How Would You Feel If Your Dad Was Gay?
Illustrator
Kris Kovick
Publisher
Alyson Books
Publication Year
1994
ISBN
9781555832438
Pages
48 pages
Genre
realism
Format
picture book
Item Type
Fiction
Annotation
Jasmine thinks she's lucky to have three dads--a stepfather, her natural father, and his lover. However, her schoolmates and even teachers find this hard to accept. Jasmine's brother is subjected to name-calling and almost ends up in a fight over his father's lifestyle. At home, the two dads are supportive and understanding, and the children's natural father contacts the principal about it. A special assembly is the result, with a children's counselor discussing different kinds of families. A subplot, featuring a lesbian and her son, speaks nonjudgmentally to the issue of the sexual preferences among the offspring of homosexual parents. This book with a purpose does a good job of raising the issues sensitively and answering the questions reasonably. Scratchy ink drawings depict an African-American family living in an average neighborhood, with the children attending a racially balanced school.
Grade Level
K-3, 3-5
Diversity Topics
Family Relationships; LGBTQ (Gender and Sexuality); Divorce; Step parent; Gay/Lesbian; divorced parents; step father; same-sex parents; gay; gay father; lesbian; lesbian mother; children of gay parents
Main Character
male child; female child
Race/Ethnicities
African American
Family Formation
mother; two fathers
LGBTQ+
gay males; lesbian female
Awards
Gay and Lesbian Themes and Topics in Selected Children's and Young Adult Books, 2009 Cooperative Children's Book Center
Keywords
bullying; school assembly; friendship; tolerance; teaching respect
Diversity Impact
direct
STARS Citation
Heron, Ann, "How Would You Feel If Your Dad Was Gay?" (1994). Diverse Families. 135.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/diversefamilies/135