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Book Review: The Family Book by Todd Parr

by Joann Keder

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The Family Book, recommended for ages four through eight, is a great new-reader story. This bright and simple book tells readers that loving families come in all shapes and sizes, and they all have some things in common. The author, Todd Parr, does this by alternating examples of ways families are different with ways they are the same.

Some families have a mom and dad. Some have two moms taking care of their baby. In other families, there is just one parent taking care of the kids. Families can be big or small, live near to each other or far away, and look the same or different. One way all loving families are the same is the way they support each other through sad or happy times.

Todd Parr both writes and illustrates this uplifting and fun book. The colorful illustrations make the reader feel like she is attending a party. The author cleverly uses animals to show family situations, like showing two bears hugging to illustrate a bear hug.

While there are some difficult words, this should be easily mastered by a beginning reader. The Family Book is published by Little, Brown and Company and is available at Amazon.com. “All families can help each other be strong!” Words to live by.

Author

Joann Keder is a “late bloomer.” She entered college at the age of 36 and recently completed a master’s degree in creative writing. She lives in a small Nebraska town, where she works as the assistant director for a community arts center. She has two daughters in college and has been married for almost a quarter of a century.