Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Daddy, Papa and Me by Leslea Newman and illustrated by carol Thompson

Just as in Leslea Newman's other book, Mommy, Mama and Me, it is a short easy read aimed at younger students. The message there is the same here and that is that even though this family has two daddies it is still a good family. One thing that I noticed here that I didn't so much in the other book though is that it messes with gender perceptions a little. For example, there is a scene where the little boy's daddy is showing him how to sew. On another page daddy brews a pot of tea and papa sets up a tea party for the little boy and his bear. I just have to point this out because it seemed a little odd to me. Meaning that I had to wonder if this book were about a family with a mom and a dad, would the dad have been brewing tea, or would it have been the mom? Or are those pictures there because we have a preconceived notion that gay men all sew and brew tea? Or is it me that has the preconceived notion of a man in a heterosexual marriage? The only thing I really know is that in every other book I have read with families in it, the dad was an average lawn mowing, sports watching Joe. Just something to think about.

Again ages 2 to 3 and I feel like it is an appropriate age.

5 comments:

  1. It is interesting that a book that tries to break down stereotypes is actually promoting them. I feel like a lot of people have a preconceived notion of how certain people act. This book should try to attempt to break down those preconceived notions but instead it reinforces those stereotypes. I am not sure what the text is like in this book but I could see it being read with children older than 3.

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  2. These are very interesting questions you bring up. In books mothers are doing house work, cooking, cleaning where fathers are playing sports or fixing the car. Everyone has a perception of how a person of certain gender must act. What I think is interesting is that when a man sews, or brews tea or any other "feminine" things people also have a percieved notion that this man is gay. There are so many sterotypes out there and I believe books like these promote this type of thinking.

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  3. I think the topic of stereotypes itself - outside of the conversation of homosexuals - is very complex. You are right, the stereotypes that are out there are unbelievable. I think individuality should have more of an emphasis ALL books so that children can see various different views. Perhaps this would help eliminate future stereotypes in schools and around the world.

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  4. Interesting discussion here...I agree but I also think of a student who, after hearing others describe Joe in The Misfits as a stereotype, reminded me that there are only a few ways to "be recognized" as gay in high school. He said that many he had a friend who acted very much like Joe, and part of the "act" was that he also wanted people to recognize him as different. So I suppose, in light of the idea that we all "act" at school, some stereotypes in books seem, well, realistic. I've thought a lot about this idea and I think it really IS valid to present people as we knew/loved them even if it means that they occasionally DO fit stereotypes. Hmmmm...you all really have me thinking...

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  5. I had not heard of this book before, I wish I could have read it. I don't really think it is too strange that the father is brewing tea. Some Dads brew tea. My Dad does. But I agree, the author did not HAVE to have more effeminate activities that the fathers were involved with, but the fact is the author did. I will have to read it and see the illustrations to see what I think though

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