A Family Is a Family Is a Family
Sara O'Leary, Qin Leng
Series:
Who We Are
Type:
Fiction
Category:
Family
Themes:
Parents, Orphans & Foster Homes, General
Language:
English
Publisher:
Grade Level:
K-2
Age Range:
4-7
Description
When a teacher asks her class to think about what makes their families special, the answers are all different, but the same in one important way ...
When a teacher asks her class to think about what makes their families special, the answers are all different, but the same in one important way ...
When a teacher asks the children in her class to think about what makes their families special, the answers are all different in many ways — but the same in the one way that matters most of all.
One child is worried that her family is just too different to explain, but listens as her classmates talk about what makes their families special. One is raised by a grandmother, and another has two dads. One has many stepsiblings, and another has a new baby in the family.
As her classmates describe who they live with and who loves them — family of every shape, size and every kind of relation — the child realizes that as long as her family is full of caring people, it is special.
A warm and whimsical look at many types of families, written by award-winning author Sara O’Leary, with quirky and sweet illustrations by Qin Leng.
Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.1
With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.2
Retell stories, including key details, and demonstrate understanding of their central message or lesson.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.6
Identify who is telling the story at various points in a text.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.9
Compare and contrast the adventures and experiences of characters in stories.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.6
Acknowledge differences in the points of view of characters, including by speaking in a different voice for each character when reading dialogue aloud.
Contributors
Formats
Awards
CBC Best Books of 2016Commended
USBBY's Outstanding International Books ListCommended
Bank Street College of Education Best Children's Books of the YearCommended
OLA Best Bets Top TenCommended
Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book AwardShort-listed
Toronto Public Library's First and Best ListCommended
Related Books
Grade K-2
Sports & Recreation Social Issues Family
Away
Emil Sher, Qin Leng
Love shines through in the sticky notes shared between a mother and daughter in this picture book about making time for family in our busy lives.
Grade P-3
People & Places Family Performing Arts
Hana Hashimoto, Sixth Violin
Chieri Uegaki, Qin Leng
Hana has signed up to play the violin at the talent show, even though she's only had three lessons. Her brothers predict disaster. But Hana practices and practices, inspired by her grandfather, or Ojiichan, who played the violin every day when she visited him in Japan. As Hana takes the stage, doubt is all she can hear, until she recalls her grandfather's words of encouragement, and shows the audience how beautiful music can take many forms.
Family
Harry and Walter
Kathy Stinson, Qin Leng
Inspired by a true story, this moving picture book details the friendship between a four year-old boy, Harry, and his ninety-two year-old neighbor, Walter. When Harry moves nothing seems to be fun anymore, until one day, he hears Walter’s voice. Their friendship blooms again now that Walter has moved close by.
Grade 1-3
Family People & Places Animals Sports & Recreation
Kamik Joins the Pack
Darryl Baker, Qin Leng
Jake and his puppy Kamik learn from their Elders everything they need to know to be part of a winning sled dog team.
Grade P-1
Social Issues Diversity & Multicultural
A Kid Is a Kid Is a Kid
Sara O'Leary, Qin Leng
A group of kids share the silly questions they always hear, as well as the questions they would rather be asked about themselves.