CCBC-Net Archives
[CCBC-Net] Families and diversity
- Contemporary messages sorted: [ by date ] [ by subject ] [ by author ]
From: robinsmith59 at comcast.net <robinsmith59>
Date: Tue, 12 Nov 2002 21:03:12 -0600
I agree with Katie. We look around in our classrooms and communities and see single mothers and fathers, children with two mothers or two fathers, families with children who have been adopted from other countries, grandparents as parents, aunts and uncles as parents--and, yes, even the
"traditional" two parent families. But, in picture books, we are often still in a place where moms stay home and dads come home from a hard day at the office and play with the kids.
Children have no trouble adjusting to all the permutations on the word
"family." Even in my school, where most of the kids come from two-parent families and the racial and social makeup is stunningly homogenous, we have many families who are non-traditional.
I think that is why I loved Everywhere Babies, by Susan Myers and Marla Frazee when it came out a few years ago. In the large group scenes were all sorts of people raising children. The couples (and single people) seemed to come from every background. Close inspection even showeed same-sex parent. The joy they all took in loving and raising their babies was something to be celebrated!
Last month, we talked about the tattooed and pierced parents in Bob Graham's marvelous book, "Let's get a pup" said Kate. Their youth was what set them apart, wasn't it? Of course, we all imagine parents to be older--but many are not and it was wonderful to see two young people with a cherished child.
The Caldecott honor book by John Updike and Trina Schart Hyman, A Child's Calendar, showed a family and a community through the year. Hyman, in many of her fairy stories, tweaks our view of the world by including children of color in unexpected places (with siblings who are not the same color as she or he is) or by placing girls where we might expect boys. (as in her newest Sense Pass King)
Though we all know gay and lesbian couples with children, that topic is certainly undeveloped in picture books--at least by the major publishers. And it is too bad. Kids are so fascinated by families which differ from theirs and picture books are a perfect vehicle to look at people's lives which are different (and the same) as theirs.
It IS a shame that a book like Black is Brown is Tan is still so revolutionary.
I look forward to a time when all children can see themselves and their families--and those who are very different from themselves--in all the books they read.
Robin Smith
Nashville,TN
Received on Tue 12 Nov 2002 09:03:12 PM CST
Date: Tue, 12 Nov 2002 21:03:12 -0600
I agree with Katie. We look around in our classrooms and communities and see single mothers and fathers, children with two mothers or two fathers, families with children who have been adopted from other countries, grandparents as parents, aunts and uncles as parents--and, yes, even the
"traditional" two parent families. But, in picture books, we are often still in a place where moms stay home and dads come home from a hard day at the office and play with the kids.
Children have no trouble adjusting to all the permutations on the word
"family." Even in my school, where most of the kids come from two-parent families and the racial and social makeup is stunningly homogenous, we have many families who are non-traditional.
I think that is why I loved Everywhere Babies, by Susan Myers and Marla Frazee when it came out a few years ago. In the large group scenes were all sorts of people raising children. The couples (and single people) seemed to come from every background. Close inspection even showeed same-sex parent. The joy they all took in loving and raising their babies was something to be celebrated!
Last month, we talked about the tattooed and pierced parents in Bob Graham's marvelous book, "Let's get a pup" said Kate. Their youth was what set them apart, wasn't it? Of course, we all imagine parents to be older--but many are not and it was wonderful to see two young people with a cherished child.
The Caldecott honor book by John Updike and Trina Schart Hyman, A Child's Calendar, showed a family and a community through the year. Hyman, in many of her fairy stories, tweaks our view of the world by including children of color in unexpected places (with siblings who are not the same color as she or he is) or by placing girls where we might expect boys. (as in her newest Sense Pass King)
Though we all know gay and lesbian couples with children, that topic is certainly undeveloped in picture books--at least by the major publishers. And it is too bad. Kids are so fascinated by families which differ from theirs and picture books are a perfect vehicle to look at people's lives which are different (and the same) as theirs.
It IS a shame that a book like Black is Brown is Tan is still so revolutionary.
I look forward to a time when all children can see themselves and their families--and those who are very different from themselves--in all the books they read.
Robin Smith
Nashville,TN
Received on Tue 12 Nov 2002 09:03:12 PM CST
