Celebrating Mothers

In honor of Mother's Day this Sunday, we're highlighting a very special book that celebrates mothers and families of all sorts. Antonio's Card / La tarjeta de Antonio is about a boy with same-gender parents. In the story, young Antonio wants to make a beutiful card for his mother and her partner, Leslie. But when his classmates make fun of Leslie, Antonio must choose whether—or how—to express himself and his love for his family.

When the book was published in 2004. Kirkus Reviews called it "...a first of its kind and a worthy leader." It was also Finalist in the 2005 Lamda Literary Awards. We also developed a free Teacher's Guide to help educators and their students discuss the ideas this book inspires.

So what inspired the story? Here's what the author, Rigoberto Gonzalez, had to say:

"The fact is that the nuclear family (dad, mom, kids) is only one way to define what a family is. Many of us who experienced childhood in a slightly different type of household have always known this. I myself grew up in an extended family: uncles, aunts, cousins, and grandparents. And when the family shrunk, it was only my two grandparents and me for many years. In either case, we were no more and no less a family. Like any other family unit we had happy times and unhappy ones as well. One of my female cousins found a partner in another woman and together they raised two wonderful boys. This family knew of others like them, not all of them were gay parents, but in every instance the couple was made up of two loving people. And sometimes, a child grows up with only one parent. This too is a reality and this also is a family. I wrote Antonio’s Card as a way to honor those families who are a little different, but no less loving and special than my own."

As we honor the special women in our lives, let's remember that, above all, love makes a family.

Submitted by Childrens Book Press on Thursday, May 6, 2010 11:11am