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Citation: Williams-Garcia, R. (2010). One Crazy Summer. New York: Harper Collins Publisher. (218)
Awards: Coretta Scott King Award for Author (2011), Scott O'Dell Award (2011), Publishers Weekly's Best Children's Books of the Year for Fiction (2010).
Summary: One Crazy Summer is about three daughters' journey from living with their father to moving across America to live with their mother, who abandoned them years ago. When the girls arrive, their mother does not want anything to do with them so the girls are forced to learn about her through the people at the community center. This book addresses issues of identity, the Civil Rights Movement, abandonment and its repurcussions. But, above all it is about three close sisters and their need to learn about their mother, who only gave them one thing: their names. This book shows a broken family and the children's journey to learn about their long, lost mother.
Awards: Coretta Scott King Award for Author (2011), Scott O'Dell Award (2011), Publishers Weekly's Best Children's Books of the Year for Fiction (2010).
Summary: One Crazy Summer is about three daughters' journey from living with their father to moving across America to live with their mother, who abandoned them years ago. When the girls arrive, their mother does not want anything to do with them so the girls are forced to learn about her through the people at the community center. This book addresses issues of identity, the Civil Rights Movement, abandonment and its repurcussions. But, above all it is about three close sisters and their need to learn about their mother, who only gave them one thing: their names. This book shows a broken family and the children's journey to learn about their long, lost mother.
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Citation: Lord, C. (2006). Rules. New York: Scholastic Press. (208)
Awards: Newbery Honor (2007), Schneider Family Book Award for Middle School Book (2007), Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award (2008).
Summary: Rules is a humorous take on a family that is like any other family, except for that they have a son who has a disability. The main character, Catherine, struggles to have a "normal life" but it is hard for her when she has a brother with autism who she has to teach how to behave everyday and her family continues to give him all the attention. Catherine struggles with her behavior towards her friends and her family. Things change when she meets Jason, a paraplegic boy, who makes her rethink what is considered "normal" to her and what is most important to her. This is a great book on what the life of a family with a member with a disability is like on a daily basis as well as the love between a brother and a sister.
Awards: Newbery Honor (2007), Schneider Family Book Award for Middle School Book (2007), Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award (2008).
Summary: Rules is a humorous take on a family that is like any other family, except for that they have a son who has a disability. The main character, Catherine, struggles to have a "normal life" but it is hard for her when she has a brother with autism who she has to teach how to behave everyday and her family continues to give him all the attention. Catherine struggles with her behavior towards her friends and her family. Things change when she meets Jason, a paraplegic boy, who makes her rethink what is considered "normal" to her and what is most important to her. This is a great book on what the life of a family with a member with a disability is like on a daily basis as well as the love between a brother and a sister.
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Citation: Juster, N. (2005). The Hello, Goodbye Window. New York: Michael Di Capua Books. (32)
Awards: Caldecott Medal (2006), An ALA Notable Children's Book for Younger Readers (2006)
Summary: This picture, song book is about the love between grandparents and grandchild. Told through the eyes of the little girl, this story is about her journey to a commonplace that she sees as a magical way through the kitchen window of her grandparents' house. You get to follow the little girl through all the things that she feels represents her grandparents and the love that she has for them. I feel this is a lovable book that shows the relationship one has for her family, specifically her grandparents.
Awards: Caldecott Medal (2006), An ALA Notable Children's Book for Younger Readers (2006)
Summary: This picture, song book is about the love between grandparents and grandchild. Told through the eyes of the little girl, this story is about her journey to a commonplace that she sees as a magical way through the kitchen window of her grandparents' house. You get to follow the little girl through all the things that she feels represents her grandparents and the love that she has for them. I feel this is a lovable book that shows the relationship one has for her family, specifically her grandparents.
