11/01/2024
PreS-Gr 1—These books explain, in simple terms, how family dynamics function. Cousins are the kids of your parents' siblings, those siblings are your parents' brothers and sisters. Each book begins with "Words to Know," a pairing of photos and words to prepare readers for the text to come. Labeled photos throughout support the text, which consists of one sentence per spread. The books end with a review question that complements the text by asking readers to apply the information they have learned. The families depicted are mostly homogenous and typically abled. The major exception to this is in Parents, where queer parents and a blended interracial family are spotlighted. With the dynamic families many readers are familiar with, they may be disappointed not to see their family on the pages. VERDICT The presentation of the subject matter is fairly reductive; pass on this series.
