Book Info

Children's Author 'Like-for-Like' recommendations

Synopsis

The Great Big Book of Families by Mary Hoffman

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.

---

Reviews

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. -- Julia Eccleshare Lovereading 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! Families South East 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. Headteacher Update '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. Independent on Sunday The text is sympathetic and the illustrations often humorous in this fresh and contemporary look at families of today. Nursery World Something for everyone in this truly multicultural exploration. Ros Asquith
's illustrations are witty and wonderful! An excellent choice for the primary school library. School Librarian Plenty of humourous detail in the illustrations, adding to the textual content and inviting comment and discussion on the range and diversity of family experiences. Books for Keeps Gets close to how young children themselves perceive difference! A lovely book to share with any child. CAFCASS This book is an emphatic statement that everyone is different in their own way, and that is something to be celebrated. Grandparent Times Avoiding overt political correctness, the book just tells it like it is with clear sections that develop themes, accompanied by bright illustrations that enhance the fun of family life in all its forms. Nursery Education This is a superb book. It is well illustrated, providing lots to look at and discuss. It helps show that all families are different, exploring family life, challenging preconceptions and encouraging the children into discussions! The book has become a firm favourite with each child able to find something to match their circmumstances... The book is a great asset for encouraging equal opportunity discussions and encouraging children to think about others. Child Care This excellent book looks at the way in which stereotypical families have changed over the years. It neatly illustrates all the different types of relationships that constitute a family unit today, through the use of delightful illustrations and clear text to make this book appealing and insightful. Youth in Mind A wonderful addition to the limited supply of non-fiction books that really try to reflect contemporary family life. Through illustration, it celebrates family members, their homes, schools, jobs, holidays, food, clothes, pets, hobbies, celebrations and feelings. Nursery World'

---

About The Author

Mary Hoffman has written around 90 books for children. Amazing Grace, commended for the Kate Greenaway medal, has sold over 1.5 million copies. Its sequel, Grace & Family, was among Junior Education 's Best Books of 1995 and shortlisted for the Sheffield Libraries Book Award 1996. Mary lives in Oxfordshire.

You can read her contributions to The History Girls blog by clicking here.

Mary Hoffman's Ten Things You Didn't Know About Me:

I had my appendix taken out by Enid Blyton's husband! (Fortunately he was a surgeon)

My first book was read in manuscript by Richard Adams, author of Watership Down and he suggested sending it to his publishers, Rex Collings, after a dozen others had turned it down. They took it.
 
I didn't change my surname when I got married.

Amazing Grace and Boundless Grace (which is what Grace and Family is called in the US) were both turned into musical plays and performed in Minneapolis in 1995 and 1998.

When I was a little girl, I wanted to be a garage mechanic.

I didn't learn to drive until I was over fifty.

My husband is half-Indian. His mother was a Parsee, born in Bangalore.

One of my great-grandfathers was German, another Irish.

I am learning Italian and would love to have a house in Italy.

I never wear or own anything blue.

Photo by Jess Barber (©Jess Barber)

More books by this author

Share this book

---

Share this book with other net users and your friends