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Citation: Rosoff, M. (2004). How I Live Now. New York: Wendy Lamb Books. (194)
Awards: Michael Printz Award (2005), Branford Boase Award (2005), Boston Author's Club Young Reader Award (2005)
Summary: When Daisy is sent to live with her aunt and cousins in England, her life is flipped upside down. After her aunt goes away on business, a war breaks out and she is forced to keep herself and her cousins that she has never met before alive. This story gives a great view through the eyes of a 15 year old teenager and how life was for a girl like her during a world war. Also, it journeys you through the growing relationships between cousins who have to take care of each other during a treacherous time. How I Live Now shows how family always comes first during a time in need and how no matter what they come together even though they may not know each other as well.
Awards: Michael Printz Award (2005), Branford Boase Award (2005), Boston Author's Club Young Reader Award (2005)
Summary: When Daisy is sent to live with her aunt and cousins in England, her life is flipped upside down. After her aunt goes away on business, a war breaks out and she is forced to keep herself and her cousins that she has never met before alive. This story gives a great view through the eyes of a 15 year old teenager and how life was for a girl like her during a world war. Also, it journeys you through the growing relationships between cousins who have to take care of each other during a treacherous time. How I Live Now shows how family always comes first during a time in need and how no matter what they come together even though they may not know each other as well.
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Citation: Freedman, R. (2005). Children of the Great Depression. New York: Clarion Books. (128)
Awards: Orbis Pictus Award, Golden Kite Award
Summary: This book paints a picture for how the families during the Great Depression lived and the struggles they faced to stay together. The author addresses challenges from unemployed and demoralized parents to children who had to leave school to go to work. This book is authentic in that it draws upon memoirs, diaries, letters, and firsthand accounts as well as shows young readers life during the Great Depression for families at face value.
Awards: Orbis Pictus Award, Golden Kite Award
Summary: This book paints a picture for how the families during the Great Depression lived and the struggles they faced to stay together. The author addresses challenges from unemployed and demoralized parents to children who had to leave school to go to work. This book is authentic in that it draws upon memoirs, diaries, letters, and firsthand accounts as well as shows young readers life during the Great Depression for families at face value.
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Citation: Sherman, A. (2007). The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. New York: Little, Brown, & Company. (230)
Awards: National Book Award for Young People's Literature (2007), School Library Journal Best Book of the Year (2007), American Indian Library Association Award, American Indian Youth Literature Award for Best Young Adult Book (2008), ALA's Top Ten Best Books for Young Adults (2008).
Summary: In this story, we follow Junior through taking his life in his own hands when his family does not support the fact that he wants to learn and does not want to fall into the life that his parents did, a life of troubles. This story of a Native American adolescent shows the life of a family that may not be as supportive and how sometimes children have to take care of themselves in order for them to have a future. You also see the struggle that Junior has in identifying himself as Native American or white, with the rest of the children in his new school.
Awards: National Book Award for Young People's Literature (2007), School Library Journal Best Book of the Year (2007), American Indian Library Association Award, American Indian Youth Literature Award for Best Young Adult Book (2008), ALA's Top Ten Best Books for Young Adults (2008).
Summary: In this story, we follow Junior through taking his life in his own hands when his family does not support the fact that he wants to learn and does not want to fall into the life that his parents did, a life of troubles. This story of a Native American adolescent shows the life of a family that may not be as supportive and how sometimes children have to take care of themselves in order for them to have a future. You also see the struggle that Junior has in identifying himself as Native American or white, with the rest of the children in his new school.
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Citation: Ryan, P. (2002). Esperanza Rising. New York: Scholastic Press. (288)
Awards: Pura Belpre Award for Narrative (2002), ALA's Top Ten Best Books for Young Adults (2001), The Judy Lopez Memorial Award for Children's Literature Medalist (2001).
Summary: When Esperanza's father passes and her ranch is burnt to a crisp, her life is turned upside down. Esperanza and her mother must flee to California during the Great Depression to find work on a camp for Mexican farm workers. She struggles with such a huge life shift from being waited on hand and foot to picking good, hard labor, and financial struggles. When her mother becomes sick it is up to Esperanza to grow up and work for her and her mother's lives. This an enlightening story of the life of a Mexican family during the Great Depression and how one would do anything to keep their family alive.
