Molly's Family

I will basically read anything by Nancy Garden -- Annie on My Mind was my first LGBTQA book -- and I always love her stuff. This was no exception! Molly is upset before Open School Night because the kids in her classroom tell her she can't have both a Mommy and a Mama when she draws a picture of her family. Molly's mothers explain to her that there are all kinds of families and, reassured by that, Molly takes her family portrait back to school to proudly hang it up next to the other kids' pictures.

This is a good, solid story that explains that it's okay to have two mommies, and that it's love that makes a family, no matter who is in it.

I will basically read anything by Nancy Garden -- Annie on My Mind was my first LGBTQA book -- and I always love her stuff. This was no exception! Molly is upset before Open School Night because the kids in her classroom tell her she can't have both a Mommy and a Mama when she draws a picture of her family. Molly's mothers explain to her that there are all kinds of families and, reassured by that, Molly takes her family portrait back to school to proudly hang it up next to the other kids' pictures.

This is a good, solid story that explains that it's okay to have two mommies, and that it's love that makes a family, no matter who is in it.

I had the pleasure of having this book read to me. I loved it so much that I checked it out and read it again to my partner. I absolutely loved tis book. The characters in the book were all very innocent not realizing what the tings they may have been saying about Molly and her family may have hurt them. I loved how in the end Molly grew to understand that every family is different but her's is very much a family like everyone else's.Digging deeper into the story I found it so touching and relatable to to have a family with two mothers. It was even more touching to me that Nancy Garden decided to make this everyday issue that some kids may have be something that was on display. this was a great book.

I am on the fence about this book. On one hand, I love that it introduces the idea that it teaches children that there are all kinds of families. I think this is important for young children to learn. However, I found the illustrations dated and uninteresting. This is important, because one of the ways to engage young children is through illustration. When the illustrations are not interesting, children won't read the book.

Kindergartener Molly is confronted with the possibility that she's not a part of a "real family", as her classmate, Tommy has stated. "Where's your daddy", he asks. It pains me to imagine this happening, and I know that it does -everyday! All it takes is one child to make another second guess what they know to be true. Reading this book opens the door to teaching our students/children about respecting each other's differences and celebrating all the ways that we can be loved.

Author Nancy Garden uses this story as a jumping off point to get kids talking and recognizing that no two families are alike- same-sex or otherwise. The illustrations have me split - as I think they do an extraordinary job of showing Molly's feelings of shock when show more questioned about Mommy and Momma Lu but to younger students, these illustrations might seem outdated and boring. show less

Molly has two moms. She draws a picture of her family like every other kid in her class but since she has two moms some don't think that it qualifies as a family. Now and even before same sex marriage was legal there are many families who have non-traditional parents and their families are just as valid as any other. Many kids are raised by grandparents, aunts, uncles, god parents, a mom and dad, two moms, two dads, or in foster care. It is important to discuss the diversity that families can have so children don't grow up thinking that there is one way to be or that someones family is less than theirs just because it is different.

Molly is a young girl with a mommy and a mama. While getting ready for a family day at school, her classmates make fun of her for thinking that she can have two moms. Even her teacher questions it. Molly's moms explain to her that they had so much love that they wanted a baby. Molly's teacher explains to the class that there are many different types of families and all families are welcome at their get together. This book's story line talks about a subject that a lot of classrooms do not even talk about. The illustrations are subtle which draws less attention to the pictures and more attention to the meaning. In a classroom I find it important to talk about family and the many different families that there are. Take a couple days and show more dedicate time in those days to talk about family. Have students draw their families and talk about them. Read this book, along with other books that touch on family differences. show less