A Family Like Ours

by Frank Murphy, Alice Lee, Kayla Harren (Illustrator)

Overview

Everyone's family is unique—and good! From sprawling extended families and close-knit units to adopted and chosen families, A Family Like Ours celebrates all those important connections we build over the years. Regardless of what yours looks like, family is a place for support, safety, growth, and inspiration. What is special, surprising, or sensational about your family?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781534111868
Publisher:	Sleeping Bear Press
Publication date:	08/15/2023
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	422,061
Product dimensions:	9.10(w) x 11.00(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	480L (what's this?)
Age Range:	6 - 7 Years

About the Author

Frank Murphy writes children’s books and teaches elementary school. Every school year he views each new class as a “family”—for over 30 years now! His “at home” family includes people and puppies with the names: Carla, Haley, Griffin, Chase, Kathleen, Francis, Jumper, Cali, Jack, Katie Claire, all the Saglimbenis, the Murphys, and many more.

Alice Lee is an educator, administrator, and avid children’s literature reader. She always dreamed of becoming an author. She believes in activating and transforming students through education and literacy so that they are empowered to create a kinder world. She is passionate about sharing the love of literacy and a good story to families, educators, and children. A Family Like Ours was written with all the families, groups, and communities who have impacted Alice throughout her life. Alice is a first generation Korean-American. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two wonderful children. A Family Like Ours is Alice’s first picture book.

Kayla Harren graduated from the School of Visual Arts in New York City. She is the illustrator of many picture books, including A Boy Like You and A Girl Like You. She grew up in a family with her mom, dad, and older brother. She has also been included in sports team families, art club families, and friendship families. Kayla lives in Minnesota with her own little family made up of her husband and adopted dogs.

Editorial Reviews

STARRED REVIEW: Families are big and small, near and far, blood and found in this picture book that defines family only by the love that its members share.

Foreword Reviews

A Family Like Ours, by Alice Lee and Frank Murphy, illustrated by Kayla Harren (Sleeping Bear Press), is a warm and affirming book about the many kinds of families and the ways we form and choose them.

Mombian

2023-05-24
The author-illustrator team behind A Boy Like You (2019) collaborates with new author Lee in this earnest celebration of families of all kinds.

“There are so many families in the world….Each one is different from the next,” the authors open, against a backdrop of a joyful picnic populated by people of myriad sizes, skin tones, abilities, and ages. A truly wide range is depicted lovingly through Harren’s soft illustrations and sometimes explicitly through the text, which references families separated by distance as well as chosen families at various stages in life. Hardships, while acknowledged, are glossed over in a way that may not bring much comfort to young readers in similar situations (“Some break apart and, / hopefully, / eventually, / mend and grow stronger in new ways. / Because we are made to be together”). Maxims of this type are repeated throughout the book, framed as conclusions even when their connection to the preceding text is not always clear (“Families give us a / place to live. / A place to grow. / A place with strong roots for reaching branches and colorful blooms. / Because we are braver together”). Still, overall, the artwork is effective, the tone is reassuring, and readers seeking diverse familial representations will find this offering helpful. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Sweet and inclusive. (authors and illustrator note) (Picture book. 3-8)

Kirkus Reviews