My Uncle's Wedding

by Eric Ross, Tracy K. Greene (Illustrator), Eric Rosswood

There's so much to do now that Uncle Mike and Steve are getting married. Follow Andy on this enjoyable journey as he talks about his uncle's wedding, how it affects him, and the things he gets to do in preparation for the ceremony. You'll laugh and smile as you read this adorable story about marriage and family.

REVIEWS:
"As one of the few children's books that address LGBT issues, it serves as a conduit by which to bolster understanding in our community. The book plays a vital role in creating a brighter future for our lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth and their parents." CA State Senator Mark Leno

"It is a parent's responsibility to teach their children tolerance of all people, and I have yet to find a better tool to begin that lesson than My Uncle's Wedding." Alan Chin - Writer, Examiner.com

"It's never too early to teach our nation's children about lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender equality. And 'My Uncle's Wedding' does just that, showing children that marriage is about love and family. Eric Ross perfectly demonstrates that LGBT families share the same values as any other family, and his book will undoubtedly educate and inform generations to come about the freedom to marry. Bravo!" Kate Kendell, Esq. - Executive Director, National Center for Lesbian Rights

"Thischildren's book is the perfect gift for any child who loves a good storyand especially children with gay people in their family. The authorapproaches the subject of same-sex marriage with a child'ssensitivity and sensibility, and the beautiful illustrationsare sure to be enjoyed bykids andparents alike." MollyMcKay -National Media Director, Marriage Equality USA

"My Uncle's Wedding"celebrates love from a young nephew's point of view of his favorite uncle's beautiful wedding. Eric Ross has written a wonderful, heartwarming and important book in today's climate -- a beautiful educational tool for children -- showing thatall love is equal and good." Del Shores- Writer/Director, Sordid Lives

"Everyone agrees that children should learn in an "age-appropriate" manner, but it's also important that they learn tolerance and respect for everyone. With My Uncle's Wedding, parents and teachers alike will have a great book to teach young children that a gay marriage is just like any marriage - it's about two people who love each other." Paul Hogarth - Writer, BeyondChron"

Genres: LGBT, Picture Books, Childrens

34 pages, Paperback

First published February 11, 2011

Reviews

[Heelqueen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Won this book as one of the first reads giveaways. Read it to my little cousin as its a kids book. My cousin loved it and I also enjoyed it. It's a lovely sweet story about a gay wedding. And how normal the child sees it that his uncle is marrying a man.lovely illustrations and well written. Being gay myself I also really enjoyed this sweet telling of a wedding.

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

When an author pens a manuscript, the first thing s/he needs to do is determine the intended audience. In a children’s story, I suspect it becomes rather difficult to adjust the language to a particular age range. Knowing little about children, I can only guess that this book targets children from ages three to six, and in my opinion, does so masterfully well.

It is the charming story of the preparations for, and the ceremony of, a marriage of two loving men, as seen through the young eyes of Andy, the nephew of one of the men getting married. From Uncle Mike’s announcement that he plans to marry Steve, this story steps through each stage—ordering flowers, food, a cake, a new suit for Andy, and the ceremony itself—with simple prose and delightful illustrations.

Of course, this story is intended to do more that entertain, it also educates. It subtly illustrates to impressionable minds that there is no difference between same-sex weddings and hetrosexual weddings, and there is joy to be shared by everyone involved.

That’s it. Within the bare framework of this tale, beneath the surface of its colorful illustrations and simple phrases, lies a loving message of equality, a suggestion of acceptance. It is a parent’s responsibility to teach their children tolerance of all people, and I have yet to find a better tool to begin that lesson than My Uncle’s Wedding.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book from the First Reads giveaway

Such a sweet book. I love that it shows that the make up of a family can be different but love is what is really important. The author included a little personalized note which was a special touch!

[Juan Jose · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book for touching the topic of same-sex marriage in the classroom.

[Kaite · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won a free copy from the Goodreads First Reads Giveaway Program and would recommend it.

[Elaine Plourde · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the story to my Grand Daughter, and thought it was cute. We can relate because we just had the same type of wedding in our family. Best wishes on your life together.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

An adorable, freckle-faced boy named Andy shares his excitement for his Uncle Mike's forthcoming marriage to his partner, Steve, in the delightful children's book, My Uncle's Wedding.

Written by Eric Ross and illustrated by Tracy K. Greene, My Uncle's Wedding is not only about same-sex marriage, but rather a lesson for children to help them better understand why people get married and what a wedding ceremony entails. The fact that the engaged couple is two men is merely incidental and not germane to the story.

When Uncle Mike and Steve announce their engagement, Andy doesn't understand what they mean when they say they are "getting married." The couple explains to their nephew that a wedding is a celebration of love and two people get married because they love each other.

Andy is more interested in the details of the celebration, because like any youngster, he understands that means there will be a party. He offers to help them plan the event, which includes selecting flowers, suggesting menu items and tasting cakes.

The boy is all too eager to share his opinion, as well as his apparent enthusiasm for the upcoming nuptials. The events leading up to Uncle Mike and Steve's wedding and the activities on that special day prove to be unforgettable for him.

While the book is certainly educational and especially pertinent to current events, My Uncle's Wedding is primarily an amusing, entertaining story for young children. Nevertheless, Ross and Greene have helped pave the way for children's books that are likely to follow on this timely and important topic.

[Phannie · Rating 2 out of 5]

My Uncle's Wedding is about a little boy named Andy. Andy's Uncle and his Uncle's boyfriend come over and tell Andy's family that they are planning on getting married. Andy realizes that this means there will be a party and asks to help with planning. The book goes through the planning process with Andy and his Uncle, the actual wedding, and how happy Andy is to now have two Uncles instead of just one.

This story reads like a beginner reader. I was left wanting with any type of character development and details concerning the story. There was a two page spread about bird poop that didn't add to the story at all and felt out of place to me. I would read it to kids age 1 through 6. Older than that will probably find it boring. I was really excited to read this one and was disappointed at the end.

[Jodie Anders · Rating 5 out of 5]

So adorable and I love the ease in which it is written!!

[Terri Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is great! I am always on the lookout for good children's books and was delighted to find this about a family with an uncle who is gay getting married to the love of his life. I love how positively this book presents the love between a gay couple and the excitement of getting married. I am not going to talk about it as a LGBT book or say that it is useful to teach children tolerance.

I grew up with parents who had a lot of gay couples as friends in the 1960's and 1970's and I thought they were married! As an Atheist, I have no nasty religion that would teach me that gays/lesbians are bad, evil, sinners so I never thought anything was wrong. Since I was actually around gay/lesbian couples, I knew they loved each other just as heterosexual couples do, they fought over the same issues as any married couple, and they were just like anyone else- human.

I have raised my own family the same way. We never discussed gay/lesbian people as if they were different from each other but alas, growing up in Atlanta (1960's/1970's) and spending time living in Nashville, the disgusting ideas and discrimination against gays filtered into my world and that of my impressionable family.

This book beautifully shows the reality of a loving gay couple. I would like to say that we can just share it with kids with no comment but the fact is, in many families, they would not even allow their kids to read it and schools would be afraid to use it in classes, talking about "age appropriate" introductions to the idea of homosexuality. My take on this is that people are born gay, they fall in love, get married, raise kids, and if books about heterosexual couples having a wedding is fine, then why would they need to be a certain age to hear that gays/lesbians exist and want to marry too?

[noelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Now, after the reading, when I thought about it, i realised i have never read children book mainly about wedding before(even with more common straigt couple - a gap in the market? :))