The Great Big Book of Families by Mary Hoffman & Ros Aquith

Hey there! I’m Cath Hak from Sex Ed Rescue, and I want to chat with you about this awesome book called The Great Big Book Families by Mary Hoffman. It’s a fantastic English book that came out in 2010 and has been around for a few years now. Mary Hoffman has written other great books too, like Feelings the Colour Green and more.

So, why do I love this book? Well, when kids are younger, it’s important to talk to them about differences in families as part of their sexuality and relationships education. Kids grow up in their own unique families, but as they go to school and start noticing other families, they might realize that they’re a bit different. Maybe they have two moms while all their friends have a mom and a dad. It’s natural for them to wonder why they’re different and if something is wrong with them. We all want to fit in and be like everyone else, right? That’s just how children develop.

That’s why reading books like this is so fantastic! It helps kids understand and accept their friends who may come from different kinds of families. It also helps them accept and feel good about their own family. This book is all about families, but it also teaches important messages about diversity.

Visually, this book is amazing! I wish I had found it when my kids were young. My kids, who are now twelve and eight, really enjoyed it. They loved searching for the hidden cat on every page. The book starts off by showing what a typical family might look like – a dad, a mom, a boy, a girl, a cat, a dog, and even some fish. But then it goes on to talk about how families can be so different. Some kids live with just their dad or their mom or their grandparents. Some have two moms or two dads. Some are adopted or fostered. It’s a beautiful celebration of diversity!

The book asks, Who’s in your family? and shows lots of different examples. Some families have lots of brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, and even in-laws. But sometimes, a family can just be a dad and a child. There are so many different types of homes too – big houses, tiny flats, and some people even struggle to find a place to live.

The book also talks about schools and how some kids go to school while others are taught at home or are too little to go to school. It covers jobs too, showing that in some families, everyone has a job, while in others, only one person works. It’s really cool to see dads staying at home and moms going off to work. The book is also very diverse in terms of cultures and colors, which is fantastic!

It doesn’t stop there! The book explores different types of holidays, from exotic trips to staying close to home. It even includes kids with disabilities, which is so important for representation. Food, clothing, pets, birthdays, hobbies, transportation – this book covers it all! It’s a great conversation starter at the dinner table.

The conclusion of the book is lovely. It reminds us that families can be big or small, happy or sad, rich or poor, loud or quiet, and everything in between. Most families are a mix of different things at different times. It’s a beautiful reminder that families are always changing.

I highly recommend checking out this book. Of course, everyone has different tastes, but in my opinion, it’s one of the best books out there for families. It’s a wonderful way to teach kids about diversity and acceptance. So go ahead and grab a copy, and I hope you find it as amazing as I do!

Cheers, and I hope this review helps!