TR&W Issue 20

1 About this book What makes a family? Two dads? One mum? A stepbrother? Wickedly observan, but rooted in kindly common sense, this picturebook takes a humorous, animal-themed look at the ways we live together and the things we share. From cats and dogs, to pandas, walruses and ducks, the groups include single and mixed-race parents, adopted children and blended families. The faces smiling down from the framed portraits prompt cheerful questioning: Who could they be? Are they like me? What do they tell me about the wider world? Readers will enjoy the contrast between the minimal text statements and the photo-collaged artwork, but the messaging is clear: if you love each other, then you’re a family. Families, Families, Families BY SUZANNE LANG, ILLUS. MAX LANG, RANDOM HOUSE FOUNDAT I ON S TAGE 10 BOOKS ABOUT DIVORCE, SEPARATION If a child is struggling with a difficult situation, seeing their family reflected in a story can be crucially validating and reassuring... 12 | www.teachwire.net and blended families Illustrations by Max Lang