Sarah S. Brannen

Miles (brown skin, black hair) feels "fluttery" on his adoption day. He hugs his foster mother (light skin, gray hair) goodbye, and goes with his two new dads, Teddy and David (one blond and bearded, one brown-skinned with a neat goatee) to his new home. He meets his new sister Michelle (light skin, brown hair), who's super excited to meet him; she invites him to paint with her, and helps him learn to ice skate. Miles settles in, enjoying outings like going to a musical, and playing outside show more with Michelle. Then, on his birthday, his dads reveal a piano - Michelle's idea, since Miles had told her he liked to play. "He sat on the piano bench and played one, two, three notes, and finally a chord of four notes all together. The whole family started to sing." A wonderfully inclusive, positive adoption story. A family is a family is a family! show less

This deceptively simple story is perfect for a range of ages. Brannen, the author/illustrator of a variety of picture books, most recently the Madame Martine series, presents an adorable bear and his quest for a little help.

Bear, a plump creamy polar bear with bright red shoes, has a problem. He tries asking the sea lions, the rabbits, the lemmings... but nobody will help him, they just run away. Finally, a pair of ptarmigan with kindly eyes know just what bear needs - someone to untie his show more shoelaces! Shoes removed, Bear plunges into the deep green sea and the ptarmigan note that "He really needs to learn to do that himself." The final spread hints that maybe he'll have to learn fast as a pair of hairy brown legs with yellow shoes show up on the edge of the ice with a quest for help...

The minimalist illustrations have broad lines but the animals still have expressive faces and there's enough dimension to read the story several different ways. Readers can explore the different creatures (although the rabbits look more like pets than Arctic hares), predict the end of the story (does Bear need his shoe tied... or his other three shoes untied?) and the final hint at the end implies there are other bears out there in shoes that need tying!

Verdict: A simple, fun story that can be expanded for storytime and for helping kids remember that sometimes everybody needs a little help.

ISBN: 9780525516507; Published January 2019 by Philomel; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library show less

This book is about Chloe, who's uncle is getting married to another male. Chloe is upset because she enjoys being with her uncle and is worried he will forget about her after the wedding. Uncle Bobby reassures her that they will still spend time together and asks her to be the flower girl. She accepts and enjoys Uncle Bobby and Uncle Jamie's company. What I enjoyed most about the author's work is her descriptions. "bottles of fizzy cider" "the air smelled like roses" "Everyone danced until show more the moon rose." show less

A cute story about a little girl hamster who's favorite uncle is getting married to another man. My sister bought this for my son at the suggestion of the lesbian women she rents an attic apartment from. It is a story that helps kids learn about homosexuality in a non-sexual way and makes it seem very natural and normal, which it is. My mom recently read it to him and nearly finished the story before she realized that Uncle Bobby was marrying another male.

This could be used in curriculum show more about sexual orientation, gay marriage, or accepting differences in other people. show less