Starred review from July 1, 2021
Toddler-PreS-Lyrical, rhyming text depicts various ways families grow in this inclusive board book. Pregnancy, adoption, and surrogacy are all gently alluded to in the text. "The belly might belong to Mom, but also it may not./ Sometimes another special belly is the perfect spot." The end papers include a glossary of terms associated with families such as pregnancy and womb, but it also includes lesser-known terms such as "Forever Parent(s), the person (or people) who decide to love and care for a child and be that child's forever family." A wonderful addition to library shelves everywhere.
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Starred review from November 15, 2021
An exploration of the many ways, traditional and nontraditional, that families grow. This bighearted board book launches with a note about how a family starts with a wish. From there, the story details a variety of ways to welcome a new baby into a family, holding reverent space for diverse experiences. A straightforward rhyming text puts an array of topics--from surrogacy to adoption--into a child-friendly context that will both validate young readers' own experiences as well as provide context for children in families that may have formed in a way different from their own. With its uncomplicated sentences, the story includes just enough detail for young readers: "The belly might belong to Mom, / But also it may not. / Sometimes another special belly / Is the perfect spot." An emphasis on how much babies are loved by their families once they become a part of them, regardless of the process, is underscored throughout the book. Family bonds shine brightly in cheerful, crisp-lined illustrations featuring bold colors and patterns. The illustrations focus on several interracial opposite-sex couples, but there's also one interracial same-sex couple and one possible single-parent family. Parents, children, and babies are racially diverse. A glossary of terms at the close--including the words and phrases womb, birth parents, foster parent(s), forever parent(s), and more--provides an opportunity to continue the conversation. A sweet and inclusive look at the different ways that families are formed. (Board book. 1-3)
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