Tina’s Sundays with her two dads and younger brother Todd are always busy, as this rhyming story shows. First there are pancakes, then it’s off to the park with their dog. After that, they change and go to church. A neighbor invites them for lunch, which is followed by sports, arts and crafts, and shopping. Finally, it’s bedtime, when all get a well-earned rest.
This is a rare and welcome picture-book depiction of an LGBTQ family of faith. (The specific faith isn’t mentioned, but the word “church” is used, implying Christianity or a faith originating in Christian tradition, like Unitarian Universalism.) Too often, LGBTQ identities and religious identities are seen as incompatible, and indeed, some faiths and denominations have been unconscionably cruel to LGBTQ people. But there are also many LGBTQ people of faith, and many faiths and denominations that welcome them. The depiction of this has been rare in picture books, though. (The only other one that shows a queer family going to church is the 2018 A Church for All. Some queer-inclusive books about Christmas imply Christian families, of course, but most focus on the secular aspects of the holiday.) This book thus helps fill a gap.
Author Lawrence Schimel smartly shows us faith through the eyes of the children, though, keeping the story relatable and non-pedantic: Tina likes the hymns but doesn’t know all the words; Todd’s stomach rumbles during the sermon. Nevertheless, their faith is part of their lives; the family says grace before a meal and prayers before bed.
Throughout the story, too, we see Tina and Todd being good neighbors and friends, sharing at the park, donating to the community food drop, and making cards for the sick. The text doesn’t explicitly link these deeds to their faith, but the actions could be viewed as connected to the principles of caring, kindness, and community that many communities of faith (among others) promote. Families as well as religious school teachers will therefore likely welcome this highly recommended title onto their shelves, as it should resonate with their ideals as well as give important representation to a part of their communities.
Tina, her brother, and one dad have light-brown skin and brown hair; the other dad reads as White.
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