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ABC: A Family Alphabet Book
Have fun with the kids, moms, dads and pets in this delightful book that celebrates LGBTQ families as it teaches young children the alphabet.
32 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2001
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
July 14, 2019
Blerg. I get what this is trying to do, and I’m trying to keep in mind that it was published in 2000, so I’m waffling between 2 and 3 stars. It’s an alphabet book, with LGBT representation. Mentions of “my moms” and “our daddies” are great. But then the illustrations are weird and cartoony and there’s a little blonde girl wearing a stereotypical “Indian” costume. Let’s just do better.
August 6, 2014
The kiddo said to give this one 4 stars and it was his favorite of the new library books we read today. I would have given it 3 myself. Maybe even 2- I would never buy this, no matter how cute, because it mentions zoos, aquariums, eggs (as a vegan, I don't want to support any of those), AND has a little girl dressed in a stereotypical "Indian" costume which is racism in action (as someone who is of color, I also don't want to support that, either). I REALLY wish those elements hadn't been there I probably would have put it on my to-buy list otherwise.
March 7, 2019
An alphabet of everyday objects and activities, as told by kids with same-sex parents. My toddler liked the book, I like the representation. There's a decent number of poc and interracial couples (slightly less than half I think?) and one mom in a wheelchair.
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June 28, 2021An alphabet book with family scenes on each page, normalizing 2-mom and 2-dad families without making it an Issue.
The illustrations are warm and fun, and the text is in a child's voice -- feeling more like moments in their lives prompted by the particular word (some words are abstract concepts -- "awake," "night" -- which you can't point to on the page for the child, and other words aren't central to the scene). Which is fine. It's a light touch book overall, and that's okay.
The text often says "moms" or "dads," which I think is helpful in normalizing for the child-listener; but a lot of the representation is just in the illustrations. There's a different family in each scene (and sometimes more than one family), and in multiple illustrations, only one adult is visible -- or one or both adults are turned away from the viewer such that it's impossible to meaningfully infer the person's gender. I would have loved some families with more than 2 adults, but unlike some reviewers, I did not experience the lack of representation of male-female adult pairs as a problem. The language is all "moms" and "dads" or just "family," with no explicit language around non-binary folks, but this book first came out in 2000, so I'm not surprised.
The people are mostly white, though some are brown (and there appear to be at least two transracial adoptive families). There is one wheelchair user. Lots of characters are not skinny.
The "B is for book" illustration includes a child dressed up in a buckskin fringe dress, which some reviewers read as dressing up as a Native American. I didn't notice it initially (it's not a central part of the page), and it's not as obviously inappropriate as e.g. non-Natives wearing headdresses, but it is a little bit of a bummer.
The illustrations are warm and fun, and the text is in a child's voice -- feeling more like moments in their lives prompted by the particular word (some words are abstract concepts -- "awake," "night" -- which you can't point to on the page for the child, and other words aren't central to the scene). Which is fine. It's a light touch book overall, and that's okay.
The text often says "moms" or "dads," which I think is helpful in normalizing for the child-listener; but a lot of the representation is just in the illustrations. There's a different family in each scene (and sometimes more than one family), and in multiple illustrations, only one adult is visible -- or one or both adults are turned away from the viewer such that it's impossible to meaningfully infer the person's gender. I would have loved some families with more than 2 adults, but unlike some reviewers, I did not experience the lack of representation of male-female adult pairs as a problem. The language is all "moms" and "dads" or just "family," with no explicit language around non-binary folks, but this book first came out in 2000, so I'm not surprised.
The people are mostly white, though some are brown (and there appear to be at least two transracial adoptive families). There is one wheelchair user. Lots of characters are not skinny.
The "B is for book" illustration includes a child dressed up in a buckskin fringe dress, which some reviewers read as dressing up as a Native American. I didn't notice it initially (it's not a central part of the page), and it's not as obviously inappropriate as e.g. non-Natives wearing headdresses, but it is a little bit of a bummer.
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October 18, 2016This book is an ABC learning book, while some aspects of it discuss diverse families, LGBT families in particular. Not every page has to do with diverse families, but enough of them do to make it relevant for this topic.
I chose this book because it is educational in multiple aspects. I also chose it because students may recognize the format of alphabet books and therefore be more comfortable or more likely to want to read this particular book.