Awards: Pura Belpre Award for Narrative (2002), ALA's Top Ten Best Books for Young Adults (2001), The Judy Lopez Memorial Award for Children's Literature Medalist (2001).
Summary: When Esperanza's father passes and her ranch is burnt to a crisp, her life is turned upside down. Esperanza and her mother must flee to California during the Great Depression to find work on a camp for Mexican farm workers. She struggles with such a huge life shift from being waited on hand and foot to picking good, hard labor, and financial struggles. When her mother becomes sick it is up to Esperanza to grow up and work for her and her mother's lives. This an enlightening story of the life of a Mexican family during the Great Depression and how one would do anything to keep their family alive.
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Citation: Elliott, R. (2012). Just Because. UK: Lion Hudson. (32)
Awards: Dolly Gray Award (2012)
Summary: A brother describes his love for his sister in this picture book and what makes her special. Throughout the book, the younger brother realizes that his sister has special needs but accepts her for who she is anyways. This is a sincere treatment of children with disabilities and a great encourager for siblings to treat each other as best friends and love each other even though they may be different. This is a great story of family love between a brother and a sister as well as a family who has to adjust to a life with a child with special needs.
Awards: Dolly Gray Award (2012)
Summary: A brother describes his love for his sister in this picture book and what makes her special. Throughout the book, the younger brother realizes that his sister has special needs but accepts her for who she is anyways. This is a sincere treatment of children with disabilities and a great encourager for siblings to treat each other as best friends and love each other even though they may be different. This is a great story of family love between a brother and a sister as well as a family who has to adjust to a life with a child with special needs.
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Citation: Polacco, P. (2009). In Our Mother's House. City: Philomel. (48)
Awards: Stonewall ALA Award
Summary: This follows the story of a very diverse family where two moms adopt three very different cultural children but they are just like any other family. This family does everything that any other family does: cook, laugh, play, dance, and love each other. But, others in the community do not see them as any other family and do not accept them. Although they face the struggle of being accepted, they still feel that they are what any family is meant to be, and that is one that has love. This is a great story of an LGBTQI family and their love that keeps them strong.
Awards: Stonewall ALA Award
Summary: This follows the story of a very diverse family where two moms adopt three very different cultural children but they are just like any other family. This family does everything that any other family does: cook, laugh, play, dance, and love each other. But, others in the community do not see them as any other family and do not accept them. Although they face the struggle of being accepted, they still feel that they are what any family is meant to be, and that is one that has love. This is a great story of an LGBTQI family and their love that keeps them strong.
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Citation: Skutch, R. (1995). Who's in a Family?. Berkeley, California: Tricycle Press. (32)
Summary: This wonderful picture book goes through different families to show what is similar about all them and what really is in a family. There are people families and even animal families. But in the end, all that you need to have a family is love. It also addresses that your family may like no other family, but that is ok. This is a great book to show that all families are different but all have love.
Summary: This wonderful picture book goes through different families to show what is similar about all them and what really is in a family. There are people families and even animal families. But in the end, all that you need to have a family is love. It also addresses that your family may like no other family, but that is ok. This is a great book to show that all families are different but all have love.
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Citation: Abramchilk, L. (1996). Is Your Family Like Mine? Open Heart, Open Mind. (32)
Summary: Armetha, a 5 year old girl, who lives in a family with two moms who raise her and one dad who helped create her journeys to find a common bond between her friends families and her. She finds out that her friends come from families of nuclear, step parent, single parent, and foster parents. Armetha and her friends find out that what is common among all their families is love. This book works to address multicultural friendships and family diversity in a sensitive, sincere way.
Summary: Armetha, a 5 year old girl, who lives in a family with two moms who raise her and one dad who helped create her journeys to find a common bond between her friends families and her. She finds out that her friends come from families of nuclear, step parent, single parent, and foster parents. Armetha and her friends find out that what is common among all their families is love. This book works to address multicultural friendships and family diversity in a sensitive, sincere way.
