The Great Big Book of Families - Tapa dura

"The Great Big Book of Families...celebrates families for every social background - and it does so with utter joy."

"Ros Asquith’s comic illustrations complement and extend the text, providing lots to talk about."

"Highlighting and celebrating diversity in a fun, easy way, this book is great for starting discussions." 

"Mary Hoffman thoughtfully explores and Ros Asquith joyfully illustrates."

A celebration of families and the very many different things they do and the very many different ways they do them. Some families are big, some families are small; some parents work, some parents don’t. Holidays, hobbies, school, clothes and food and the different ways that different families approach them are just some of the topics which Mary Hoffman thoughtfully explores and Ros Asquith joyfully illustrates.

This brilliant book just shows the combinations in life that sometimes constitute a unit, or more, that our children live within and what they live with. I especially like the lady in the hijab asking: "What are we celebrating?" and the man behind her replying exuberantly: "EVERYTHING!"

Challenges preconceptions by breaking the way in which most children's books portray the typical home arrangement. Ros Asquith's delightful cartoons punctuate the pages, showing realistic varieties of family life. Mary Hoffman's witty, sensitive captions invite the reader to explore every aspect of home life. From food, homes and ways of celebrating, to schools, holidays, languages and family trees, children are encouraged to look at people and their relationships in all their different types.

'A charming book that helps children understand and recognise many different types of family units.This book manages to challenge preconceptions while reassuring children of all ages and backgrounds.' Book Nook.

The text is sympathetic and the illustrations often humorous in this fresh and contemporary look at families of today.

Something for everyone in this truly multicultural exploration. Ros Asquith's illustrations are witty and wonderful... An excellent choice for the primary school library.

What is a family? Once, it was said to be a father, mother, boy, girl, cat and dog living in a house with a garden. But as times have changed, families have changed too, and now there are almost as many kinds of families as colours of the rainbow - from a mum and dad or single parent to two mums or two dads, from a mixed-race family to children with different mums and dads, from families with a disabled member to those with a mum or dad in prison.

Mary Hoffman takes a look through children's eyes at the wide varieties of family life: from homes, food, ways of celebrating, schools and holidays to getting around, jobs and housework, from extended families, languages and hobbies to pets and family trees - and she concludes that, for most people, their own family is the best one of all! With Ros Asquith's delightful pictures, this book takes a fresh, optimistic look at families of today.