User:Jilliangtown/The Family Book

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Please note, anything in BOLD is what I added to this article. These are not the most recent updates. Please visit The Family Book official article for more of my edits.

Article Draft[edit]

The Family Book is a 2003 children's picture book written and illustrated by Todd Parr that details the daily lives of all kinds of families. [1] Each unique family structure is depicted with vivid illustrations that complement the book’s themes of family diversity and inclusivity. The book has been adopted in various educational settings as a teaching tool to normalize the acceptance of various family forms.[2] The Family Book is one of the most banned children’s literature to exist, and has sparked controversy in certain regions due to its inclusion of same-sex marriages as a family structure listed in the book.

Content Summary[edit]

The Family Book depicts the diversity of family structures in a format digestible to young readers. Todd Parr utilizes simple, repetitive textual phrases and vibrant and diverse illustrations throughout the text. Each page of the book begins with the phrase “Some families are…,” followed by various examples of family compositions. Occasionally, the book deviates from its pattern, beginning some pages with “All families are…,” accompanied by qualities common to all family types. The book features families of diverse sizes and ethnicities, including those with step-siblings, multi-generational households, varied taste preferences, single parents, and parents of the same gender. While families may differ in makeup and lifestyle, the book emphasizes how families are alike in important ways, specifically in their love and care for one another. The book concludes with an affirming message that every family is special in its own way. [2][3]

Reception[edit]

The book won a 2004 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Award, an accolade given to new products, including literature, that enhance children’s lives.[4][5] Parr's representation of different family units, specifically its reference to same sex families, has been particularly commended.[6][7] The Family Book was placed on the summer reading list for the District of Columbia Public School system.[8] This book has also been integrated into various teaching curriculums, educating students of the variety of family structures to exist.[3][9]

Censorship[edit]

The Family Book, along with several other LGBT-themed books,[10] was removed from the Erie, Illinois school system after some parents complained about one line in the book that states, “some families have two moms or two dads”.[11][12][13] As of 2023, five different Florida school districts have banned The Family Book.[14]

In 2020, the book landed the 67th spot on the American Library Association's list of the most banned and challenged books in the United States from 2010 to 2019.[15] For the 2021-2022 school year, The Family Book ranked as the 8th most-banned picture book in the United States.[16]

Other books by Todd Parr[edit]

The Family Book is part of a larger collection by Todd Parr that aims to expose children to complex social themes in an accessible manner.[17] At the end of The Family Book, a list of other literature written by Todd Parr is mentioned:

It’s Okay to Be Different - This book celebrates individuality and self-acceptance, highlighting how individual differences make people special.[18]

The Peace Book - A book that defines peace through various simple examples, encouraging children to think about how they can contribute to a peaceful world.[19]

We Belong Together - This story focuses on adoption and the idea that families are brought together by love, not just biology.[20]

The Mommy Book - A colorful depiction of different types of mothers and what makes each of them unique and special.[21]

The Daddy Book - This book celebrates the different forms of fatherhood.[22]

The Grandma Book - A tribute to all grandmothers, illustrating the various roles and forms of love a grandma can offer.[23]

The Grandpa Book - This book depicts the many ways grandpas can be special and influential in a child’s life.[24]

Reading Makes You Feel Good - A celebration of reading and the various ways it enriches our lives.[25]

The Feelings Book - This book explores the expansive range of emotions children can experience and encourages them to express their feelings openly.[26]

The Feel Good Book - This book is a reminder of the simple joys of life that make us feel good.[27]

