From: Ginny Moore Kruse <gmkruse>
Date: Thu, 17 Jun 2004 15:14:35 -0500

Robin wrote, in part, on June 5th that "The Trouble with Babies"
(Holiday House, 2002) "... might have been a predictor of books to come."
  In this easy, brief chapter book written by Martha Freeman and illustrated by Cat Bowman Smith a minor character named Xavier says, "I have two dads. And no mom. Alan and Jim are partners." The main character replies, "Oh, now I get it...You mean they're gay."
  Period. End of conversation about the family.
  End of appearance by the two dads.
 
"The Trouble with Babies" is worthy of note within this discussion because so few books for children contain gay characters who really don't contribute to the plot. These two dads are almost "wallpaper" for the story, decorating the plot, making it a tad more realistic, more like many parent characters in most children's books.
  Another character in "The Trouble with Babies" has both a Jewish and a Chinese heritage. It's refreshing to have a variety of homes, families, and parents reflected in children's books. Reminds me of real homes, real families, and real parents. Robin, I hope you're correct about this being a predictor of other books in the very near future. What's that phrase again? Oh, yes, "they look like America." Such books help the aggregate of books for children to look more like all the families of America, to reflect what Megan refers to as a "daily reality."
  Peace, Ginny
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Ginny Moore Kruse gmkruse at education.wisc.edu
Received on Thu 17 Jun 2004 03:14:35 PM CDT