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Citation: Combs, B. (2012). ABC: A Family Alphabet Book. Annapolis, MD: Two Lives Publishing. (34)
Summary: From being the first to wake up, picnicking at the beach, to seeing penguins at the zoo this organized alphabet book goes through the activities that a same sex marriage family does everyday through all letters of the alphabet. But, the activities portray actions that are not unique to a particular family unit. This book addresses the great importance of family as well as helps clear up to children that families come in all shapes and sizes but every family is one that foster growth and love.
Summary: From being the first to wake up, picnicking at the beach, to seeing penguins at the zoo this organized alphabet book goes through the activities that a same sex marriage family does everyday through all letters of the alphabet. But, the activities portray actions that are not unique to a particular family unit. This book addresses the great importance of family as well as helps clear up to children that families come in all shapes and sizes but every family is one that foster growth and love.
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Citation: Clark, K. (2010). Sweet Moon Baby. New York: Knopf Books. (32).
Summary: From her birth parents in China to her new parents on the other side of the world, we follow the journey of a turtle, a peacock, a monkey, a panda, and some fish who guide a baby as she floats on a basket to the arms of her new parents. This is a great picture, lullaby book that addresses the journey of adoption and the love between adopted parents and children. It shows the reasons for adoption along in a sentimental way and shows how love grows between parents and their adopted children. This is a great representation of a different family dynamic that came about through adoption.
Summary: From her birth parents in China to her new parents on the other side of the world, we follow the journey of a turtle, a peacock, a monkey, a panda, and some fish who guide a baby as she floats on a basket to the arms of her new parents. This is a great picture, lullaby book that addresses the journey of adoption and the love between adopted parents and children. It shows the reasons for adoption along in a sentimental way and shows how love grows between parents and their adopted children. This is a great representation of a different family dynamic that came about through adoption.
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Citation: Davol, M. (1993). Black, White, Just Right!. Morton Grove, IL: Albert Whitman & Company. (32)
Summary: This upbeat picture book, goes through the interests of a child's mother who is African American, her father who is white, and herself. It shows how the blend of her mother and father has created her "just right" physical appearance and personality. It is a great representation of a mixed-race family and their pride for who they are as well as the child's love for how she is a mix between her two multi-race parents. The author shows how members of a family have different likes/dislikes, hobbies/interests, appearance, and personality that move beyond stereotype but overall it is the love and appreciation for each other that keeps them a "just right" blend.
Summary: This upbeat picture book, goes through the interests of a child's mother who is African American, her father who is white, and herself. It shows how the blend of her mother and father has created her "just right" physical appearance and personality. It is a great representation of a mixed-race family and their pride for who they are as well as the child's love for how she is a mix between her two multi-race parents. The author shows how members of a family have different likes/dislikes, hobbies/interests, appearance, and personality that move beyond stereotype but overall it is the love and appreciation for each other that keeps them a "just right" blend.
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Citation: Coffelt, N. (2007). Fred Stays With Me!. New York: Little, Brown & Company. (32)
Summary: This story follows a little girl and her dog as she moves back and forth between her mom and dad's house. Her mother and father begin to get annoyed with the dog but adjust to let her keep him because the dog is the child's sense of stability within a divorced family. The story shows the adjustments that a little girl has to make to live with her part time mom and part time dad and how her dog, Fred, makes her happy as she has to continue to go back and forth. This is a representation of how a divorced parent family resolves conflicts (Fred, the dog) to make their daughter feel consistent in a life of "part-time parents" in order to help her adjust to the continuous changes that she faces everyday.
Summary: This story follows a little girl and her dog as she moves back and forth between her mom and dad's house. Her mother and father begin to get annoyed with the dog but adjust to let her keep him because the dog is the child's sense of stability within a divorced family. The story shows the adjustments that a little girl has to make to live with her part time mom and part time dad and how her dog, Fred, makes her happy as she has to continue to go back and forth. This is a representation of how a divorced parent family resolves conflicts (Fred, the dog) to make their daughter feel consistent in a life of "part-time parents" in order to help her adjust to the continuous changes that she faces everyday.