-lens-families-come-in-different-shapes-and-sizesAQ Lens: As mentioned in many previous book reviews, adoptees routinely experience feelings of being different from children who remain with their biological families. It’s a topic with which they wrestle throughout their lifetimes. Reading a book like this helps them to see that other children and families also experience some sense of otherness. The Great Big Book of Families can trigger conversations about differences and may open the door to discussions about a child’s deep feelings about family, adoption, and acceptance.  (Remember, however, never dismiss the loss of one’s first family as trivial or insignificant.)
Welcome to #DiverseKidLit ! Please join us in sharing your diverse children’s book links and resources, as well as visiting other links to find great suggestions and recommendations.

What Is #DiverseKidLit?

Diverse Children’s Books is a book-sharing meme designed to promote the reading and writing of children’s books that feature diverse characters. This community embraces all kinds of diversity including (and certainly not limited to) diverse, inclusive, multicultural, and global books for children of all backgrounds. We encourage everyone who shares to support this blogging community by visiting and leaving comments for at least three others. Please also consider following the hosts on at least one of their social media outlets. Spread the word using #diversekidlit and/or adding our button to your site and your diverse posts.

DiverseKidLit

 

 

We hope this community serves as a resource for parents, teachers, librarians, publishers, and authors!

#DiverseKidLit is Hosted by:

Gayle Swift, Author of ABC, Adoption & Me Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Google+
Gauri @ Kitaab World an online bookstore for South Asian children’s books, toys and games
Blog / Twitter / Facebook / PinterestInstagram
Mia @ Pragmatic Mom Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Pinterest /

Want to be notified when the next #diversekidlit linkup goes live? Click here to join the mailing list. Interested in joining as a host or an occasional co-host? Contact Katie at thelogonauts.com.

(Never participated in a linkup before? Please click here for a more detailed step-by-step.)

Get #DiverseKidLit Recommendations on Pinterest!

Our Pinterest board highlights a wide range of amazing posts and resources for Diverse Children’s Books. Please consider following the board for even more great books!

Share Your Link 


 

Trees, Roots and Branches Inspire Metaphors

Trees,-roots,-branches-visual-metaphor-peace-tree-from-hiroshima-51jcrygzvml-_sx386_bo1204203200_The Peace Tree from Hiroshima by Sandra Moore. Illustrated by Kazumi Wilds delivers a poignant and inspiring story based on true events. The Yamaki family of Japan donated a three-hundred-year-old bonsai (miniature) tree to the United States in honor of our Bicentennial. Their family had cared for this tree for generations. It had survived the atomic bomb that devastated Hiroshima. The gift serves as a testimony to peace and reconciliation.

Told from the tree’s point of view, the story  creates a sense of connection and admiration for the sturdy tree which survived such devastation. [bctt tweet=”The Yamaki’s gift embodies the importance of enemies resolving differences so that peace can reign.” username=”GayleHSwift”] In today’s world rife with terrorism and angry rhetoric, this message is most welcome.

It also offers a chance to talk about world history and how seemingly irreconcilable differences have been resolved between countries or faith communities, ethnic groups, and political parties, etc. This helps place the conflicts of childhood in some perspective to show youngsters, that they too, can pursue peace in preference to fighting or bullying.

The book also includes a glossary and many facts about bonsai trees. The bonsai in the story is over three feet tall. The fact that it has lives for several centuries will amaze kids.

magnifying-lens-AQ.2-161x300Adoption-attuned Lens This story offers a  parallel for adoption. Just as the Miyaki family lovingly nurtured the bonsai for over three hundred years, they placed it into the care of the United States . (While not equivalent to adoption and the significant losses in which adoption originates, the story does convey how the Miyakis continued to care about and be interested in the bonsai even after it was no longer in their family.)

Fall Is Not EasyTrees-roots-branches-visual-metaphor-fall-is written and illustrated by Marty Kelly follows the life cycle of a tree through the seasons. It offers an unexpected twist: in autumn, the tree changes, but not in “normal” colors or patterns. Fall Is Not Easy  reflects a delightful nod to the free-spirits and creativity of children who delight in coloring outside the lines and in rethinking how things ought to look.

Kelly’s simple graphics and very brief text use visual repetition to engage the reader and express the theme that some changes are effortless while others require lots more effort. Each drawing is fundamentally the same yet clearly depicts a seasonal shift. Come autumn, the tree chooses a decidedly non-conformist style which will delight young readers. Yes, we all change. And, thankfully, we all change in different ways and in our own unique ways.

magnifying-lens-AQ.2-161x300Adoption-attuned Lens  This story offers an easy segue into conversations about the variety of families. Like the tree in the book which doesn’t exactly look the way we expect, it is still a tree. [bctt tweet=”Love binds adoptive families together. We may look different or be formed differently from other families.” username=”GayleHSwift”]

Trees-roots-branches-visual-metaphor-zora-hurston-chinaberry-tree-51qwbou7cl-_sx427_bo1204203200_Zora Hurston and the Chinaberry Tree

by William Miller and illustrated by Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu is a picture book about the great African-American writer. Her mother encouraged her to break through the bonds which restricted women. Still a child when her mother died, Zora heeded her advice and became one of the foremost writers of our country.

Her biography serves as a great example for boys and girls. [bctt tweet=”Girls and boys are equally talented, capable and interested in following their dreams.” username=”GayleHSwift”]Both deserve the chance to pursue jobs, play sports and acquire an education. In terms of opportunities for women and people of color, great changes have occurred since Zorah was a girl. Still, much work remains.  Stories like this one help persuade boys and girls that they both benefit when each is able to become their best.

magnifying-lens-AQ.2-161x300

Adoption-attuned Lens Hurston serves as an example of a woman who broke through barriers. Adoptees may find parallel’s in their own lives as they pursue the talents and aptitudes of their DNA. Many times  kids possess abilities and inclinations that are different from the traditional patterns of their adoptive families. It takes courage and the “en-couragement” of their adoptive families for kids to follow their inner compass even if it breaks the family mold. Families can talk about the blessing that their child’s differences infuse into the family. Like a new spice can enhance the flavor profile of a family recipe.

Trees-roots-branches-visual-metaphor-grand-old-tree-51s-qeq7rl-_sx378_bo1204203200_A Grand Old Tree written and illustrated by Mary Newell DePalma, tells of a tree which grows roots deep into the soil, spreads branches, blooms and fruits and how it offers life-giving shelter, food etc to  animals. Child-like illustrations show the seasonal changes which the tree undergoes.

Its’ seeds spread wide until they sprout into “grandchildren” whose “arms reach high into the sky.” The story concludes by coming full circle as “The grand old tree slowly crumbled [and] became part of the earth.”

This sweet story introduces children to the concept of the circle of life and how each creature or plant has a beginning and an end. Young readers can see themselves in the seedling at the end of the story who, like them, is at the beginning of life.

magnifying-lens-AQ.2-161x300Adoption-attuned Lens 

Trees often serve as a metaphor for how adoption grafts a new branch to the family tree. This book talks about the roots and the branches as well as the flowers and seeds which the tree produces. This offers a gentle gateway to discuss a child’s roots and his adoption. It could even be used to open conversations about how the seeds scatter to grow in different places. This can lay the ground for future, age-appropriate conversations about biological siblings who are not a part of their adoptive family.

http://wp.me/p4vGHg-Gv