Brannen, Sarah. Uncle Bobby's Wedding. Putnam, 2008. 28 p. TR $15.99 ISBN 978-0399247125
SUMMARY: "Chloe is jealous and sad when her favorite uncle announces that he will be getting married, but as she gets to know Jamie better and becomes involved in planning the wedding, she discovers that she will always be special to Uncle Bobby--and to Uncle Jamie, too."
RISKS: Homosexual marriage
EVALUATION: While the idea of using guinea pigs (or is it gerbils?) as allegorical stand-ins for such a heavy topic (homosexual marriage) might seem incongruous at first, it's a rather common tactic used by authors of books for younger audiences. There are very few titles that cover homosexual issues for the preschool audience, and Brannen has recognized a gap that needs to be filled and is catering to her audience. The story makes homosexuality merely a fact of life and the real issue is friendships and how they change because of a marriage. For readers horrified by the mere thought of homosexuality, this book will seem like only so much propaganda. For those committed to fighting sexual discrimination, this early lesson in tolerance will be a welcome addition to a rapidly expanding corpus.
READER'S ANNOTATION: Chloe is afraid her uncle's marriage will jeopardize their friendship, but soon she discovers how much fun it is to have two favorite uncles!
TOPICS: families; uncles; homosexuality; marriage; weddings; jealousy;
AWARDS: ALA Rainbow List, 2009
Ages 3-7
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