Book Title: In Our Mothers’ House
Author(s): Patricia Polacco
Illustrator: Patricia Polacco
Publisher: Penguin Group
Copyright Date: 2009
Genre: Picture Book – LGBT families
Brief Annotation:
Marmee and Meema have started a beautiful family. Together, they’ve adopted three amazing children from Africa, Asia, and the USA. Their love and laughter is at the core of everything they do as a family – from cooking dinner to admiring the artwork drawn onto the walls. Though this family is strong, not everyone approves. Thankfully, Polacco doesn’t dwell on this negative aspect as much as the obvious love and support that these two mothers gave to their children every day of their lives.
Your Rating (1-5) and why:
4.5 – I thought Polacco does a fantastic job of highlighting all of the happiness and joy that came out of this out-of-the-ordinary household, and not so much on all of the challenges, even though those challenges were always going to be likely. The illustrations also do a great job of demonstrating all of the different emotions the characters experience throughout this heartfelt story.
Readers who will like this book:
This would be great for LGBT families and to read during a theme about what different families could look like. It would be a great discussion starter for both children familiar and unfamiliar with families that have parents of the same sex and adopted children.
Question to ask about this book before a read aloud:
Can you think all of the adults that you love in your life?
Do all of those adults live in your house?
Have you ever been to a home where there was just one mom? One dad? A grandparent? Two moms? Two dads?
1. Interest Level (age): 6-8
2. Grade Level Equivalent (grade): 4.5
3. Book Trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaDbjjt6Feg
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