A group of kids are playing “Families” at the playground in this lighthearted look at family structures. They discuss possible numbers of siblings, number and genders of parents, and more, sharing from their personal experiences. One notes, for example, that he doesn’t have any siblings or a dad, but has a mommy and a mama. “That’s awesome,” another replies.
Yet another notes that his family is just his papa and him; his mother lives a long way away. A friend asks if he misses her. “Kind of, sometimes,” he says—a response that feels more authentic because of the hesitancy. We also see children sharing that they have a single mom by choice; a divorced mom and dad; working moms that they don’t often see together; grandparent caretakers, an aunt and uncle who are happy being child-free; older siblings; and more. One notes that it’s okay not to look like one’s parents, and that she’s adopted.
After all this discussion, though, they still haven’t sorted out who’s going to play what role in their game. “All our families are awesome!” one concludes, “But playing Families is complicated.” They all decide to play School instead.
What sets this apart from many books about different types of families is that no one ever doubts the validity of another’s family type. The children ask each other questions about their families, to be sure, but they are driven by a simple desire for information, not judgment or disbelief. Additionally, the discussion is entirely driven by the child characters; there’s no adult or omniscient narrator guiding the conversation. The book is upbeat and engaging, conveying its messages with a light touch, and making it a recommended read.
Translated from the French (Et toi, ta famille?) by Katy Lockwood-Holmes.
