My Mom's Wedding
By: Eve Bunting, Illustrated by: Lisa Papp
This book caught my eye because I have been in 2 weddings for my mom, and I still have my dad in my life, but I also have a great step dad and so I was REALLY able to connect to this story.
It's about a little girl who is getting ready for her moms wedding to her step dad, and she is very excited because her dad is coming to see the wedding because her mom and dad are still friends and he is coming back from Ireland where he moved. The morning of the wedding she comes downstairs in her dress and she feels guilty because she likes her step dad so much (almost as much as her dad). As they are driving to the church she keeps looking out for her dad and when she finally sees him she gets so excited and whispers to him that him and her mom could still get married, they have the rings.
Her dad leans down and says: "Stop it, Sweetie. Your mom and I are just friends now. 'Just friends' don't get married. She loves Jim, he loves her, and we all love you. Don't forget about me. But let yourself be happy for them, Pinky. I am."
Then the service starts and when it's time for her to hand the rings, she hides them behind her back when she sees her dad sitting by himself, but then remembers what he said about being happy for them, and decides it wouldn't be so bad to have a mom, dad, and stepdad.
The last page is a picture of Pinky, her dad, Jim, and her mom.
I think that this would be great book to use in a classroom to talk about families. Every family is different, and there are more and more "unconventional" families and this would be a good introduction to talk about how one family is different than the other.
"HELPING CHILDREN WORK OUT CONFLICTED EMOTIONS ABOUT DIVORCE, THIS UPLIFTING STORY OFFERS A TIMELESS MESSAGE FOR NON-TRADITIONAL FAMILIES"-- The back page of the book.
Today my oldest daughter came home and told me about a new kid in her class. She said he was from Chicago and that he moved here because his step-dad's father passed away. The teacher told him "Sorry for your loss." To which the student responded, "It's not my loss, he wasn't related to me." There is an amazing number of broken and mixed families in all of our communities. This book is perfect for younger children to know it is okay to be "nice" to the new person in your parents life. Thank you so much for bringing this book.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a fantastic book Kelsey. I'm glad you were able to connect with this book yourself, it just shows how much a children's book can effect someone of any age and it's a perfect book for any young child going through that struggle. Great lesson behind it because as we know there are so many people now who have non traditional families and so many children have to make that struggle. Great pick and fantastic blog!
ReplyDeleteI think this book would be a great choice for kids going through similar situations. They could connect well with the book, just as you did.
ReplyDeleteGreat post too! I was sucked in and it made me really want to read the book