Dear Families,

I hope you have enjoyed reading a good book aloud together or reading in the same room during the perfect rainy weather over the break from school.  Winter weather offers us more indoor time for fort building in order to create the perfect reading nook or time to play board games when we aren’t reading.  Be sure to make time to be with your family by sharing games and books. Continuing with the topic of inclusion for all, this week my reading recommendations come from Meshawn, a parent of a kindergarten student.  I enjoyed reading the reviews of these book recommendations, and I am excited to read them with my family. Thank you, Meshawn, for sharing these books that are inclusive of same-sex marriage, written for both younger and older students.

Happy Reading,
Ms. DeFeyter

For Younger Kids

• A Family Is A Family Is A Family by Sara Leary. This book is about a school project where the kids have to describe what makes their family unique and is all inclusive of all kinds of families.
• The Different Dragon by Jennifer Bryan. We like this one at our house because it’s a cute bedtime story about a dragon who doesn’t want to be fierce – and the little boy, Noah, happens to have two moms.
• Donovan’s Big Day by Lesléa Newman. This book is so sweet – it’s about Donovan, who is excited about his two moms getting married.
• And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell. A true story about Tango, a baby penguin who was hatched to two male penguins in the Central Park Zoo. It’s a sweet, and true, story about love.
• Prince and Knight by Daniel Haack. A classic fairy tale story, but in the end, the Prince finds out that his “happily ever after is a knight” – it’s easy to read, and the kingdom is totally accepting of their love.
• The Family Book by Todd Parr. We’ve always loved this book in our house because it so simply accepts all kinds of families.

For Older Kids

• The Misadventure of the Family Fletcher by Dana Alison Levy. Four interracial brothers, two dads, and various pets make up the realistic, loving, and sometimes hectic family Fletcher. Their family celebrations, trips, and daily adventures are laugh-out-loud funny and show readers that all families are alike in fundamental ways.
• The Magic Misfits by Neil Patrick Harris. After young street magician Carter runs away, he meets Dante Vernon, an illusionist, who runs a magic shop with his husband and their daughter. Carter finds friends and magic saving the town of Mineral Wells from B.B. Bosso's villainous clutches.
• The Stars Beneath Our Feet by David Barclay Moore. Lolly tries to steer a safe path through the projects in Harlem in the wake of his brother’s death. Then his mother’s girlfriend brings him a gift that will change everything: two enormous bags filled with Legos.
• This Would Make a Good Story Someday Dana Alison Levy.  Sara Johnston-Fischer loves her family. But that doesn’t mean she’s thrilled when her summer plans are upended for a surprise cross-country train trip with her two moms, and her two sisters.