Stories for Growing
Cover of A Family Is a Family Is a FamilyAges 3 to 8
Seeing other perspectives

A Family Is a Family Is a Family

Sara O’Leary, illustrated by Qin Leng

Ages 3 to 8
About this age guidance

Kirkus: 3 to 8

The age tag follows Kirkus review. Other sources may suggest different ages. This is audience guidance, not an independent reading level.

Chosen for its range of family structures.

A child hesitates when the class is asked what makes each family special. Classmates describe families with different parents, caregivers, and household arrangements. The narrator remembers a foster mother affirming all the children as real children.

Recommended by lessons in chaos

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What children see in the story

Different family accounts broaden the opening assumption about what a family can be.

Why it’s on these shelves

Seeing other perspectives
When the class is asked what makes each family special, one child hesitates. Classmates describe families with different parents, caregivers and households, and the narrator remembers a foster mother telling the children they were all real children.

Why pick it up?

The narrator remembers a foster mother affirming all the children as real children.

A note for parents

Questions about real children may need care with children who have experienced family separation.

Where this recommendation comes from

lessons in chaos

Chosen for its range of family structures.

Read Celena Kinsey’s recommendation
Sources and review status

We have checked source descriptions and drafted the value mapping. We have not personally reviewed the full book. The value labels, situation assignments, and parent notes remain provisional.

Publisher or literacy resource · Original recommendation

Our explanation of the value fit is separate from the original reviewer’s judgment. Their inclusion here does not imply an endorsement of Stories for Growing.

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