Families Belong

August 24, 2020
This simple board book, first in the cocreators’ Families series, highlights a selection of the activities families may participate in, using “together” as the end of a shifting refrain. Rhythmic, loosely rhymed quatrains (“Families sing/ with voices bellowing/ songs that make us giggle / on the back of Dad’s bicycle”) are paired with inclusive illustrations in watercolor and gouache, edited digitally, that portray families snuggling, singing, sharing food, dancing, and more. Spreads effectively emphasize characters’ movement in a variety of formations and undertakings, with families of various skin tones and compositions depicted on almost every page. Though one spread oddly depicts “cleaning up the crumbs together” as what seems to be a platter of crumbless fresh spring rolls scatters across the floor, this is a solid introduction to family fun that should entertain its target audience. Ages 1–3.

December 15, 2020
Families in a variety of configurations play, dance, and celebrate together. The rhymed verse, based on a song from the Noodle Loaf children's podcast, declares that "Families belong / Together like a puzzle / Different-sized people / One big snuggle." The accompanying image shows an interracial couple of caregivers (one with brown skin and one pale) cuddling with a pajama-clad toddler with light brown skin and surrounded by two cats and a dog. Subsequent pages show a wide array of families with members of many different racial presentations engaging in bike and bus rides, indoor dance parties, and more. In some, readers see only one caregiver: a father or a grandparent, perhaps. One same-sex couple with two children in tow are expecting another child. Smart's illustrations are playful and expressive, curating the most joyful moments of family life. The verse, punctuated by the word together, frequently set in oversized font, is gently inclusive at its best but may trip up readers with its irregular rhythms. The song that inspired the book can be found on the Noodle Loaf website. A joyful celebration. (Board book. 1-3)

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