FAMILIES

by Meredith Tax ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 30, 1981

To assure kids from what once were called ""broken homes"" that families come in all shapes, sizes, combinations, and proclivities, Tax has six-year-old Angie introduce her first-grade class. Angie herself lives with her mother in New York and visits her father, stepmother, and half-brother in Boston. George lives with a mother, father, and two brothers. Marisel lives with a mother, grandmother and grandfather, two brothers, and a baby sister. Her father and another grandmother live in Puerto Rico. Cousin Louise is adopted, Willie lives with his father, Susie with her mother and godmother, and there are other variations. Tax even takes a look at ants', chickens', and dogs' living arrangements (dogs ""only live with their own mothers when they are babies; after that they move out and live with people"") before concluding that ""The main thing isn't where they live or how big they [the families] are--it's how much they love each other."" A book with a message (indeed it's all message), this is pleasantly relaxed about its intent and all the better for not cooking up a story to contain it. Hafner has much to do with the relaxed air, and gives an engaging look to all the families, friends, and neighbors.

Pub Date: April 30, 1981

ISBN: 1558611576

Page Count: -

Publisher: Atlantic, Little Brown

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 1981

Categories: CHILDREN'S