The Great Big Book of Families

This is MY FAVORITE BOOK for my 5-year old, I only wish I had found it sooner. Each page focuses on a certain way that families may differ, like their structure (nuclear, mixed races, adopted, +), their homes (big homes, apartments, homeless, +), their vacation choices (Europe, the beach, staying in, +)... The text is simple to understand, and the countless illustrations on each page show graphical representations of how families can be unique and perfectly their own. EVERY single time I read this to my daughter, she asks me different questions about the text or a picture, and we then happily discuss it at her level.I try to raise my daughter to be as understanding and accepting as possible, and I'm very proud that she rarely bats an eye when she comes across new "differences" in people or families. This book really helps children understand that everyone and every family is unique, but that everyone and every family is also made just the way they are supposed to be. No matter how often we read it, she is always completely engaged with the great illustrations, and it always opens her up to a new conversation of understanding which is perfectly at her level at that point in time. I wish this could be in every classroom and every family library.So many children consider whatever their family may be to be "normal", which leads them to question other families who aren't in their identical situation. Even if your family is more traditional, consider how this could impact your own child's view of diversity when they grow into the world. How it could impact their interactions with other children who do not come from traditional families. Unfortunately, many children who come from non-traditional families are faced with the same questions from their peers on such a frequent basis, that shame or defensiveness may form for things that they should not be ashamed about, such as being an only child or for coming to school wearing some type of traditional clothing. This book is a great tool to foster the development of well-rounded and understanding little humans, I highly recommend it for all.

Great book, especially for young children. Illustrations are engaging and there are a lot of little details for the kids to find. This book also does a great job of recognizing diversity in families. That being said, there are a few improvements I'd like to see in future prints of this book. 1. On the page with kids dressing up for a costume party, there is a child wearing a Native American Headdress. I was so surprised to see this in a book focusing on diversity - cultures are not costumes and Native Americans are real people - It would have been nicer to see a Native American family. I fixed my copy by drawing a hat over the headdress. 2. I would have liked to see more holidays included on the celebrations page. It looks like the Author didn't actually ask anyone who celebrated some of these holidays for their input. The Jewish celebration included is Hanukkah - which, if you ask anyone whose actually Jewish they will tell you that its a minor holiday and the only reason anyone not Jewish knows about it is because it happens to fall near Christmas - Rosh Hashanah, Passover, or Purim would have been better choices. The Hannukiah (Menorah) in the illustration also doesn't have the right number of candles. Diwali, Eid, Kwanzaa, and Chinese New Year are also included - It's a good start, but including more would be better. And if the adult reading this book doesn't know what a holiday is its a great jumping off point to look it up and learn something with your child. 3. The family tree page is a little odd. On the Dad's side of the family, everyone looks super Angry, while on the Mom's side everyone looks happy. That's just kind of an odd choice. Otherwise a really great book to have.

Children are born into the world only knowing what their own family looks like. Then as they get to know other children they discover differences. Sometimes those differences make them feel alone. Sometimes they will tease other kids because their family is different. Nobody wants their kid to feel Insecure or end up being the school bully. This is a great book to help introduce differences in families. Then you can discuss those differences and help them understand that everyone is different and that's ok. They do them and you do you.As far as reading skills go, I'd say it's probably closer to 1st grade, but my daughter is in kindergarten and can read most of the words. I help her with the bigger words.

I love how many ways this portrays families: there are families in wealth and in poverty, single-parent families (single moms AND single dads), families of color, families with hijabi mothers, families with and without pets... it's just a fantastic book for any child. I bought it for a friend's baby shower, and she absolutely loved it. What a great tool to start introducing ideas about diversity and inclusivity at a young age!

My son was in foster care and experienced all kinds of families. When he moved into my home, he seemed to expect us to be like his previous foster family, which was large with 4 older kids. My household is just my husband and me, so my son was shocked that we were a smaller family. It also helped him see that having two dads is normal and okay. Every family is different.

I also recommend A Family is a Family is a Family by Sarah O'Leary for a different approach with some sass. And I really like All about Families by Usbourne, lots of details and identifies vernaculars.This book is colorful, thoughtfully illustrated for kids and descriptive of the different dynamics within a family.In four sentences per topic it depicts different families, homes, schools, jobs, holidays, food, clothes, pets, celebrations, hobbies, transportation, and feelings. Children will be able to identify with many pictures or discuss how they relate to some or part of each.Water damage on most pages is disappointing. I meant to return but put it aside and forgot.

This book is great for all the reasons already discussed in the reviews. But my favorite part of this book is the second to last page. There is a family tree illustration that includes a mom and stepdad and a dad in the tree. I have a 5 year old stepson and he is confused about the stepparent relationship, in part because his mom tells him that step parents aren’t real parents etc. (there is a lot of brainwashing going on with his mom that is meant to harm, unfortunately). To help give him an objective truth, we have been purchasing every family / blended family / stepparent children’s book we can find. Books with illustrations have been such a wonderful way to show him how other families have stepparents too, and families can be very different but all are good! Anyway, this illustration made the book worth it for me, since we already had a lot of similar books. It gives my stepson something tangible to help him learn family dynamics (and to realize what his mom says is not correct without us having to appear negative).Just my 2 cents!

Loved this book! The illustrations are beautiful. I love how it breaks down all the kinds of families and even shows that some families go to school or home school, some families live in big or small houses and some families have cars or walk

It's literally the 'Great big book of Families', It has everything that you need to teach a preschooler as far as society is concerned and very well helps them understand everything and everyone is not the same. Helps kids broaden their mindset and accept the differences. Especially came in hand during and post covid as kids don't get to socialize as usual!

Great resource for alternative families. Ease to read and develop family stories for inquisitive small people

Absolutely LOVE it!! Portrays families regarding different topics such as family members, jobs, homes, clothes, etc.

Wonderful book to help children understand why their family is different to others. Great for classroom use and a general must buy.

Perfect for my family formed by adoption! The only issue was that the book was bent in the corner, which is disappointing being that this is a selection for our 'family day' anniversary for my young children.