My Two Moms and Me

August 15, 2019
A new board book about babies and toddlers with pairs of moms. This title will help address the dearth of materials for young children with depictions of two-mom families. First-person, affirming text is delivered in a matter-of-fact voice detailing moments in the daily routine of a young child with two moms. "At the pool, my moms bounce me in the water. What a life!" reads a representative spread. The accompanying illustrations don't follow one child and their parents, however. Instead, each spread shows a different child (or in some spreads two children) interacting with their moms. This opens up possibilities for racially diverse representation, and many impeccably dressed families depicted in the retro-style art by fashion illustrator Zenou appear multiracial. Diversity doesn't include depictions of people with visible disabilities (apart from two moms wearing glasses), and adults appear uniformly slim and mostly cisgender. The companion title about children with two dads is similarly executed with a first-person child's voice, racially diverse characters, and limited representation of other diversity. It is a pity for the baby and toddler audience that the illustrations do not embrace the blank backgrounds of cover art and instead fill every bit of space. Both titles will undoubtedly be scooped up by families seeking queer representation in board books. Needed, but there is still lots of room for better books to come. (Board book. 6 mos.-2)

COPYRIGHT(2019) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.