Title: We Are Family
Author: Patricia Hegarty
Illustrator: Ryan Wheatcroft
Age Group: 3-6
Synopsis: A rhythmic look at all different sorts of families.
The Lowdown:
The word family can be described in so many different ways. And what makes up our immediate family can be much different than that of those around us. But by allowing children to view their own family in a book it allows them to feel a sense of normalcy. That’s what I LOVED about this book. Every page depicts ten different family types. Those differences include: gender, race, age, and number. And in doing so, this book allows every child to feel that same security that we should feel with our family: inclusion and acceptance.
The poetry that threads this story along is thoughtful of the fact that every family, no matter it’s make up does the same sort of things. There are good days and bad, times of joy and sorrow, and a new day always dawns no matter what occurs. And so in identifying these common occurrences, it creates a link between us and the other families of the world. There isn’t a family in this book that would specifically describe my family, but there are pieces of what my family is. And in truth, families are as different and numerous as we all are from each other. There would be no physical way to include them all. But in making each family in the book different they allow those differences to call to each reader and allow them to make their own connections.
The illustrations are bright and colorful, in a square sort of fashion that makes each family readily identifiable for young readers. Wheatcroff also maintains each family’s position page to page to allow for another message of identification, even if the entire family isn’t on that specific page. His characters experience joy, pain, sadness, camaraderie, and, most of all, love. They’re bright and kind sort of illustrations that allow the reader long moments to examine each glimpse into each family without feeling an sort of intrusion.
It’s important to me that Bug understands that our family is not the rule for others to be based on. We are somewhat typical, our little trio, but that’s not what I came from and that’s not how every other family works. In exploring the differences of those around us we can often times find what is initially an abnormality but eventually morphs into acceptance and with that inclusion. For as the story lovingly states: we are not all the same but there are similarities within us all.
Story Tips:
- Let your little one point out the similarities and differences between the families and their own.
I need more!
Patricia Hegarty has worked with a number of fabulous illustrators such as Britta Treckentrup, Greg Abbott, and Tanera Simons. For more information about her fabulous stories check out Google or Amazon.
Ryan Wheatcroft has done a series of animal books with Mark Olinger but other than that doesn’t have much available. Keep an eye out for him in the future though. I’d suggest via Google.
