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Stella Brings the Family Kindle Edition

4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 320 ratings

“A tender story about the variety of people that make children feel loved and supported.” —Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
 
Stella’s class is having a Mother’s Day celebration, but what’s a girl with two daddies to do? It’s not that she doesn’t have someone who helps her with her homework, or tucks her in at night. Stella has her Papa and Daddy who take care of her, and a whole gaggle of other loved ones who make her feel special and supported every day. She just doesn’t have a mom to invite to the party. Fortunately, Stella finds a unique solution to her party problem in this sweet story about love, acceptance, and the true meaning of family.
 
“Told with both a light touch and an astute eye toward a child’s perspective and heartfelt concerns.” —
School Library Journal
 
“A raucous happy ending.” —
The New York Times

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

K-Gr 2—Stella is worried. Everybody else in her elementary-school class has a mom—Howie even has two! She has two dads and no one to invite to the upcoming Mother's Day party. The other kids are concerned, too. Who packs her lunch? Who reads her bedtime stories? And what about when she's hurt? When Stella lists the many family members who help her, her friends see an easy solution to the party conundrum: bring them all. Daddy and Papa agree that it's a great idea, but Stella still has misgivings. All her worries turn out to be for nothing, though—the party's a great success, and she's not alone in not having a mom there. Best of all, Father's Day is next, and she's more than set for that. Schiffer's sweet story realistically portrays a child fretting over a worry that adults may not anticipate and having it solved by a loving community and family. Clifton-Brown's bright, detailed watercolors depict a fun classroom, and Stella and friends' arts and crafts. VERDICT A welcome addition for kids from all kinds of families.—Etta Verma, Library Journal

Review

“A story featuring diverse modern families. Essential.”-Kirkus Reviews

"It takes a village in this book, which reminds us of how far we’ve come since Leslea Newman’s groundbreaking Heather Has Two Mommies was first published in 1989."--Lilith Magazine

Stella Brings the Family is the kind of book any teacher or parent will want to have by their side when talking about diverse families, love, and acceptance with children. --Stacey Shubitz, literacty consultant and blogger at Two Writing Teachers

"A welcome addition for kids from all kinds of families."--School Library Journal

"Will make you feel warm and fuzzy, and celebrate families of all shapes, types and sizes."--Red Tricycle

"An important and encouraging read for all kids."--Cool Mom Picks, Best Children's Books of The Year

"Told with both a light touch and an astute eye toward a child’s perspective and heartfelt concerns."--School Library Journal

"A tender story about the variety of people that make children feel loved and supported."--Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"The 'Heather' of the two-dad set... a raucous happy ending."--The New York Times

"Sharply observed... offers plenty of food for thought."--Publishers Weekly, starred review

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00PMUG49Y
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Chronicle Books LLC (May 5, 2015)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 5, 2015
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 15997 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Not enabled
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 36 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 320 ratings

About the author

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Miriam B. Schiffer
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Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
320 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers enjoy the sweet, gentle story about families of all types. They find the illustrations charming, colorful, and unique. The language is clear and simple, making it easy for kids to understand. The book helps children learn about different family structures in a way that's easy for them to understand.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

15 customers mention "Story quality"15 positive0 negative

Customers find the story sweet, beautiful, and sensitive. They describe it as a gentle story about problem-solving with clear depictions of diverse families. The illustrations are cheerful and fun, adding to the story. Readers praise the well-done storyline about a child without a mother for the Mother's Day party. Overall, they describe the book as a nice family book that is heartwarming and relevant.

"My 6-year-old and I both love this book! The story is fabulous, the dialogue is believable, and the characters are realistic...." Read more

"...A gentle story about problem-solving, where some of the characters just happen to be same-sex." Read more

"...like way that makes it easy to understand, while also having a great storyline as well." Read more

"...A great way to start conversations about how families come in all shapes and sizes. I love the illustrations as well!" Read more

12 customers mention "Illustrations"12 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the illustrations. They find the illustrations cute, colorful, and unique.

"...The illustrations are cheerful and fun, they enhance the story, and they depict a diverse group of children and adults...." Read more

"...Illustrations are very appealing for their colors, their child-like faces, and diverse children...." Read more

"...I love the illustrations as well!" Read more

"...The story is simple yet powerful, and the illustrations are lively and full of fun details...." Read more

8 customers mention "Language"8 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's language easy for kids to understand. It helps them understand that having two dads is not weird. They say it's a great way to start a conversation with kids about different family structures. The story is engaging, and the dialogue is believable.

