I Promise

August 1, 2019
An ode to queer families, told through the sweet dialogue between a curious child and their loving parent. Like many children, the dark-haired protagonist has a lot of questions for their parent. Recalling peers and their various family structures, the unnamed "kiddo" begins by asking, "You know Miracle from swim class? If she has two dads, where did she come from?" The parent, depicted with dark skin and puffy hair pulled back by a headband, diligently answers their child's queries while guiding the young one through a nighttime routine: eating, brushing teeth, pulling on pajamas, and tucking in for the evening. With little exposition but plenty of reverence, the parent validates the family bonds that exist among their kid's community, including families with same-gender parents, families with multiple co-parents, and single-parent families. Ware depicts the utter normalcy of queer families through homespun illustrations that look like sketches featuring hints of detail and only pops of color. The story's formula--in which the protagonist's parent states that children from nontraditional families come from promises of love and nurture--may be best suited for younger children, whose curiosity can help fill in the blanks of this uncomplicated book. Hernandez's narrative is less an explanation of what queer families are than it is a quiet celebration of their presence. A normalizing view of often stigmatized families, tenderly told. (Picture book. 3-8)

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