A Tale of Two Daddies
Vanita, O 2010, A tale of two daddies, Vanita Books, Akron Ohio.
A book written about a young girl that has two fathers, highlights the importance of children feeling comfortable talking to their peers within a safe environment. The book is set in a playground environment where a young boy says that he has heard that she has two dads. She says, yes, one is Daddy and the other is Poppa. Through the dialogue we come to understand that having two same sex parents in one household hold leads to a life that is very similar to that of a heterosexual family. This is a great way to help promote to children a life free from judgment and social expectations. It would be especially effective within students attending junior primary.
And Tango Makes Three
Parnell, O & Richardson, J 2005, And tango makes three, Simon and Schuster, New York, USA.
A heartwarming story that shows children the universal meaning of love and what it feels like to be cared for. Based on a true story of two male Chinstrap penguins (Roy and Silo) in New York’s Central Park Zoo, this book tells the tale of how the pair came to adopt a penguin chick and raise it as their own. One day the zoo keeper, Mr Gramzay notices the two attempting to hatch a rock. He then decides to give the pair a fertile egg, once hatched the pair raise and look after the chick as their own. They name the chick Tango- because it takes two to tango! This book is a great way to get children to begin thinking about what a ‘family’ unit looks like to people and what defines a family. Is a family unit comprised of the people in it? Or does the family unit depend on the love for each other regardless of its member’s nature?
Heather Has Two Mommies
Newman, L & Souza, D 1995, Heather has two mommies, Alyson Publications, Boston, MA.
This book is told from the perspective of a young girl who has two mothers who live together in a relationship that in many ways resembles a traditional nuclear family. Indeed, the book constantly links traditional scenes (like Heather playing with a dog) to scenes which seek to normalise same sex parenting. For the most part it is effective in doing so in a manner that would be accessible for a young audience.
First published in 1989, it does however appear to be slightly outdated in the way in which it seeks to incorporate gender roles. One mother is depicted as taking on all traditional masculine roles, while the other mother appears to take on all traditional female roles. Despite obviously attempting to incorporate as many mixed family types as possible, it fails to acknowledge gender identities which have only recently been widely acknowledged (such as gender neutral, transgender or intersex).
Jennifer Has Two Daddies.
Galloway, P 1990, Jennifer Has Two Daddies, Three O’Clock Press
Author Priscilla Galloway expresses the difficult subject of a child left with two families, in particular, the author makes note of the social ramifications of separation outside of the family environment. Children are often at the mercy of their parent’s choices, something that can create stress and anxiety. This beautifully illustrated picture book is about a little girl whose parents have divorced and her mother remarried.
This book is a picture book and as such, understandable and easy enough for children to remain involved and connect with the narrative. “Jennifer Has Two Daddies” is as much a book for children who live within the ‘traditional’ family environment as children who come from a blended family as it allows the reader insight into the social challenges placed on individuals, making it a valuable text for all children.
My Dads
Bennett, K 2010, My dads, Walker Books Limited, Australia.
This books gives a very positive outlook on the blended family. It highlights all the positive elements of having two dads in the family, and how being a proactive parent is the most important part of all parenting; regardless of gender.
A young girl tells the story of her home life. She enthusiastically introduces us to her two fathers- one whom she calls Dad and the other whom she calls Pa. The reader cannot help but be intrigued by how she came about having two Dad’s and you feel a sense of pride for her and for her family as there is no social pressure on what a family should look like. We hear about her biological father and how Pa is her stepfather, she explains them both in very different ways, but the most important thing is that just like any other parent they both help, support, and encourage her in different ways. Despite their differences they both do one very important thing the same; they both love her very much.
Dad and Pop: an Ode to Fathers & Stepfathers.
Bennett, K, 2010, Dad and Pop: an Ode to Fathers & Stepfathers, Candlewick
The words from Kelly Bennett and pictures by Paul Meisel ‘Dad and Pop’ is the exploration of the concept of fatherhood and step fatherhood. It expands on the idea of a blended family, with a story which incorporates two dads. This text is refreshing and at times comical to read in its celebration of both biological and stepfathers.
Dad and Pop is narrated from the perspective of a young child who finds herself existing within the environment of a blended family. The journey of the story introduces in the child’s clearly prepackaged line
Pop is bald. Dad is not.
Dad is tall. Pop is not.
Dad wears suits. Pop wears boots.
Pop takes pictures. Dad takes naps.
She even goes on to define their different taste in music. As the story evolves and the lead character’s personalities are defined within the reader’s mind, it is made evident that while both fathers possess unique personalities they share a common passion and love for the life of their daughter.
This book could be used within a classroom as it is funny, it’s funny, witty and positive in nature. As the homosexual relationship between the two fathers is implied rather than categorically stated, this book is suitable for most readers and families, even those who may not wish to use books which make explicit same sex relationships.
Our Baby
Wild, M 2015, Our baby, Working Title Press, Australia.
Although set in a traditional nuclear family, Our Baby explores issues relevant to mixed families. The protagonist is a young girl who is shown dealing successfully with the issues created by the birth of a new child into a family. Although not part of a mixed family herself, the book explicitly incorporates families who have separated parents as well as families with same sex parents. The fact that the protagonist is from a ‘traditional’ family is relatively rare in blended family children’s literature. It does however also mean that it may be more accessible to children who come from this type of household.
Blended Families Children's Literature 