The story is interested to children, however only those within the target audience, those older will probably be bored. It offers children much to think about, and is age appropriate. It does not have much in lines of a plot or a problem and solution, but it has realistic characters and appropriate language. The illustrations are accurate and relate to the text. They also hold the interest of the children throughout the story and the illustrations add to the story.
The characters in the book represent a variety of different cultural groups and many different perspectives are exposed to the readers. There are no negative stereotypes present about the represented groups, and the lifestyles seem very genuine. The characters really don't use much speech in this book so there are not many opportunities to represent their traditions. I do not believe the author is a part of the represented groups, but there is a great amount of diversity in the groups that are represented.
I chose this book because it is educational in multiple aspects. I also chose it because students may recognize the format of alphabet books and therefore be more comfortable or more likely to want to read this particular book.
The story is interested to children, however only those within the target audience, those older will probably be bored. It offers children much to think about, and is age appropriate. It does not have much in lines of a plot or a problem and solution, but it has realistic characters and appropriate language. The illustrations are accurate and relate to the text. They also hold the interest of the children throughout the story and the illustrations add to the story.
The characters in the book represent a variety of different cultural groups and many different perspectives are exposed to the readers. There are no negative stereotypes present about the represented groups, and the lifestyles seem very genuine. The characters really don't use much speech in this book so there are not many opportunities to represent their traditions. I do not believe the author is a part of the represented groups, but there is a great amount of diversity in the groups that are represented.
February 28, 2018
I give this book a 4 star rating.
This book is an alphabet book. Each letter, they tell a story about what each family does. The thing I like about this book is that it introduces the idea that their are more then one family structure. This doesn't come from the story but the pictures. This book can be a way to bring up the conversation without having to make it to mature.
Ways to use this in a classroom.
1) Introduce different family strucutures
2) Make a class family ABC book
3) Write prompt about family stories
This book is an alphabet book. Each letter, they tell a story about what each family does. The thing I like about this book is that it introduces the idea that their are more then one family structure. This doesn't come from the story but the pictures. This book can be a way to bring up the conversation without having to make it to mature.
Ways to use this in a classroom.
1) Introduce different family strucutures
2) Make a class family ABC book
3) Write prompt about family stories
November 30, 2021
While this book would certainly be noteworthy in its year of publication [2000] for its inclusion of LGBT parents, it unfortunately does not stand the test of time. The sentences are as dull and unimaginative as a second grader's "use this word in a sentence" vocabulary assignment, the illustrations are forgettable, and the book doesn't go beyond the use of "my moms" and "my dads" in its textual portrayal of LGBT families. You can find better alphabet books featuring diverse family dynamics these days, leave this one in the past.
September 13, 2017
This book teaches children so much more than just the alphabet! Throughout the illustrations and storyline, many diverse families, children, and scenes are created. This includes same gender parents, children with disabilities, families among many races, and people of all body types.
Topics: alphabet, colors, families, gender, disabilities, body type, race, culture, counting, siblings, parents, family structure.
Topics: alphabet, colors, families, gender, disabilities, body type, race, culture, counting, siblings, parents, family structure.
April 8, 2019
This book will do until we have a wider selection of books that depict families with same-sex parents. It's not brilliant, but it's serviceable. There are already a handful of books out there with more story value. Before checking this out of the library, I'd start with: Mommy, Mama, and Me (with its companion volume Daddy, Papa, and Me), And Tango Makes Three, and Stella Brings the Family.
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February 7, 2020Diverse Literature Book
ABC A Family Alphabet Book, by Bobbie Combs, is suitable for Pre-Kindergarten children. This alphabet book includes and normalizes all types of family units. The book does not explain LBGTQ or bi-racial family structures but rather simply includes them creating a sense of normalization with the subject matter for the child.
ABC A Family Alphabet Book, by Bobbie Combs, is suitable for Pre-Kindergarten children. This alphabet book includes and normalizes all types of family units. The book does not explain LBGTQ or bi-racial family structures but rather simply includes them creating a sense of normalization with the subject matter for the child.
December 4, 2020
I am pleased to see a children's book incorporating LGBTQ families as characters without presenting LGBTQ-specific issues as the central topic of the book. Kudos to the authors for choosing to depict a fair amount of racial diversity including interracial families. I love how this book is drastically different than normal alphabet books.
October 14, 2021
I liked this book because it showed families with two moms and two dads. I also liked how it presents different activities that could be done with families from A to Z. It could be a little bit more diverse with the types of families. The letter B with the stereotypical costume also was a little bit disappointing. I did like the illustrations and thought they added to the book.
