A Family Like Ours

A Family Like Ours is an affirming and winsome book for young readers to explore diversity and reflect on the family to which they belong. Authors Frank Murphy and Alice Lee teamed up with artist Kayla Harren to deliver a book that conveys the joys of being part of a nurturing and loving family.

Both in words and illustrations, the book depicts a variety of racial, ethnic, gender, age, and other diverse identities, ensuring that readers of all backgrounds can see themselves in the beautifully and warmly rendered pages. As the authors expand the traditional representation of a family, they also challenge adults in children’s lives to enhance their understanding of multiculturalism.

In a book about acceptance and awareness of different kinds of families, I appreciated the focus on adoptive families, LGBTQIA+ parents, immigrants, and blended families. Harren’s inviting artwork serves to make children aware of differences and recognize them as a source of strength. The authors offer downloadable activity sheets for young readers to ask a family member to share their thoughts about what makes their family interesting and reflect on cherished memories with loved ones.