Stella Brings the Family

Starred review from March 30, 2015
It’s time to celebrate Mother’s Day in Stella’s class. Everyone has a female parent coming, including Howie, who has two mothers. But Stella is the only kid in her class with two fathers. And while her school is clearly progressive and multicultural, her peers are nonetheless perplexed (even Howie asks, “But who reads you bedtime stories like my mothers do for me?”). When Stella realizes that several people—in addition to her fathers—play maternal roles in her life, the problem is solved, although it does add quite a few folks to the guest list. “For Father’s Day,” Stella promises her exhausted teacher, “she wouldn’t bring nearly as many people.” First-time author Schiffer and Clifton-Brown (Big Bouffant) make a great team. The writing is warmhearted but sharply observed, while the winsome artwork—which features a cast of roundheaded, eager-eyed children—it’s tightly focused and smartly composed. Much like the TV show Modern Family, this story seems as light as a soufflé, but actually offers plenty of food for thought. Ages 5–8. Illustrator’s agent: Jodie Hodges, United Agents.

April 1, 2015
At school, everyone is excited about the upcoming Mother's Day celebration except for Stella. She is not sure what she will do since she has two dads and no mom. Stella is easy to spot on the page with her curly red hair but also because she looks so worried. She is not sure what she is going to do for the party. When her classmates ask her what is the matter and she tells them she has no mom to bring, they begin asking more questions. "Who packs your lunch like my mom does for me?" "Who reads you bedtime stories like my mothers do for me?" "Who kisses you when you are hurt?" Stella has Daddy and Papa and other relatives who do all of those things. As the students decorate and craft invitations, "Stella worked harder than everyone." The day of the event arrives, and Stella shows up with her fathers, uncle, aunt, cousin, and Nonna. And it all turns out well. One student brings his two moms, and another child invites his grandmother since his mother is away. Debut picture-book author Schiffer creates a story featuring diverse modern families that children will recognize from their own direct experiences or from their classrooms or communities. She keeps the text closely focused on Stella's feelings, and Clifton-Brown chooses finely detailed watercolors to illustrate Stella's initial troubles and eventual happiness. Essential. (Picture book. 4-8)

April 1, 2015

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

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2015
Preschool-G Every other child in Stella's class knows who to invite to the Mother's Day party, but all week long, Stella worries. When the other kids learn that she has no mother to bring, they ask who packs her lunch (Daddy), who reads her bedtime stories (Daddy and Papa), and who kisses her when she is hurt ( Papa or Daddy or Nonna or Aunt Gloria or Uncle Bruno or Cousin Lucy ). In the end, Stella invites them all, but she promises her teacher that on Father's Day she will bring just her two dads. Written with simplicity and emotional clarity, the text and dialogue read aloud well. The crisp, clean artwork, a mixed-media collage featuring gouache and crayonlike elements, creates a cheerful, supportive atmosphere in Stella's home and her multicultural classroom. One inviting spread shows the children's art projects: hand-drawn group portraits of their families. Children will enjoy watching Stella solve her own dilemma in a logical yet creative way. With its validation of nontraditional families, this picture book offers a welcome change of pace for Mother's Day reading.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)