Mom and Mum are Getting Married!

by Ken Setterington, Alice Priestley (Illustrator)

Overview

Rosie is surprised to find her Mom dancing alone in the living room, but when Mom announces, “Your Mum and I are getting married!” they can’t wait to start planning the big day. Friends and family come together for a celebration of love.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781896764849
Publisher:	Second Story Press
Publication date:	09/23/2004
Pages:	24
Product dimensions:	8.81(w) x 8.77(h) x 0.27(d)
Age Range:	6 - 8 Years

About the Author

Ken Setterington is a retired librarian, storyteller, author, and a children’s book reviewer. He was the first Children and Youth Advocate for Library Services for the Toronto Public Library. He received the title Librarian of the Year. He is the author of the picture book Mom and Mum are Getting Married!. He lives with his partner in Toronto.

Alice Priestley has illustrated numerous books including five other children’s stories. Out on the Ice in the Middle of the Bay was shortlisted for a Mr. Christie Book Award and the Amelia Frances Gibbon Award. Her other books include Winning the Girl of the Sea, The Watcher, Clouds on the Mountain and Someone’s Reading This Book. She lives in Toronto with her husband and children.

Editorial Reviews

This book is a simple yet powerful treatment of the socially contentious issue, same-sex marriage.

Professionally Speaking (Ontario College of Teachers)

The story is complemented by bright, cheerful illustrations that will no doubt appeal to young children.

Resource Links

It’s a welcome reflection of reality for children who are growing up in lesbian or gay-parented families.

Worth the Trip website

Second Story Press Celebrates Gay Marriage in California With Their Classic Picture Book ‘Mom and Mum are Getting Married!

Lifestyletom.com

Writing the story from the point of a view of a child with two mothers helps to protect the book from an overly didactic ring.

CM Magazine

It gives parents and educators the chance to teach children about tolerance, acceptance and love.

Nfld) Telegram (St. John's

Highlighting a different kind of family, the book is a celebration of love and family in a changing world.

New Brunswick Reader

This book easily introduces the topic of same-sex marriage in an age-appropriate manner.

Mothering Magazine

Author Ken Setterington is to be congratulated for keeping a light touch in his story. His goal of providing an open and accepting context for readers to ask questions and discuss ideas might otherwise have become heavy-handed or theme-driven.

Canadian Review of Materials Magazine

K-Gr 3-Rosie's two mothers are going to get married. When Mom tells her daughter about their plans, the youngster asks if she can be a bridesmaid or a flower girl, but Mom just wants a small celebration. Rosie offers another option-she and her brother, Jack, will carry the rings. Predictably, when the big day arrives, the rings are temporarily misplaced (by the couple). Rosie comes up with a solution to prevent them from getting lost a second time, and the wedding comes off without a hitch. "A perfect day," says Mum. The ink-and-colored pencil drawings are somewhat flat but colorful. While the story is slight and not particularly engaging, libraries needing to augment their collections on gay lifestyles may want to consider it.-Roxanne Burg, Orange County Public Library, CA Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal

Gay picture books are unfortunately still rare enough that they all matter regardless of literary and artistic quality. This one happens to be stilted and static. Rosie's Mom and Mum are getting married. Rosie's only concern is whether or not she'll get to be a flower girl, ring-bearer, or something else crucial to the ceremony (which she wishes would be bigger and fancier than it is). The concept and rightness of this two-mother family (and the same-sex marriage itself) are never questioned; there is no antagonist of the type often created specifically to facilitate a tolerance message. However, Setterington's text plods along, feeling forced. Priestley's drawings, though brightly colored, lack vibrancy and feel stale. This clearly deliberate piece has a worthy agenda and will stand in until better quality versions come along. Artistically tepid but socially valuable. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews