Same-Sex Parents: This is My Family

by Pat Thomas

This reassuring picture book introduces children to same-sex parenting. It shows that all parents love, care and support their children in the same way. Young children learn to respect people's differences and treat all types of families fairly and without discrimination.

The superb A First Look At series consists of a number of reassuring picturebooks that give advice and promote interaction between children, parents, and teachers on a wide variety of personal, social and emotional issues.

Notes for parents and teachers at the back of the book provide valuable advice for how to share this book with your child or class.

Suitable for Key Stage 1 (ages 5-7), occasional prompts throughout the text give a chance to discuss the issue being raised.

Written by trained psychotherapist, journalist and parent, and illustrated by an experienced children's book artist, this is a part of an acclaimed and successful, long-running series of picture-book non-fiction books for Early Years. Books in the series give advice and promote interaction between children, parents and teachers on a wide variety of personal, social and emotional issues. They are excellent tools for teachers to use during classroom discussions.

Genres: LGBT, Childrens

32 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2012

About the author

There is more than one Pat Thomas in the Goodreads catalog. This entry focuses on Pat^Thomas, children's author.

Pat is a trained psychotherapist, naturopath and journalist. After working as a journalist and broadcaster in the USA, she now works in the field of child development and writes for various publications including 'Practical Parenting'.

Reviews

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

As same-sex relationships gain more acceptance within our society, it is very encouraging that there are books such as this. This book explains how families with same-sex parents may look different from other families, but they function in the exact same ways. It also talks about bullying children of same-sex parents may experience and why it's wrong to bully.

This book presents the issue with much more grace and finesse than some other, earlier books about gay parents. That said, I still prefer the wonderful book Who's in a Family? to this one. It bothered me that, like so many other media in our pronatalist society, being a family (either gay or straight) that includes children is the norm to strive for and what everybody wants. One page in this book states: "When two adults love each other it is normal for them to want to live together and celebrate their love by making a family," along with a picture of a woman holding a baby. This completely leaves out those who don't see having children as the ultimate expression of their love. Who's in a Family?, conversely, presents a childfree couple whose family is shown as just as legitimate as all of the childed families elsewhere in the book, both gay and straight.

[Yue · Rating 2 out of 5]

We've read this to our children and had to change every few words to correct the book. Statements such as "A woman who wants to be in a loving relationship with another woman is called gay" doesn't work for us two bisexual moms with asexual friends.

We also couldn't get a grip on the intended public. The back blurb states: "This reassuring picture book introduces children to families that have parents of the same sex".

Indeed, it switches to broad external statements "Gay and lesbians parents do this" to second person "your parents have different skills". It reads like a book trying hard to convince a child of an LG(BTQ) parent that their parent is, in fact, a parent.

It was just weird and too inaccurate for us. There is a line to walk between "we tried to simplify this concept" and "we didn't research it". Also, for a 2012 book part of a series about many families & social health issues (disability, adoption, family break-ups, racism) we expected more inclusion.

The illustrations by Lesley Harker are fun and beautiful!

[Ali · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was not my favorite book about this topic. I don't think it is very appealing to children, especially if they have never been introduced to the idea of different families. It does offer a variety of things to think about, question, and consider. Some of the points were very blunt and I feel not really accurate. I get where the author is coming from but I do not feel like children will really understand that two moms or two dads can love and do the same things other parents can do. This book chose to use words like "gay" and "lesbian", I would definitely talk to my children about these terms before reading the story to avoid and confusion or inappropriate use of the words. The illustrations could've helped enhance the book a bit more but they were fairly dull and didn't show much diversity. This is a good book to read to children, after they are already familiar with the idea of same-sex parents, why they are same-sex parents, and how they are just as awesome as anyone else's parents.

[Jomal Childers · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book does an awesome job explaining same sex couples and it also does well illustrating the types of discrimination the children who are products of same sex families may endeavor. The book also talks about ways these children can cope! I think this book is great for young readers who live in this type of family as well as readers who are not. With the discrimination mentioned in the book helps to trigger young readers who don’t necessarily come from this type of household to be empathetic towards people they may know or meet who have same sex parents. This book also allows readers who may not identify with this subject personally to gain perspective on the different types of families. I believe this book does a great job at mirroring and projecting reality. Children live in the world too and experience different things and I believe this book is a great resource to children living in same sex families!

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This picture book explains same-sex marriage in a simple and easy to understand manner that is very accessible to young children. It also touches upon discrimination that children may face if they are raised by same-sex parents and how they can cope with it. Overall, a great introduction to same-sex relationships and their families for kids.

[Deby Perkins]

This may have been a good book back in 2012 when we needed help explaining why Peggy has 2 dads or Max has 2 moms. I think it could still be used today where same sex couples are more readily acceptable. I didn't like the illustrations much it reminded me of a book that I would have read in the late 70's.

[Abby Peskin · Rating 2 out of 5]

None of the concepts here are super new or revolutionary, and the wording is a little outdated.

[chloe kemp · Rating 4 out of 5]

nice pictures

[Briony Crawford · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple language for younger children. Refers to men as gay and women as lesbians, not stating that women can also refer to themselves as gay.

[Nicole Agadoni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written by experienced psychotherapist and counselor, Pat Thomas, This is My Family: A First Look at Same-Sex Parents is an informative book about same-sex families. The book gives children explanations to questions they may have about these families, and it offers advice to cope with intolerance. As a teacher, I would love to have this in my class. It is written in a way that is understandable for children, and it answers questions that they are sometimes too embarrassed or afraid to ask. The book also incorporates open-ended questions every couple of pages. (ex. Who are the people in your family? Do you know the difference between a loving relationship and a friendship?) These questions allow the reader to reflect on their home-life, and suddenly different families don’t seem as different from their own. Although I’m unsure whether Pat Thomas is a part of the LGBTQ community or not, her writing is knowledgeable and unbiased.

[Elizabeth Mcdonough · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thomas, Pat (2012). This is my Family: A First Look at Same-Sex Parents. London: Barron's Educational Series, Inc.


Subgroup:
Same Sex Parents
Genre:
Non-Fiction
Topics:
Same sex parents, families
Synopsis:
This book shows that even though gay parents may look different, they function in the same way as straight parents. The book defines what it means to be gay and what it means to be a lesbian. The book talks about how same sex parents love and protect their children. This book also goes into how children who have same sex parents may experience being bullied. The books describes what bullying is and that bullies are often afraid of things they do not know about. The book talks about how all families are different but the love and support a family has is what matters.

[Elizabeth Bartos]

This is book that discusses same sex marriages in an era when LGBT rights are at the heat of debate. What a fantastic way to teach about differences and acceptance. The author, Pat Thomas, presents this topic in a very simple, straight forward manner. It presents not only the family dynamics but also issues children may face if they come from a family of 2 Moms or 2 Dads. A great read for all kids and perfect for ages 4 and up.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book. I am a fan of Pat Thomas. This author has a serious of books on taboo or delicate subjects. Thomas does a beautiful job on introducing these topics in a classroom environment. This book is an excellent read aloud that touches on families with same sex parents.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was looking for a same sex parent book for my 3 year old, however this one is a bit beyond her (maybe when she is a little older).

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book to help explain to young ones about all the great families we have today.

[Michelle Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Text is really well done. I think some of the illustrations are a bit stereotypical, but a good introduction to different family life for kids.