Families Count  

More Faerie Tales from the Rainbow Library

BY NETH URKIEL-TAYLOR

lot of children’s picture

books about families

that include queer com-
munity images are also activity
oriented. For instance, Who’s in
a Family by Robert Skutch light-
ly explores ethnicity and compo-
sition of family groups. The
book invites us to create or col-
lect pictures of our parents, sib-
lings, relatives, friends,
guardians or care givers.

One of the original
queer family books for children
was printed as a coloring book.
Children’s book author/illustra-
tor Michael Willhoite illustrated
maI.iy..tya2.es 0f.f.=i.mi,1.i,e.s.i.I.i.  
Families (a coloring book). As
an adoptee, 1 am glad that both
this book and The Family Book
by author/illustrator Todd Parr
make reference to adoption.

Both Michael and Todd illustrate
in animated and eye-pleasing
styles. However, Todd’s book is
a bit heavy on_ the hetero and
depicts queer families very little.

If you want to see

almost exclusively queer fami-
lies in a child's picture book it
would be better to stay with two
books published by Two Lives
Publishing. The first, A B C — A
Family Alphabet is a winner. Not
only do we see queer families
living their lives, but we get to
learn our alphabet. The lively
illustrations of Desiree Keane
and Brian Rappa are superb.
Interestingly, little queer subtext
is added to the book — S is not
for snap, D is not for Drag
Queen, F is not for Fabulous -
(although this book is). i

C ' The second book, I 2 3
— A Family Counting Book lacks
in visual appeal. The illustrations
by Danamarie Hosler are rather
muddy and appear unfinished.
However, the illustrations do ‘
depict the physical closeness of
same sex relationships better
than any of the other family pic-
ture books. A big thanks to Two
Lives and publisher/author
Bobbie Combs for seeing these
books into print.

Coloring pages, creat-

ing/collecting family pictures,
learning numbers or the alphabet

 
   
    
 

are all active invitations for us
and our children to spend more
time absorbing queerfamily
images rarely offered in many
children’s books. None of these
books use the words “queer,”
“gay,” or “lesbian” when
describing the two-mom or two-
dad illustrations. As well, none
of these books focuses solely on
the two-mom, two-dad and
chi1d(ren) equal a family model.
There is roomfor grandparents,
aunts, uncles and animals; A B C
— A Family Alphabet says it best:
F is for Family and R is for
Rainbow. As they well should
be. Y

Neth is currently involved in The
Rainbow Library, a Vermont
resource or queer themed pic-
ture books, videos, and family
information. Library stafl is will-
ing to facilitate reading circles
with your friends and family,
group, school or organization.
Call 652-0878 to learn how you
can become involved, to get a
bibliography, or tolearn more
about the library.

Sarah Harrington, a realtor

, dedicated to our community!

 

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