One Dad, Two Dads, Brown Dad, Blue Dad

by Johnny Valentine

Book Overview

Two children, one with two blue dads and one with a more traditional family, compare notes and wonder what is so different about dads who are blue. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1555838480
• ISBN13: 9781555838485
• Release Date: January 2004
• Publisher: Alyson Books
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.1" x 7.1" x 10.0"
• Age Range: 2 to 6 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 1

Customer Reviews

Wonderful book about family diversity!

In this short but engaging book, the imperturbable Lou answers his friend's questions about his two dads, who both are blue. Since the story focuses on his dads' "blue-ness" rather than their "two-ness", it presents the idea of different families without focusing on the issue of sexual orientation. Lou's answers about his dads are confident and matter-of-fact, and this book is a great tool for building self-esteem for kids in two-dad families. Lou's answers also serve to further showcase the many things that all dads can do, and the book ends with yet another surprise about dads from Lou's friend Jean. Highly recommended.One Dad, Two Dads, Brown Dad, Blue Dads

A Classic for Our Families

This is my most-recommended book for LGBT families, or for those introducing the topic to preschool children. The story is funny and fun, the illustrations are classic, and the tone is natural. My son loves this book, and when we shared it with his pre-K class, the teacher immediately bought a copy for thier library. If you are a gay parent of a young child, I urge you to add this to your family's collection.

A great book for family studies!

I use this book in my preschool classroom with 3, 4, and 5 year-olds. They love it, and instantly see the silliness in being afraid or worried about a family with two dads OR blue dads. We use it every year during our unit on families.

Nicely ridiculous and innocuous.

Funny and light-hearted, with nothing blatant. Appeals to a preschooler's sense of the ridiculous without insulting them. My five-year-old loved it, and he only has one dad and one mom. Also encourages thinking about racial issues and questions about how "other" kids families might be structured (divorced, single-parent, step-families, gay families, adoptive families). Bright, well-composed illustrations. Vibrant text. MUCH more fun (and less preachy) than "Heather has two mommies" or the "Daddy's Roommate" books.

Allegorical Children's Book Explores Prejudice

ONE DAD, TWO DADS, BROWN DAD, BLUE DADS tells the story of Lou and his gay fathers, who happen to be blue. A young girl is very curious about his blue dads and asks many questions which Lou thinks are rather silly. For example, she wants to know if his blue dads can sing, cook, work, play, and stand on their heads like her dad can. Lou replies, "What funny ideas you have. Do you think dads are different because they are blue." The message is quite clear; blue dads, or gay dads, experience family life similar to white, black, or heterosexual dads. Alyson Press has recommended this book to children as young as two years old. I question whether or not very young children will be able to separate the blueness of the fathers to actually understand that having two dads is as "normal" as having one. I suggest introducing this book to a three or four year old who is better able to understand the humor in having blue or green dads. The illustrations are eye catching, include diversity in many areas and display the fathers in many cross gender activities.