The Family Book

Title: The Family Book
Author and Illustrator: Todd Parr
Publisher and date of Publication: Little, Brown and Company, 2003
Genre: Fiction, Picture Book
Age Range: K-2nd Grade

Summary: This book is about families! It talks about different kinds of families that children may have. It says that some families are big, some are small, some may have two moms or two dads, but all families are alike in some way and special. It uses bright, bold pictures to show different kinds of families.

Response: This was the second book that I have read by Todd Parr. After reading his books, I began to look around on his website and became interested in Todd Parr. I really enjoyed reading these books because they are bright and simple and make children feel better about themselves.
I really like that Todd Parr writes a short letter to the reader in the back of his book. It makes children feel connected to and friends with Todd. In the back of this book Todd writes, "There are lots of different ways to be a family. Your family is special no matter what kind it is. Love, Todd." When Todd writes, he writes on children's level so that it's like he is talking to them.
This book talks about all different kinds of families that you may have. Most of the pictures use animals, like skunks or fish to show different families. Families today are just so different and children are passed around between parents. One page in this book mentions families with adopted children. Lots of children have have little or no self esteem and I believe that this book would be such an inspiration for young children to know that family isn't one set thing, it's whoever you have around you that love and take care of you!

Teaching Ideas: I think that this book would be be good for children to read that are having a difficult time at home. I think that after reading this book, children could write a book about their family and draw a picture of them. Parr's website has neat activites and ideas on his website.
http://www.toddparr.com/fun/