The nuclear family has always been viewed as the ideal unit, but the truth is families are not one size fits all. Some are blended — meaning two different households come together to create a new family. Children’s literature should represent all these variances in home life. This list will provide you with five books that depict blended families.
Remixed by Arree Chung
In his first book Mixed, Aree Chung wrote about different colors living in harmony and creating new colors. Now he is back with Remixed: A Blended Family. Remixed tells the tale of two parent colors, Sienna and Autumn, who get a divorce. Their family looks different for a while. Sienna and Autumn find new companions and their child Amber gets new siblings. This book regards blended families in a positive light. It describes their love expanding as their family does as well. It also tackles the tough thoughts and emotions that are bound to arise when in this situation.
Aree Chung is the author of several children’s books, including the Ninja! series. He is also the founder of Storyteller Academy, a program that helps aspiring writers realize their dreams.
The Family Book by Todd Parr
The Family Book is a simple, inclusive read about all the different types of families there are. Parr touches on step-families, distance, families who don’t look like each other, and many other household scenarios. He includes human families as well as animal families which is a fun touch. It’s a feel-good book that can open kids’ minds about others.
Todd Parr has written and illustrated over 60 children’s books. His book It’s Okay To Be Different was a staple in my house. His artwork also reminds me of Keith Haring in some ways.
Families, Families, Families! by Suzanne Lang
Similar to The Family Book, this picture book explores many kinds of families. It exclusively portrays animals and rhymes which makes it perfect for storytime. There are small families, and big ones, there are families with step-parents and ones with single parents. The end says the only requirement to be a family is love, which is heartwarming.
You may know Suzanne Lang as the author of the Grumpy Monkey series. Her husband frequently illustrates for her, making them the cutest picture book duo.
Everything Changes by Clare Helen Welsh
Everything Changes is a beautiful story. It starts out with a family day at the beach where the narrator’s parents tell him they’re separating. From there, the seasons change and he experiences a new house, new solo time with each parent, and meeting his parent’s new partners. This is the ideal book for addressing big feelings that come with a blended family. But as the book says, “Parents are forever.”
Clare Helen Welsh is a children’s book author based in the UK. She is the founder of Books That Help, a site for parents trying to find the most supportive stories for their kiddos.
Operation Sisterhood by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich
This last book is a middle-grade for an older child experiencing a blended family. It’s always been just Bo and her mom, that is, until her mom gets remarried. Now, her family has grown exponentially, and she’s homeschooled. She likes the idea of having sisters, but it’s all so foreign to her. She and her step-sister decide to throw a block party to celebrate their newlywed parents. No block party would be complete without a band so they make their own. Operation Sisterhood is about a blossoming step-sibling bond in the face of so much change.
Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich is also the author of It Doesn’t Take A Genius, which was a Kirkus Best Book of the Year. She is a former We Need Diverse Books board member.
Entering a blended family doesn’t have to be scary. After the initial adjustment period, blended families can be fun and teach you so much more about yourself and others. Pick up any of these titles to be reassured of that!
Interested in more stories with inclusive representation? Check out this article on Children’s Disability Empowerment.
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