Critical Issues Books

Family Book

Citation : Parr.T ( 2003) The Family Book . New York , NY : Time Warner Book Group.,

ISNB # : 0 – 316 – 15563 – 2

About This Book : This a book about different families, as in how people can be different because they do not have a same cultural backgrounds. Different families speak different languages, have different beliefs and celebrate different holidays based on those beliefs; some people have one parent , some have 2 fathers/mothers, some are black, brown, white, etc. Some families live in different countries, and some live very close to each other. Families are big or small . Thus, the book teaches us about different people and different families in our society, that may have come from various places around the world .

Why I would choose this book for 3 - 5 years old : I would choose this book for 3-5 year olds because it is educational, in that it teaches them about how people around the world and around us, within society, are different; how even the families of the children in a center are different, and that’s ok. There is at least one or two children in a center whose parents are going through or have already been divorced, who have had to experience death within the family (even a parent) , who are living with grandparents, who are adopted, and the list goes on, including children that celebrate different holidays. This book can help educate children as to the reasons why children and families may be different from each other. And with this book children can learn about the variety of families, as well as how to respect them all.

Comment on illustration : Todd Parry chose a great way to introduce and teach children about different types of families. The words are typed in bold colors, which make it more attractive for children to look, as they are interested in bold, bright colors. It is also easy to read, as the language and sentences used are simple and appropriate for both young and older children. The simple designs and bold colors create a general mood that is happy and interesting, as the book explains about how some families are different from each other and how, even though they may be different, they can have similarities as well ( e.g. celebrating happy occasions). It would be a great book to keep children interested and focused on it, as each page brings a novel, different family. They may also be able to relate to some of the families in the book, and this can also keep their interests and provoke mini discussions about families, while reading the book.

Background knowledge : I will print the cover of the page ( size of a poster ) and tape it on the board where I sit and read a book to children during circle time. As they enter the class in the morning they are able to see the poster and talk about it with their fellow classmates. As we start reading the book ( the cover of the book won’t be visible ; as I will cover it with a piece of white paper ) . Before I read the book , we will have a small group discussion about the poster that they see on the board.



Three ways to present the book :

• Felt Story . Print picture of types of families from the book, glue felt or sandpaper on a back of the pictures , this way the picture will attach to a felt board. As you read the story you can show children different types of families on the felt board. ( Felt set can be found at 3H craftworks) and if want to make by yourself , the pieces can be found in Wal-Mart and/or at the Dollar store. 
•  Print some pictures of different characters from the book , glue a magnet to the back of the pictures, use a magnet board or cookie sheet to play with the different characters from the book and allow children to explore and to learn more about families which are different than their own ( white glue and magnet sheet can be found in the Dollar Store , Michaels , and Wal-Mart ) .
• Puppets: with a use of puppets we can present different characters of the book ( e.g. fish family , teddy bear family , bird’s family , elephant’s family, black , white, or brown families , etc ) . Puppet set can be made by hand ( materials from Wal-Mart , Fabric Stores , and/or ready made from 3H Craftworks ).

 Three possible extensions :

•  Bring something from home that is unique to your family, culture, heritage, etc, that you can share with the group during circle time as a sort of show and tell, if they can’t bring the object, if it’s too delicate, important, etc., they can bring a picture of it to share with the group. 
•  Bring a CD with songs from the different cultures in your own class (if you know them, you can ask either the children or the parents). Play the CD so that everyone can hear how songs are sang in different languages, this is especially fun if you have a large variety of cultures in your classroom. You can also give the children shakers, scarves, drums, etc, so that they can move to the music. If your class does not have a variety of cultural backgrounds to go off, then you can just introduce the different cultures yourself, using the songs sang in different languages, that you have chosen, and then explain to the children where each came from. The CD's called "World playground", "African playground", etc. are great places to start if you care looking for a CD that displays songs from various cultures or just one culture.
• Family Craft ! Use various different art supplies, like different colored paper , buttons , glitter , felt , fabrics , markers , glue, etc. and ask each child to create or design their own family.