And We’re Gonna

Get Ma-a-aried!

More Faerie Tales from the Rainbow Library

BY NETH URKIEL-TAYLOR

ing of marriage for same sex
couples in Massachusetts,
there will be more need for chil-
dren’s books about same sex
weddings and divorces. Two
well-known Massachusetts queer
authors, Michael Willhoite and
Leslea Newman, have written
children’s books on these topics.
While I looked for books show-
ing lesbians in commitment/civil
union/marriage ceremonies, the
books available showed only gay
male couplesin these situations.
Written almost a decade
ago, Daddy’s Wedding by
Michael Willhoite is a fairy tale
come true. Michael is not only a
writer, but an illustrator whose
work is very animated and clear.
This helps to hold the attention
of people of whatever age who
like to look at the pictures.

I imagine with the commenc-

The story
shows men
exchanging
rings and
vows, men
kissing and
the best-case

scenario of how families

   

share in a special
announcement and day of
love between two gay men.

The book’s central fig-
ure is a boy name Nick. It is
Nick’s Dad, Daniel, who is get-
ting married to another man. The
book’s age is revealed when

Daniel’s partner Frank refers to
the wedding as a “commitment”
ceremony. But the story shows
men exchanging rings and vows,
men kissing and the best-case

/L

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scenario of how families share in
a special announcement and day
of love between two gay men.
The “ex-wife” and her guy, along
with Nick’s grandparents, are
shown throughout the story as
supportive and happy about this
union.

Family acknowledg-
ment and support of same-sex
couples are not always so per-
fect. In March, I wrote about My
Two Uncles by Judith Vigna. The
main character, Elly, must come
to terms with the struggle facing
her Uncle Ned, and Ned’s
“friend” Urfble Phil: the gay cou-
ple is unwelcome to attend the
50th wedding anniversary of the
grandfather patriarch of the -
family. 

Another book I have
mentioned before and will note
again here is King and King by
Linda de Haan and Stern
Nijland. This book takes a very
comical and entertaining
approach to finding and marry-
ing prince charming! I would
suggest this book for laughs, to
open a discussion about gay mar-
riage, and/or prior to reading
Daddy’s Wedding.

Currently, many mar-
riages lead to divorce. New
Victoria Publishers, Inc., in
Norwich, Vermont, published

ADMISSION (Par TAsrIlvc SESSION)
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Saturday is Pattyday in 1993, 
authored by western
Massachusetts writer Leslea ,
Newman. Similarly to Daddy's?
Wedding and My Two Uncles 
book looks at the subject matter?
through the eyes of a child.
Frankie allows us to experienc
some moments of her difficult’ I‘ 
transition when one of her two 2,
moms moves out of the house. 
The book is honest and recog- "
nizes from page one that both
Patty and Allie are Frankie’s
moms. The relationships shown
are between Frankie and Allie,
and Frankie and Patty. Each
mother shares with Frankie her
thoughts about the divorce. Th
book concludes on a very posi
tive note, leaving room for
smiles and good-byes. V

.4.
K’.

 

Neth is currently involved in The 
Rainbow Library, a reference —-.I.
library and Vermont resource for.
queer-themed picture books, I
videos, and family information.
Library staff are willing to facili- I
tate 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 to learn more about the
library.

,1,