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msgabbythelibrarian's review
3.0
I am marking this under "diversity" due to an element of the book--the main character has two moms. Not a huge deal is made of it, but I can't help but note it. Especially as it is in Asian culture which, I feel like, is very rare.
This isn't my favorite offering from Bao Phi but I appreciate the message: finding one's inner strength to meet challenges and its bullies.
This isn't my favorite offering from Bao Phi but I appreciate the message: finding one's inner strength to meet challenges and its bullies.
sapphicbookdragon's review
5.0
Books like this give me hope that my niece will grow up in a kinder world. This might be an ironic standpoint, considering the protagonist is initially upset about mean kids at school, but I think the fact this book was published and exists at all is a good thing and shows progress. It's important for representations of all kinds of families to exist for kids to see faces, families, and situations both like and unlike their own. The library didn't have many books like this in my childhood, and I'm glad it does now.
So Heather Has Two Mommies (was that book the 2000s? Late 90s?); now Thuy does, too. And my niece didn't really react to or question Thuy having two moms; I think more media representation in cartoons like She-Ra (Bow has two dads) has normalized it more for her so that it's no big deal. Kids accept the world the way we present it to them, and it's my hope that today's kids will be less likely to make fun of the kid in their class who has same-sex parents than in generations before them. Let's be kinder and respect all different kinds of families.
In any case, this book was short and sweet, had beautiful artwork, and told a good tale about how to handle feelings from a bad day at school. Using their imaginations and playing in the snow, the family has fun and Thuy feels better about life. The use of mythology (and additional details at the end of the book) was appreciated, too.
(Note: I wanted to make sure I pronounced names correctly and respectfully, so Google and YouTube helped!)
So Heather Has Two Mommies (was that book the 2000s? Late 90s?); now Thuy does, too. And my niece didn't really react to or question Thuy having two moms; I think more media representation in cartoons like She-Ra (Bow has two dads) has normalized it more for her so that it's no big deal. Kids accept the world the way we present it to them, and it's my hope that today's kids will be less likely to make fun of the kid in their class who has same-sex parents than in generations before them. Let's be kinder and respect all different kinds of families.
In any case, this book was short and sweet, had beautiful artwork, and told a good tale about how to handle feelings from a bad day at school. Using their imaginations and playing in the snow, the family has fun and Thuy feels better about life. The use of mythology (and additional details at the end of the book) was appreciated, too.
(Note: I wanted to make sure I pronounced names correctly and respectfully, so Google and YouTube helped!)
kiralovesreading's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
odditiex's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Bullying
soupdumpling's review
5.0
I LOVED Phi’s other children’s book “A Different Pond” and repeatedly purchased it as gifts for others; as soon as I heard he had another book coming out, I immediately put it on hold at my local library.
I was definitely not disappointed by this lovely children’s book — love the representation of an Asian daughter being raised by two mothers of color. I loved how cultural mythical creatures were also brought into the book for both story purposes and artistic illustration. Will definitely be gifting this to friends and their children.
I was definitely not disappointed by this lovely children’s book — love the representation of an Asian daughter being raised by two mothers of color. I loved how cultural mythical creatures were also brought into the book for both story purposes and artistic illustration. Will definitely be gifting this to friends and their children.
laura_liisa's review against another edition
3.0
The art was absolutely adorable and I really adored the illustrations, which is why I even picked this book up, but I expected a bit more from the story. Mainly I would have liked more depth and some more thought to have been put into the story (some elements didn't make much sense), but overall I liked the idea and think it was a nice book.
callahadam's review
5.0
I can’t give anything so good and cute and community focused and queer anything less than five stars! Also ten out of ten for Thuy’s cat hat!