Three new picture books explore various aspects of family relationships through the eyes of a boy with two moms, a boy with a gay uncle, and a girl with a queer older sibling.
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Leo and the Pink Marker, written and illustrated by Mariyka Foster (Peachtree), was inspired by the classic Harold and the Purple Crayon, but is also delightfully different (and not just because of the protagonist’s two moms). Leo loves coloring with his favorite pink marker. But when he has to do so All. Afternoon. because his moms are working in their dusty, gray scrapyard, he soon colors through his entire coloring book. Abuzz with the thrill of coloring outside the lines, he sets off to add some color to the things around him. Soon a rock, the mailbox, their front door, and even their cat are beautiful shades of pink. The only thing he knows is off limits is Mom’s truck—but the other vehicles in the scrapyard are fair game. When everything around him is a rosy hue, though, will his moms be upset? (Spoiler: no—but there are still some surprises in this tale.)
In My Guncle and Me, by Jonathan Merritt, illustrated by Joanna Carillo (Running Press Kids), a boy who feels like an outsider at school gets some wise advice from his gay uncle, with the encouragement of his parents. (I’ll also note that while religion is not the primary focus of the book, some small moments make it clear that this is a family of faith–which may make it particularly helpful for similarly minded folks.)
The Broken Heart, by Aaron Chan, illustrated by Josiane Vlitos (Rocky Pond Books), tells of a girl who loves to fix things—but doesn’t know how to help her brother fix his heart after he breaks up with his boyfriend. She sets off to help him, seeking the pieces of his heart in places that were special to him and his loved one. The people she meets along the way offer her wisdom about healing from heartbreak, and she brings their advice back to her brother. He may not be completely healed, we sense, but he is on the way, aided by his sister’s love. The fact that he was in a same-sex relationship is completely incidental; the tale could offer wisdom to any child whose sibling has broken up with someone of any gender.
