Justin Richardson

In this charming tale of a family unit, two male penguins build a nest and pine for a chick the same way as any other penguin pair. An ingenious zookeeper is able to create loving family from what otherwise might have been a discarded egg. Families come in all shapes and sizes and when their little chick, named tango, comes into the world the happy penguin family is indistinguishable from the happy parents and children coming to the zoo or the happy penguins in the exhibit.

For anyone show more working to include a variety of families in the curriculum or help a child to see other families with two mommies or two daddies, this is a wonderful book! The penguin noises make for a delightful classroom read and children could closely examine a detailed page of the egg cracking and eventually hatching. There is a simple illustrated read offering images of cute penguins in all stages of life, but also so much more. I love not only how inclusive this book is, but also how the author sets the scene for the penguins to be just like any other penguin parent pairing, answering potential questions that readers or listeners may have about what makes couples different.

I read this book to my class and I can say that the students thoroughly enjoyed it! One student said boys can't marry boys. Another student responded by simply stating, "the penguins didn't marry." Finally, a third student joined in saying her favorite aunt is married to a woman. Obviously I enjoy any book that gets the students talking independently. show less

I was so excited to read at the end that this book is actually a true story! This book despite being an ASPCA Henry Bergh Award winner, is the most challenged book of its decade. Although most of the complaints have been about age appropriateness of having to explain a non-traditional family rather than the homosexual content itself, America did bear its teeth at the ideas this book challenges about family and values. At the end of the day though it is hard to argue with a true story! I also show more see the argument of 'age appropriateness' as simply an excuse for discomfort because for a growing number of children, having parents like Roy and Silo is a reality from when they are infants. Are these children too young to be exposed to the fact that they have like gendered parents? Nope. Although this book is very famous for the content, I thought the illustrator Henry Cole, did a fantastic job. There is an illustration of the progression of Tango hatching that is really great for children to see. I also thought it was interesting that he illustrated another highly challenged book, The Sissy Duckling by Harvey Fierstein. show less

Like the other penguin couples in New York City's Central Park Zoo, Roy and Silo enjoyed spending time together, and eventually made themselves a nest of rocks. But when those other couples began laying eggs and hatching penguin chicks, suddenly our penguin pair found themselves left out in the cold. No matter how they imitated the other couples, even going so far as trying to hatch a stone, they never ended up with a baby penguin to love. Then one of the penguin pairs laid two eggs, and the show more zookeeper decided to give Roy and Silo their chance at a family...

Based upon true events, And Tango Makes Three chronicles the real-life adventures of two (and eventually three!) penguins at the Central Park Zoo. Because it has been interpreted as a story about same-sex parents (rightly, in my opinion), it has become one of the most challenged children's books in the United States. For my part, I thought it was a sweet little tale, one which fills a need, when it comes to depicting same-sax parents. I also found the watercolor artwork by Henry Cole immensely cute, and appreciated the way it captured Ray and Silo's emotional journey, as they long for and then eventually get a chick of their own. Recommended to anyone interested in challenged children's books, as well as to those looking for picture-books featuring same-sex parents. show less

In this true, straightforwardly (so to speak) delivered tale, two male chinstrap penguins at New York City’s Central Park Zoo bond, build a nest and—thanks to a helping hand from an observant zookeeper—hatch and raise a penguin chick. Seeing that the penguins dubbed Roy and Silo “did everything together. They bowed to each other. And walked together. They sang to each other. And swam together,” their keeper, Mr. Gramzay, thinks, “They must be in love.” And so, when Roy and Silo show more copy the other penguin couples and build a nest of stones, it’s Gramzay who brings a neighboring couple’s second egg for them to tend, then names the resulting hatchling “Tango.” Cole gives the proud parents and their surrogate offspring small smiles, but otherwise depicts figures and setting with tidy, appealing accuracy. Unlike Harvey Fierstein’s groundbreaking The Sissy Duckling (2002), also illustrated by Cole, this doesn’t carry its agenda on its shoulder; readers may find its theme of acceptance even more convincing for being delivered in such a matter of fact, non-preachy way. (afterword) (Picture book/nonfiction. 5-9)

-Kirkus Review show less