One Family
What’s inside...
From veteran picture book author George Shannon and up-and-coming artist Blanca Gomez comes a playful, interactive counting book that shows how a family can be big or small and comprised of people of a range of ages, genders and races. A celebration of diverse families plus a clever 1-10 counting element in this unabridged board book edition.
Discussion points
How does seeing different types of families in the book make you feel about your own family?
Can you think of things that make each family unique? What makes our family special?
Why do you think it's important to show different families in books?
How can we show love and support to each other in our family?
What have you learned about how families can do things together after reading this book?
Tip: Role play these questions
Use the illustrations in 'One Family' as a visual aid to discuss the diversity and uniqueness of each family depicted.
Relate the book's themes to your child’s daily experiences by connecting the story to real-life family events or gatherings.
Encourage empathy by discussing how different or similar your child’s feelings are towards their family compared to the families in the book.
Reinforce the theme of inclusivity by pointing out how every family, no matter the structure, shares common feelings of love and togetherness.
Foster a deeper understanding by asking your child to draw a picture of your family doing an activity together, emphasizing teamwork and unity.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Unity in Diversity
Explanation: One Family illustrates how families come in different shapes and sizes yet share common love and bonds.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to appreciate and respect diverse family structures in their community.
Example Lesson: Counting and Numeracy Skills
Explanation: The book creatively incorporates counting elements with family members, fostering both literacy and numeracy.
Real-World Application: This can encourage children to practice counting in fun, everyday contexts like counting family members at gatherings.
Example Lesson: Importance of Togetherness
Explanation: The narrative emphasizes the joy and security derived from spending time with family members.
Real-World Application: Children can be encouraged to value and seek out quality time with their families.
Example Lesson: Recognition of Similarities and Differences
Explanation: Through various familial setups, children can learn that while families may look different, the feelings of love are universal.
Real-World Application: This will teach children to find common ground with peers from varying backgrounds.
Example Lesson: Building Inclusive Perspectives
Explanation: The book showcases many kinds of families, promoting an inclusive view of society.
Real-World Application: Children can grow up with an innate acceptance and understanding of diverse human experiences.