Garden, N. (2004). Molly's family. New York: Farrar, Straus, & Giroux.
Molly’s Family is the story of Molly, a kindergartner with two mommies (a birth mom and an adopted mom). For Open School Night, Molly and her classmates draw pictures of their families to put on the wall; one of the students (Tommy) notices that Molly’s family is different and begins to criticize her for having two mommies. Tommy says that a family cannot have two mommies and Molly is confused because that is the only family she has ever known. The book shows Molly’s mommies and teacher trying to explain to her that all families are different, and Molly finally realizes it when she sees all the different types of family structures at Open School Night.
This book communicates a strong message that all families are different, and that it’s okay to be different. The book also shows the importance of realizing that it doesn’t matter what your family looks like as long as there is happiness and love. The illustrations in the book are colorful and vibrant and the text can be easily understood by younger children. I think this book also allows all students—and not just those with parents in the LGBT community—that all families have different make-ups. Some children have a mom and a dad, some children have just a mom or just a dad, and some children live with their grandparents or an Aunt or Uncle. This book helps to wash away the stereotype of the “perfect American Family” that consists of a mother, father, two children, and a dog. There has been a lot of controversy over this book because many parents think that elementary school is too young to introduce their students to the LGBT community. Many parents confuse educating students about homosexuality with providing details about homosexual sex—but this is not the case. Homosexuality does not have to be about sex, but about educating students about homosexuality so they are less judgmental and more accepting and aware of all types of people. I think that by communicating an overall message of love and different family make-ups, this book helps to educate students about people in the LGBT community. I think that students with LGBT parents would really be able to relate to Molly’s character because they too might have felt confused or ridiculed because their parents and family structure were different. I think that this book is an excellent example of quality LGBT literature for young children, and should be included in the collection of multicultural children’s literature at libraries and bookstores.
This book communicates a strong message that all families are different, and that it’s okay to be different. The book also shows the importance of realizing that it doesn’t matter what your family looks like as long as there is happiness and love. The illustrations in the book are colorful and vibrant and the text can be easily understood by younger children. I think this book also allows all students—and not just those with parents in the LGBT community—that all families have different make-ups. Some children have a mom and a dad, some children have just a mom or just a dad, and some children live with their grandparents or an Aunt or Uncle. This book helps to wash away the stereotype of the “perfect American Family” that consists of a mother, father, two children, and a dog. There has been a lot of controversy over this book because many parents think that elementary school is too young to introduce their students to the LGBT community. Many parents confuse educating students about homosexuality with providing details about homosexual sex—but this is not the case. Homosexuality does not have to be about sex, but about educating students about homosexuality so they are less judgmental and more accepting and aware of all types of people. I think that by communicating an overall message of love and different family make-ups, this book helps to educate students about people in the LGBT community. I think that students with LGBT parents would really be able to relate to Molly’s character because they too might have felt confused or ridiculed because their parents and family structure were different. I think that this book is an excellent example of quality LGBT literature for young children, and should be included in the collection of multicultural children’s literature at libraries and bookstores.
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