Reviews

This Is My Family: A First Look at Same-Sex Parents by Pat Thomas

michelle_neuwirth_gray9311's review

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4.0

Text is really well done. I think some of the illustrations are a bit stereotypical, but a good introduction to different family life for kids.

moon_raccoon's review

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2.0

We've read this to our children and had to change every few words to correct the book. Statements such as "A woman who wants to be in a loving relationship with another woman is called gay" doesn't work for us two bisexual moms with asexual friends.

We also couldn't get a grip on the intended public. The back blurb states: "This reassuring picture book introduces children to families that have parents of the same sex".

Indeed, it switches to broad external statements "Gay and lesbians parents do this" to second person "your parents have different skills". It reads like a book trying hard to convince a child of an LG(BTQ) parent that their parent is, in fact, a parent.

It was just weird and too inaccurate for us. There is a line to walk between "we tried to simplify this concept" and "we didn't research it". Also, for a 2012 book part of a series about many families & social health issues (disability, adoption, family break-ups, racism) we expected more inclusion.

The illustrations by Lesley Harker are fun and beautiful!