What's in a family?

Books that capture the nuance of family

Happy November!

For me, this time of year is magical and stressful and beautiful and sad all at the same time. Part of that complicated package is my family.

I didn’t see my family reflected in books as a kid. I’ve got a biological father side I don’t know very well, a mom and stepdad, adopted dad and stepmom, one sister and 15 step-siblings, multiple sets of grandparents and aunts and uncles and cousins. Oh, and in-laws too!

Let’s just say there’s lots of interesting dynamics for me to explore.

Thankfully there’s more books out there NOW that represent different families, so I decided to stuff my LUNCHBOX full of them. Little me would have loved it.

In my lunchbox, you’ll find…

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A big green button. But not just that.

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14 picture books about all types of families

Note: Your email may cut off some of this newsletter, so it may be better to view online. Also all pictures and underlined words are links that take you right to the books. I don’t get a percentage or anything, but I’m all for supporting bookstores.

1: Blended families: Cat Dog Dog

Nelly Buchet and Andrea Zuill created a rich, layered story using only two words repeated in different combinations: cat and dog. They captured the difficulties of combining two families in a way that made me smile and feel seen at the same time. This is my favorite book ever about blended families! It is absolutely brilliant.

2: Bicultural families: Let Me Fix You A Plate

In this delightful celebration of family, culture, and food, a family travels to rural West Virginia for toast and banana pudding with Pawpaw and Mamaw and Florida for arepas and tostones with Abuelo y Abuela. Like a good meal, the illustrations will fill you up with satisfaction.

3: Families with an incarcerated parent: Milo Imagines the World

The combination of lyrical prose and rich illustrations will change your perspective on the assumptions we make about people in a surprising way. You can’t go wrong with this dynamic duo. I mean…look at that cover!

4: Two home families: Fred Stays with Me

When I prepare these lists, I read 50+ books, so I often notice patterns. In stories about family, I noticed that many sounded like an adult-teaching-a-child-about-family book (those did not make it on this list). But this story honors a kid’s perspective as she switches between the homes of her divorced parents: “Sometimes I live with my mom. Sometimes I live with my dad. But Fred stays with me.”

5: Adopted families: Wolfie the Bunny

You know it’ll be hilarious when you see both Ame Dyckman’s and Zachariah OHora’s names on the cover. A bunny family adopts a baby wolf they found on their doorstep and the sibling struggles to adjust. Expect to chuckle and feel all the feels.

6: Step-sibling moments: Oh, Brother!

A series of poems detailing the emotional arc of two step-brothers getting to know each other. Unlike other books on family that feel a little too sweet to be realistic (blending families is HARD!), this one captures the nuances of step-siblings. Some kids feel threatened or jealous. Other kids are desperate to be loved. And this book honors them all.

7: Big families: Florence and Her Fantastic Family Tree

I chose this one because it addresses the stress of the “family tree” school assignment. I remember feeling overwhelmed by projects like this. Talking about my family or drawing a tree or writing a poem was painful sometimes, so I wanted to include a book about that in my list.

8: Found families: Marianna May and Nursey

This story is about a rich girl who is taken care of by her family’s staff. Everyone comes together to come up with a solution to her problem. I wanted to include a story in this list that captured absent parents and found families. This is a fun one.

9: Roommates: Prince and Pirate

Two fish full of personality battle over the same tank with pompous prince insults and pirate jargon. It’s not going well until a surprise changes the dynamic. It’s a fun and relatable read for anyone who has struggled to share a space with someone else.

10: Families with new babies: Pecan Pie Baby

As you can imagine, Jacqueline Woodson’s writing is gorgeous and emotive and honest. A girl and her mom find a way to meet in the middle as they adjust to the idea of a new baby.

11: Families who lost a parent: Home in the Woods

This is based on the true story of Eliza Wheeler’s grandma. When the father of the family passes away, they must move into a small shack and find a way to make it their home. And the illustrations are gorgeous!

12: Grandparent caretakers: Julián Is a Mermaid

As soon as I realized I wanted to include a book in my list about kids who live with a grandparent, I knew just the one! This story is about individuality and acceptance and you will love the illustrations.

13: Families who make their own rules: Worm Loves Worm

Two worms want to get married. As their friend’s ask them who will wear the dress or the tux at the wedding, they decide that their love matters more than any “rules.” You’ll love the clever wordplay and adorable illustrations.

14: Real family takes: A Family is a Family is a Family

Children share what makes their family special in a candid, refreshing way. I like that we learn about different types of families in a way that honors the individual experience of family. It doesn’t give the impression that all families of one type are the same.

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Alright, I hope you enjoyed my lunchbox list! The only thing missing is a…

Juicebox!

Bring your own juice box (B.Y.O.J.B.) is your invitation to share a book or a favorite thing or a thought in the comments with everyone else at the kid table. It’s basically that special moment when you trade your dad’s famous chocolate chip cookies for your favorite fruit snacks.

What will you add to the list?

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Thanks for being here with me AT THE KID TABLE. See you next time!

I’ll save you a seat.

Your ready-to-eat-her-weight-in-thanksgiving-feasts friend,

Rachel

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