An all-inclusive look at a diverse array of families, The Family Book is the latest by Todd Parr. The book's simple statements of tolerance and love are accompanied by Parr's equally simple, bright-hued illustrations bordered by a thick black line. Parr runs the gamut of potential familial situations, from families that live far apart to those with """"two moms or two dads,"""" conveying the message that no matter what little differences makes each unique, a family's love for each other is what really matters.

PreS-Gr 2-As he did in The Mommy Book and The Daddy Book (both Little, Brown, 2002), Parr introduces children to an array of families. Whimsical illustrations featuring neon colors and figures outlined in black show big ones and small ones, and families that look alike and relatives who look just like their pets. The art features both human and animal figures; thus, pigs depict both a family that likes to be clean, and one that likes to be messy. Some families include stepmoms, stepdads, stepsisters, or stepbrothers; some adopt children. Other families have two moms or two dads, while some children have only one parent. Interspersed with the differences among families are the ways they are alike: all like to hug each other, are sad when they lose someone they love, enjoy celebrating special days together, and can help each other to be strong. This concept book celebrating the diversity of family groups is distinguished by its sense of fun.-Marilyn Taniguchi, Beverly Hills Public Library, CA Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

This ode to diversity consists of simple observations about families, be they human, animal, or extraterrestrial. As in Parr's other books, the banality of his sentences is often subverted by the jokes imbedded in his flat, black-outlined, brightly colored illustrations: "Some families adopt children" introduces an image of three ducks out walking, one with a smiling penguin on its back.