Module 15: Heather Has Two Mommies

Heather Has Two Mommies

Book Summary:

Heather Has Two Mommies is a story about a young child with two mothers.  The story begins by telling readers about Heather, her favorite things, and what she enjoys doing with her moms.  Then, Heather goes to school where her teacher reads a story about a family with a mother and a father.  This ignites a discussion between Heather and her classmates about how she does not have a father and that, instead, she has two mothers.  This prompts the teacher to talk about how all families are different and special. 

APA Reference of Book:

Newman, L. (2015). Heather has two mommies. Somerville, MA: Candlewick.

Impressions:

I enjoyed reading the story Heather Has Two Mommies.  This story does an excellent job of describing how families come in all shapes and sizes.  This book would be a wonderful addition to any elementary library collection as it introduces students to differences and acceptance amongst each other.  As anyone can appreciate, this subject matter is very sensitive and difficult for young readers to comprehend.  Heather Has Two Mommies does an excellent job of conveying the importance of accepting the different makeups of their peers’ families. 

Professional Review:

Kirkus Reviews

Heather has two mommies--and a new look! Newman's picture book about Heather and her mommies first appeared 25 years ago as the product of desktop publishing and a determination to create a story reflecting family diversity. This updated version includes new illustrations by the commercially successful Cornell, which supply humor and avoid lesbian stereotypes that dogged earlier versions. In keeping with prior, small-press revisions, the updated text omits reference to alternative insemination, and the story resists focusing on angst Heather feels over having two mommies. No one teases her or otherwise makes a big deal of her particular family's configuration. Instead, validation is the order of the day, and when a circle-time conversation about families arises on the first day of school, Heather's teacher has her pupils draw family pictures. Although Heather is initially worried that she might be the only child without a daddy, the artwork reveals diverse family constellations--one child has two daddies, one has a mom, a dad and a stepfather, some have siblings, one depicts a grandmother and pets. "Each family is special," Ms. Molly affirms. "The most important thing about a family is that all the people in it love each other." When Heather's mommies pick her up at school, they delight in seeing her picture. Welcome back to Heather and her mommies. 

Source:

Heather has two mommies [Review of the book Heather has two mommies, by

L. Newman]. (2015). Kirkus Reviews, 83(2). Retrieved from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/leslea-newman/heather-has-two-mommies/

Found through UNT’s Library Database- Book Review Digest Plus (H.W. Wilson)

Library Uses:

This story would be excellent to use for grades K-2 at the beginning of the school year when covering the families unit.  Just as the students in the story did, after reading the students could draw a picture of their family and share with the class.  They may also choose to write about their own family.  As an extension, the students could use the Tellagami app to take a picture of their drawing and record themselves as they tell about their family.