shows a diversity of families from two parent homes to foster care homes.

all different kinds of families and talks about divorce.

A "many different kinds of families" book, but I believe this 1980 title is the first of that kind to show two gay parents happily together [the earlier When Megan Went Away addresses a lesbian divorce it's its effect on the protagonist girl). On page 18: "Margo and Rita are Peggy's family. Although Margo is her real mother, Peggy feels as if she has two mothers. That's twice as nice, except when they are both angry at her."

Focusing on alternative families, this book encourages children to accept the fact that all families are different and illustrates several scenarios in which loving families function. Defining a family as a group of people small or large that care for one another, the audience is given a glimpse of what life is like within various circumstances. Author and artist Joan Drescher discusses the ups and downs of life within a family while her illustrations display these scenes in a way the reader can interact with the images. The diversity portrayed allows children to become more comfortable when meeting people with a different ethnic background or with an alternate lifestyle. Additionally, incorporating both similarities as well as differences between family units helps to put in perspective the importance of having people that care about you.
With the growth of alternate families, this book is a must for librarians at any public or school library. Librarians can use this as a tool to show children the true meaning of family and help them to better understand their own circumstances as well as others. This book could also prove helpful in an elementary school by teachers or librarians to help children introduce themselves to their classmates and feel more comfortable discussing their home-life not just with students but with their teachers if necessary. ( )