The I’m Not Scared Book -  This book addresses common fears among children and offers reassurance and ways to overcome them.[28]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Review: The Family Book". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  2. ^ a b Santosa, Jesica; Sukyadi, Didi; Hermawan, Budi (November 24, 2020). "The Representation of Family Diversity in The Family Book: A Verbal and Visual Analysis" (PDF). Rangsit Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities. ISSN 2286-976X.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. ^ a b Knoblauch, Dee (November 14, 2016). "Building the Foundation of Acceptance Book by Book: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and/or Transgender-Themed Books for Grades K–5 Multicultural Libraries". Multicultural Perspectives. 18: 209–213. doi:10.1080/15210960.2016.1228325.
  4. ^ "2004 Award". Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Award. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  5. ^ "Awards: Oppenheim Toy Portfolio". Oppenheim Toy Portfolio.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ^ "My Family Is Just Like Yours, but Different". School Library Journal. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  7. ^ "Modern children's books help families explore diversity". CNN. 8 March 2012. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  8. ^ "DC School District Restores Gay-Themed Titles to Summer Reading Lists". SLJ. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  9. ^ "Embracing Family Diversity: Draw Your Family Todd Parr-Style" (PDF). Welcoming Schools. Human Rights Campaign Foundation.
  10. ^ "Erie, IL School Board Bans Pro-LGBT Families Book". Matthew Shepard Foundation. June 2012. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  11. ^ "ILLINOIS SCHOOL BOARD BANS FAMILY DIVERSITY BOOK". ThinkProgress.org. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  12. ^ "Fifty Shades of Grey joins list of challenged books". CBC. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  13. ^ "Controversial Decision in Erie Gathering National Attention". WQAD 8. 5 June 2012. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  14. ^ DeLuca, Alex; Finkel, Tom (October 17, 2023). "Updated List: Every Known Florida School District Book Ban, July 2021 Through June 2023". Miami New Times.
  15. ^ Banned & Challenged Books (2020-09-09). "Top 100 Most Banned and Challenged Books: 2010-2019". Office for Intellectual Freedom. American Library Association. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  16. ^ Tolin, Lisa (February 14, 2023). "The Most Banned Picture Books of the 2021-2022 School Year". PEN America: The Freedom to Write.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  17. ^ Alter, Ethan (October 4, 2023). "3 questions for children's author Todd Parr whose 'Family Book' is frequently banned: 'I'm not going to run and hide'". Yahoo!entertainment.
  18. ^ Parr, Todd (2001). It’s Okay to Be Different. Little, Brown & Co. ISBN 9780316043472.
  19. ^ Parr, Todd (2004). The Peace Book. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. ISBN 9780316510776.
  20. ^ Parr, Todd (2007). We Belong Together. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. ISBN 9780316016681.
  21. ^ Parr, Todd (2010). The Mommy Book. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. ISBN 9780316070447.
  22. ^ Parr, Todd (2010). The Daddy Book. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. ISBN 9780316070393.
  23. ^ Parr, Todd (2011). The Grandma Book. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. ISBN 9780316070416.
  24. ^ Parr, Todd (2008). The Grandpa Book. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. ISBN 9780316070430.
  25. ^ Parr, Todd (2009). Reading Makes You Feel Good. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. ISBN 9780316043489.
  26. ^ Parr, Todd (2009). The Feelings Book. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. ISBN 9780316541831.
  27. ^ Parr, Todd (2009). The Feel Good Book. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. ISBN 9780316043458.
  28. ^ Parr, Todd (2017). The I'M NOT SCARED Book. 2017. ISBN 9780316431989.

ORIGINAL ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

______________________________________

Here are the sources I found to support the new content I plan to add to this article.

  • "3 Questions for Children's Author Todd Parr Whose' Family Book' Is Frequently Banned: 'I'm Not Going to Run and Hide.'" Yahoo!Entertainment, Yahoo!, www.yahoo.com/entertainment/3-questions-childrens-author-todd-parr-family-book-banned-151004368.html.

In this exclusive interview with the author of The Family Book, Todd Parr shares his opinions behind the controversial status of his books and his desire to be inclusive. The article highlights other books written by Todd Parr that have also been censored, including It's Okay to be Different, The Feelings Book, and We Belong Together. This article provides unique insight into Todd Parr's vision for writing this book, as well as his opinions to the strong opposition to the book's adoption. I will cite this article in my introduction when I explain the intended goal for this book, as well as include this citation under the "Controversy" section to address other books of his that were banned.

  • “Awards: Oppenheim Toy Portfolio.” Toyportfolio, www.toyportfolio.com/awards-1.

This is the designated award site that listed The Family Book as the 2004 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Award recipient. I will use this article to explain what the award signifies and provide some missing context on why The Family Book was given this award.