"...The story is fabulous, the dialogue is believable, and the characters are realistic...." Read more

"...This book explains it in a child like way that makes it easy to understand, while also having a great storyline as well." Read more

"...A great way to start conversations about how families come in all shapes and sizes. I love the illustrations as well!" Read more

"...A great way to start a conversation with kids about all sorts of family structures. Highly recommended for all kids and parents." Read more

Love this book? Call Hamilton County School District in Tennesee
5 out of 5 stars
Love this book? Call Hamilton County School District in Tennesee
The Moms for Liberty effectively got this beautiful, inclusive book pulled from the elementary school’s Mother’s Day celebration. They claim it promotes homosexuality, and sex.Please call them (see the picture I posted for the contact info) if you agree it is wrong to van books.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on October 24, 2019
    My 6-year-old and I both love this book! The story is fabulous, the dialogue is believable, and the characters are realistic. The illustrations are cheerful and fun, they enhance the story, and they depict a diverse group of children and adults. We started reading it when my kiddo was 4, and it's always been one of her favorites.

    When Mrs. Abbott announces that they are going to have a special Mother's Day celebration in their class, and each child can invite a special guest, Stella is worried. She has two dads, but no special guest to bring to the Mother's Day celebration. Everyone else has a mother. Howie has two! One by one, the other kids ask Stella who does the things that their moms do - who tucks you in at night, who makes your lunch, etc. When it comes to "who kisses you when you get hurt", Stella responds, "Well, that's a long answer." She then lists all the people who give her hugs and kisses, and the other child says, "why not invite them all?" Stella's dads think that's a great idea, but Stella is still worried. Is it too many people? Will it be ok? She works harder than anyone on her invitation, because there are so many people to include. When the big day arrives, Stella is relieved to find that everything goes wonderfully. At the end of the celebration, Mrs. Abbott is worn out, and Stella reassures her that for Father's Day, she won't bring nearly as many people - just 2! Meanwhile, Howie is walking home with his moms and wondering who he will bring to the Father's Day celebration. :)
    10 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on November 12, 2015
    Fun story that centers on Stella, a little girl in elementary school. Her teacher says "We're going to have a celebration for Mother's Day, and each of you can invite a special guest." But Stella has two dads and no mother, so she worries about who to invite. Her classmates can all invite their mothers and Howie even has two. But her friend Jonathan suggests that she invite all the people in the family who give her kisses when she is hurt. So Stella's invitation is for Papa, Daddy, Nonna, Aunt Gloria, Uncle Bruno, and Cousin Lucy who go with her to school on the big day.

    Illustrations are very appealing for their colors, their child-like faces, and diverse children. A gentle story about problem-solving, where some of the characters just happen to be same-sex.
    7 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 22, 2020
    This is the best book for teaching our children about all of the different kinds of families there are. I am a surrogate and it’s important for my child to know that we love everyone no matter how their family looks. This book explains it in a child like way that makes it easy to understand, while also having a great storyline as well.
    5 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on September 22, 2017
    This is a beautiful story of families of all types with clear and simple language so all kids can understand. A great way to start conversations about how families come in all shapes and sizes. I love the illustrations as well!
    3 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 11, 2015
    This sweet story, focusing on Stella's anxieties over Mother's Day and how she overcomes them, is absolutely delightful. The story is simple yet powerful, and the illustrations are lively and full of fun details. A great way to start a conversation with kids about all sorts of family structures. Highly recommended for all kids and parents.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 5, 2015
    My daughter (age 7) and I loved this book. I don't often read books to her anymore - she can read on her own. But, in the event that this one prompted any questions (though we're already very open about same-sex relationships in our house), I wanted to read this one to her. When we were done, she wanted to read it again to herself at bedtime. I'd say that's a ringing endorsement! I have to say, every time my daughter does a school or camp project for mother's/father's day, I wonder about the kids who don't have the parent celebrated by the holiday. Schiffer's book reminds us (teachers, are you paying attention?) that families come in all shapes, sizes, and genders.
    6 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 20, 2015
    I loved the illustrations the most. They are colorful and unique. However, many new LGBT-themed literature are starting to become predictable and starting to read a lot like other LGBT books out there. Seemed a lot like "Antonio's Card."
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 23, 2023
    I loved this book and gave it to my niece for her daughter.
    One person found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • Mrsd271015
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great story to show how there is no normal family and love is important
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 24, 2021
    I bought this book for my nursery class along side others to explore different family set ups with our children. They all loved this book and it was nice that there were many different families represented. I would recommend this book for home and school use.
  • Nivedita Nair
    4.0 out of 5 stars Family comes in all shapes and sizes
    Reviewed in India on June 5, 2021
    Family comes in all shapes and sizes. There is no fixed formula but one common ingredient in all families is LOVE.
  • Tanya WB
    5.0 out of 5 stars Family’s come in all shapes and sizes!
    Reviewed in Canada on May 2, 2020
    Very sweet story about the real childhood worries of having a family that doesn’t fit the ‘norm’. Stella Brings The Family is a wonderful way to introduce or affirm that families come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Love the diversity in this book!
  • Antonio Pueyo Gil
    4.0 out of 5 stars Es lo que esperaba
    Reviewed in Spain on October 23, 2019
    Me ha resultado útil
  • Gracie
    5.0 out of 5 stars Get it
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 29, 2018
    Worth buying to show that queer extended families are just as valid.

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