A Tale of Two Mommies

In this simple book, a child asks another what life is like with two moms. “If you have a momma and a mommy, who fixes things when they break?” asks one. “Oh, Mommy has all the tools. There’s nothing she can’t fix or make,” replies the other. Later, one asks, “Who’s your mom for climbing a tree? Who’s your mom when you scrape your knee?” to which the reply is, “Momma helps me climb a tree. Both moms help when I skin my knee.”

There’s no plot to speak of, but the rhymes keep the stories bouncing along (even if a few seem forced). The illustrations by Mike Blanc are bright, bold, and full of action, with a children’s-eye view that only lets in the occasional adult leg or arm. The illustrations, too, give the books much of their humor, for example, by showing the eclectic collection of things that end up in a boy’s pockets at the end of the day.

Young children with queer parents will enjoy the matter-of-fact replies by Oelschlager’s protagonists, which could give them confidence in speaking about their own families. Children with other family types may learn that having two moms or two dads isn’t so different. And straight parents who are seeking ways to speak about queer parents with their young children may find this book—which avoids both “problems” and pedantry—a good place to start.