October 3, 2020
For: readers looking for an alphabet book that celebrates LGBTQ+ families.
Possible red flags: LGBTQ+ representation.
Possible red flags: LGBTQ+ representation.
June 20, 2012
This is a standard A-Z picture book, but all families represented are gay & lesbian parents. I wasn't crazy about most of the illustrations and would have liked to see more racial/ethnic diversity. Since it was published in 2000, I'm disappointed that there's a culturally insensitive illustration of a girl dressed up in a stereotypical "Indian" costume. I hope parents & teachers use the illustration for "B" to open a discussion about stereotypes of "Indians" or Native Americans. While giving a voice to one under-represented group, that image silences another. Aside from that, I like the concept of the book and would share it with children.
April 16, 2012
TEXT SET
This book is an A through Z book with each book representing a fun family activity that starts with that specific letter. On each page the family depicted in the illustrations is either a gay or lesbian couple as parents. For example “A is for awake” shows a child blowing a horn to wake up his two moms in bed. “ Or C is for cookies”Both of my dads know how to make great chocolate chip cookies.” It is considered a non-issue book, meaning the nature of the content doesn’t directly discuss the issue at hand, rather presents the characters to show the issue.
This book is an A through Z book with each book representing a fun family activity that starts with that specific letter. On each page the family depicted in the illustrations is either a gay or lesbian couple as parents. For example “A is for awake” shows a child blowing a horn to wake up his two moms in bed. “ Or C is for cookies”Both of my dads know how to make great chocolate chip cookies.” It is considered a non-issue book, meaning the nature of the content doesn’t directly discuss the issue at hand, rather presents the characters to show the issue.
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October 2, 2008This is a really cute alphabet book aimed at queer families that shows kids' favorite things to do with their moms and dads. The goofy and colorful illustrations show families from many different ethnic and cultural backgrounds having fun together. From waking their moms up early with a tuba seranade, to swinging on the jungle-gym with their dads, the illustrations will make kids laugh out loud, and will provide them with many opportunities to learn new words in addition to the alphabet!
May 7, 2016
3.5 Stars
Cute and it's always nice to introduce kids to different kinds of families but the art style is not my thing and the part about dressing up as an Indian contradicts, to me, the book's inclusive purpose. Still, not a bad little ABC book and my kid liked it.
Cute and it's always nice to introduce kids to different kinds of families but the art style is not my thing and the part about dressing up as an Indian contradicts, to me, the book's inclusive purpose. Still, not a bad little ABC book and my kid liked it.
April 22, 2016
Nice casual alphabet book with same-sex parents. I found it a bit weird that ALL the parents were same gender, though, because (on an admittedly very quick skim) it didn't look like they were the same families over and over, so why not include some different-sex couples and single parents?
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April 23, 2016This book celebrates the LGBTQ community while teaching the letters of the alphabet. Learning about different family dynamics like, moms, dads, siblings, etc children are introduced to the different families peers may have. This book would be great to start conversations about diverse families.
April 11, 2012
LOVE this book it serves 2 purposes - works as an ABC book and exposes students to different families. I would recommend reading this story to students or children in Kindergarten - 3rd.
October 15, 2011
LOVE this one--a book with great pictures of 2 mom and 2 dad families.
April 18, 2017
I appreciate this because it is an alphabet of things in families with same-sex parents. It wasn't spectacular but it's nice to have something out there instead of only having heterosexual parents of families displayed in books.
October 23, 2017
“ABC: A Family Alphabet Book” is a great resource for pre-k and kindergarten students. This book teaches the alphabet while also showing a variety of different kinds of families. This book is really fun and entertaining for pre-k and kindergarten students because they love identifying their letters and different words that start with those letters. Children are also familiar with this format making it easier for them to follow along and enjoy the content. Each letter shows a different family doing some sort of fun activity that corresponds with the letter. The families are highly diverse and cross a lot of different cultural and ethnic groups. This book is representative of same-sex couples, adoption, and single-parent homes. Because this book offers such rich diversity, the many perspective that it shows children are invaluable. Not only is it addressing this diversity and the many different ways that people can make a family, it is also teaching the alphabet in a fun way with amazing illustrations. I love this book because I think every child who picks it up can find some sort of representation of themselves or their families.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews