First things first. Happy 30th anniversary to my fantastic husband, Randy Salas! My writing and career would be very different without him in my life.Now, onto book stuff:>) Last week, I did my first school visit since receiving my author copies of Meet My Family, and it was great to read it aloud to students on World Read Aloud Day! I asked kids to listen for anything that might be the same in their own family as it was in one of the baby animals’ family. It was great to see heads nodding as they made the connection.
Booklist reviewed Meet My Family in their Jan. 1 issue, and here are a few of my favorite bits:
“baby animals discuss their families, often in ways that mimic human families. ‘Someone else gave birth to me,’ says a baby rhesus macaque, while a harbor seal’s mother works all day hunting for food. Nontraditional families are represented…” Yes, they are! And “this is less a scientific glance at the animal kingdom and more a celebration of all kinds of families. Many of the animals use non-English words to describe their parents: the South African white rhino grazes with his amai and baba, while the Laysan albatross nests with her two mkuahines, the Hawaiian term for mother.” And Coleman’s illustrations “offer a glimpse into a wide range of habitats, while a final spread shows several diverse human families.”
I so appreciated how reviewer Maggie Reagan highlighted several different kinds of diversities: in family structures, in languages, in habitats… That diversity is the heart of this book.
Also, I’m excited to announce a blog tour! Thank you to the bloggers and educators hosting Meet My Family! And if you know of any educators or parents who might be interested in learning more, please feel free to take the graphic and share it. Thanks :>)
One Response
Congratulations, Laura! I’m looking forward to reading this book.