Illustrated by Caroline Binch. 28 p., Dial, 1995. When your family doesn't fit with the images of families that you're exposed to, it can be confusing. And it can be even more confusing to meet a father whom you haven't seen since you were very little. Grace lives with her ma and her nana in the United States, and sees herself as not having a father. But she does have a father, and he lives in Africa with Grace's stepmother and young stepsister and stepbrother.Grace is surprised when he sends her tickets for Nana and her to visit him there. At first, Grace feels as if she doesn't belong in this family - they're complete without her, and this family has the "wrong" mother. But she finds that she can't help liking her step-siblilngs. She feels that she has to be annoyed with someone, though, and, having read stories about wicked stepmothers, chooses her stepmother, Jatou. Once her father reassures her of his love for her, she's able to like Jatou, and to enjoy African cultural experiences. But she misses Ma, and feels homesick when they talk on the phone. She feels as if there isn't enough of her for two familieis. Nana assures her that there's plenty of her. By the time her visit is drawing to a close, Grace has begun to see her family as normal, not as a family that should fit the mold of those in the stories she's read. She decides that the story of her family will end with living happily ever after, "though not all in the same place." The pencil and watercolor illustrations are evocative of Grace's feelings and the closeness of her relationships. With Grace, children will understand that there are all kinds of families, and "families are what you make them." Ages 5-8
Showing posts with label blended family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blended family. Show all posts
Oh, Brother! by Nikki Grimes
Illustrated by Mike Benny.32 p., HarperCollins, 2008. The arrival of a step-sibling can bring with it complicated feelings. Xavier doesn't mind it when his Mami dates - he goes with them, the only child, or has one-on-one time with his soon-to-be stepfather. But when his stepdad brings his son, Chris, Xavier immediately begins to worry that Chris will steal Mami. As time goes on, Chris is so perfect - washing dishes, doing homework perfectly, even getting to bed before bedtime - that Xavier feels as if Chris is making him look bad. Eventually, he confronts Chris about this, and to his surprise, discovers that Chris feels that if he isn't perfect, his dad might leave him, just as his mother did. Hearing this, Xavier's reaction to Chris becomes more complex, both welcoming and resentful. But their conversation has opened the way for Chris to sympathize with Xavier, and soon the boys develop a real connection. Finally, Xavier feels that they're truly brothers. When Xavier's Mami and stepdad have a baby daughter at the end of the story, Xavier has learned that there's always room in his family for someone new. The gouache illustrations parallel Xavier's perspectives, moving from metaphorical to realistic as the story goes on. This story offers empathy with the fears and resentments kids may feel in relation to their step-siblings, along with hope that genuine connection with a step-sibling is possible Ages 5-10