A Family Is a Family Is a Family

by Sara O'Leary, illustrated by Qin Leng

tagged: parents, orphans & foster homes

Description

When a teacher asks the children in her class to think about what makes their families special, the answers are all different in many ways — but the same in the one way that matters most of all.

One child is worried that her family is just too different to explain, but listens as her classmates talk about what makes their families special. One is raised by a grandmother, and another has two dads. One has many stepsiblings, and another has a new baby in the family.

As her classmates describe who they live with and who loves them — family of every shape, size and every kind of relation — the child realizes that as long as her family is full of caring people, it is special.

A warm and whimsical look at many types of families, written by award-winning author Sara O’Leary, with quirky and sweet illustrations by Qin Leng.

About the Authors

Sara O'Leary

Sara O’Leary is a writer of fiction for adults and children. Her highly acclaimed picture books include Night Walk, illustrated by Ellie Arscott; A Family Is a Family Is a Family, illustrated by Qin Leng; and Maud and Grand-Maud, illustrated by Kenard Pak. She has also written the award-winning series of Henry books and This Is Sadie (adapted for the stage for New York City’s Children’s Theater), all illustrated by Julie Morstad. Sara writes for children’s animation and teaches at Concordia University in Montreal.

Qin Leng was born in Shanghai and lived in France and Montreal. She now lives and works as a designer and illustrator in Toronto. Her father, an artist himself, was a great influence on her. She grew up surrounded by paintings, and it became second nature for her to express herself through art. She graduated from the Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema and has received many awards for her animated short films and artwork. Qin has always loved to illustrate the innocence of children and has developed a passion for children’s books. She has illustrated numerous picture books for publishers in Canada, the United States, and South Korea.

Age:: 4 to 7
Grade:: k to 2
Reading age:: 4 to 7

Awards

Commended, USBBY's Outstanding International Books List
Commended, Bank Street College of Education Best Children's Books of the Year
Short-listed, Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book Award
Commended, CBC Best Books of 2016
Commended, OLA Best Bets Top Ten
Commended, Toronto Public Library's First and Best List

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Librarian review

A Family is a Family is a Family

by [Top Grade]

This book highlights the diversity of families and increase understanding of family structures such as divorced parents, foster parents, and same-sex parents. This book will also help young readers understand their own families, and the families of their friends and classmates. Playful illustrations enliven different family structures and create a visual understanding of the differences that make each family unique.

Source: Association of Canadian Publishers. Diversity Collection Selection 2017.