  • DeLuca, Alex, and Tom Finkel. "Updated List: Every Known Florida School District Book Ban, July 2021 through June 2023." Miami New Times, Miami New Times, 17 Oct. 2023, www.miaminewtimes.com/news/more-than-350-books-banned-in-florida-schools-since-last-july-16817328.

In this article, a list of every known book ban instituted in Florida public school districts since 1 Jul. 2021 is outlined. According to this article, five different school districts have banned The Family Book. I will cite this article in the "Controversy" section to demonstrate that the banning of this specific book continues to remain relevant in 2023.

  • "Embracing Family Diversity: Draw Your Family Todd Parr–Style." The Human Rights Campaign Foundation, assets2.hrc.org/welcoming-schools/documents/WS_Lesson_Family_Diversity_Draw_Your_Family_Todd_Parr-Style.pdf.

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation has adopted this book as part of its teaching curriculum, and this pamphlet provides a framework for teachers to use when using this book in the classroom. This citation will be beneficial within the "Reception" section of my article to address further how this book has been adopted in a variety of contexts. The positive perspective on this book will provide a nice contrast to the lengthy "Controversy" section of the article.

  • Ma, Annie. "Bans on Diverse Picture Books? Young Kids Need to See Their Families Represented, Experts Say." Buffalo News, 24 Aug. 2023, buffalonews.com/life-entertainment/nation-world/books/picture-book-bans-diversity-inclusion-backlash/article_011b5245-3dc2-5853-a64e-103b337894bf.html.

This article discusses the prevalent bans on children's picture books, noting that The Family Book by Todd Parr is one of the many books that have been susceptible to this censorship era. This article notes that 3 ⁄ 4 of banned books have LGBTQ+ themes. I will use this article to explain the broader social context of banned books. This book also discusses the benefits of using Todd Parr's book as a teaching guide for young children to help build empathy and understanding towards underrepresented communities.

  • O'Connor, Acacia. "The Story behind Todd Parr's 'The Family Book.'" National Coalition Against Censorship, 15 Jan. 2016, ncac.org/news/blog/the-story-behind-todd-parrs-the-family-book.

This article has a link to Todd Parr's motivations for writing The Family Book and the plot of the book. While the publication site of the article can be considered biased, as the National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) leans in strong disagreement with the decision for this book's censorship and may present some biased quotes regarding the reasons behind the books’  controversy, I will not be using this site as a source for my "Controversy" section. Instead, I will use this article to aid in my description of the book's plot, the artistic choices leveraged, and the book's main goal per Todd Parr's first-hand account that is highlighted within this source.

  • Parr, Todd. "The Family Book." Todd Parr, LB Kids, 3 Oct. 2023, www.toddparr.com/titles/todd-parr/the-family-book/9780316442541/#:~:text=The%20Family%20Book%20celebrates%20families,in%20its%20own%20unique%20way.

This is Todd Parr's official website that describes each of the books he has written. I will use this source to summarize the plot of the book better.  

  • Santosa, Jesica, et al. "The Representation of Family Diversity in The Family Book: A Verbal and Visual Analysis." Rangsit Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 24 Nov. 2020. JCSH, https://doi.org/2539-5513.

In this academic study, the authors aimed to investigate how family diversity is represented verbally and visually in The Family Book. This study outlines the symbolic attributive processes used in the book and explains what the readers can take away from it. I will use this source to aid in my "Plot Summary" section and discuss what specific verbal and visual modes occur in the picture book that complement one another.

  • "Singer Pink to Give Away 2,000 Banned Books at South Florida Shows." CBS News, CBS Interactive, 14 Nov. 2023, www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/singer-pink-to-give-away-2000-banned-books-at-south-florida-shows/.

To fight against the censorship crisis in America, singer-songwriter Pink donated 2000 banned books to her South Florida concert attendees. Among this list of books donated is The Family Book by Todd Parr. I will include this in my "Controversy" section, where I explain how people have fought back against the banning of this book.

  • Tolin, Lisa. "The Most Banned Picture Books of 2022." PEN America: The Freedom to Write, 14 Feb. 2023, pen.org/banned-picture-books-2022/.

This article lists the most banned picture books of the 2021-2022 school year in the United States, with The Family Bookbeing ranked as the #8 most banned picture books. I will cite this source to demonstrate the continuous controversy surrounding the book.

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