Real Sisters Pretend

by Megan Dowd Lambert, Nicole Tadgell (Illustrator)

This warm, engaging story, which unfolds entirely through the conversation of two adopted sisters, was inspired by the author's own daughters, whom she overheard talking about how adoption made them "real sisters" even though they have different birth parents and do not look alike. "I liked how they took care of one another in their pretend-play scenario about climbing a mountain," Lambert says, "and I loved how they also took care of one another's feelings as they talked about adoption." Real Sisters Pretend captures these interactions perfectly and movingly.

Told with simple words and playful illustrations, this book touches on the topics of adoption, two moms, and multiracial family life. Illustrated by award-winning artist Nicole Tadgell.

Modern families can look very different from the nuclear families of yesteryear, but as Lambert says in the book's introduction, "No matter how a family comes to be, the most important thing is for everyone to feel loved, safe, and cared for." Real Sisters Pretend is a great vehicle for sharing that love and reassurance.

Genres: Picture Books, Adoption, Family, LGBT, Childrens, Realistic Fiction, Cultural

32 pages, Hardcover

First published May 10, 2016

Reviews

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two sisters talk about what it means to be sisters/family while they play a game of pretend princesses. Their discussion covers their adoption stories and their understanding of what it means to a family to adopt members.

They also talk about how other people don't always understand how their questions can make adoptive family members feel, especially when those strangers' questions try to make the distinction between real sisters when they are really asking indirectly about biological relations; in family everything is real, though there may be differences in biological vs. adoptive relations.

An author's note opens the story and gives readers some background info on the observed moment that inspired this story.

PreK-2+.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Warm, appealing story about adopted sisters of a lesbian couple. Positive and affirming.

[Jennybeast · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adoption into a lesbian family with children of color -- this book hits a lot of high spots for diversity -- it's also a really nice book about family, about siblings and about play.

[Danielle H · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who is always seeking out LGBTQ+ children's literature, I actually did not realize this was a book about an LGBTQ+ family until it arrived and I read it all the way through! I have been looking into more children's literature on interracial families, families with adoptees, biracial kids, and interracial adoptees. So this fell into a few of those categories. I will admit, that I was more engaged in the sequential art style than anything else! I am a sucker for a speech bubble and sequential frames--comic book style. I think that if I was also blown away by the narrative, I would have given it 5 stars. Regardless, it is a candid story of an older sister (1st grader) explaining to her younger sister (PreK) why they are real sisters. They play a make-believe princess game while recalling the story of how they became a family. In the very end, you see their mommy come home and greet their momma--also an interracial couple. I love the subtlety of this even more than I love it as a book about adoption, perhaps! It is great for kids of LGBTQ+ parents to have books that validate their experiences while not overprocessing them.

[Lisa Paradis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adoption is beautiful, but is also messy. Trying to explain your child's story to them when they are young can be difficult. Finding books that they can relate to can be even more of a challenge.

As a mom of 3 beautiful girls adopted through the foster care system, It's been nearly impossible to find books that represent their stories, this book has rung true for us! Real Sisters Pretend could be written about our family. This book talks about siblings having different colored skin, and how that doesn't make any difference. As an added bonus, these sisters are also being raised by two moms. During the girl's pretend play, they deal with a question that a stranger asked, "are you real sisters?", the book addresses this beautifully. (It's a question my girls get all the time) Our girls love this book!

Thank you Megan for writing such an important book for our children.

[Kelly Snyder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adoptions is a sticky subject with some children simply because adopted sometimes don’t feel they belong to a family. Not all, but some. Now throw in a multi-ethnic and cross-cultural adoption. This is the challenge Lambert meets head-on in this story. The protagonist is the older sister Tayja and she welcomes her new sister Mia with play and fun. Mia at one point tells Tayja “Let’s pretend we are sisters…” To which Tayja says, “No Mia-we don’t have to pretend that. We are sisters. Real sisters.” This story is heartwarming and fun to read as the girls explain what adoption is to its audience. It re-enforces the meaning of family: people who love and care for one another.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated story about two sisters defining what is pretend (their princess adventure story) and what is not pretend (their sibling and family dynamic). While I wish that the story was a little more straightforward about its message about how adopted families are just as valid as biological families, I can clearly see why they chose this storytelling route.
The conversation the sisters have sounds very realistic and doesn't come off heavy handed which feels intentional. Ultimately, the feelings of love and warmth and acceptance are all there which is the end goal

[Candelaria Silva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very sweet book about two sisters who are adopted but who are real sisters (because that's how they feel), pretending to be princess sisters who go on adventures. There are several layers to this book told in a way that make it easy to read to and discuss with a child. It covers adoption; how people don't always understand they are sisters because they look different; found family; and the illustrations briefly show that the sisters have two mothers. Recommend highly. My daughter has birthed, fostered, and adopted children so this story resonated with me.

[Jennifer Miera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice story about adoption featuring two kids who are not the same skin color and a family with two mommies. The black girl is illustrated more realistically than the her sister with the lighter skin tone. In some of the illustrations, the "white?" girl's eyes are disturbingly over large and cartoonish and the expression and arrangement of features on her face is sometimes more like a hobbit creature than human. Overall, that's a small complaint.

[Evan Childress · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two adopted sisters explore the world of pretend and discuss the notion that because they are adopted they aren't "real" sisters. One of my closest childhood friends is part of a beautiful blended family, and I vividly remember the authenticity or "realness" of her sisters being questioned. We need these books, and children need to read them and see themselves reflected in literature!

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This picture book explains what adoption means and what it means to be real sisters, told through the conversation of two sisters who were both adopted as they play pretend. This is a great picture book for helping young children understand adoption and for showing that no matter how your family is put together, or who the members are in that family, it is as real as any family can be.

[kristen Lawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book! I think it’s important to have stories of all family types. This book was a subtle way to introduce adoption. I also loved at the end their was a picture of the girls’ lgbt parents.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute book about two sisters who don't look alike but are real sisters. Talks about the adoption process, going to court to make it official, how some people might not recognize they are real sisters, and on the last page we find out they have two moms.

[Charlotte Young Bowens · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was precious, easy to read, the artwork was phenomenal and a wonderful tale for blended families and adopted siblings. Sisterhood was displayed with lots of passion.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

a bit young for my kids now - but love this story - mixed race family by adoption with two moms - also a great discussion about "real" and "pretend"..

[Josephine Burks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. About adopted sisters and what it means to be a family.

[Dax · Rating 5 out of 5]

My heart can't take this book. Everything about this is perfection. Nothing like crying first thing in the morning at work because a book is making you feel ALL the feels!!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is SO good!

[Victoria Whipple · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple, beautiful story about two sisters and their family.

[Evie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Important book about being a forever family through adoption. Reaffirms that you don't have to look alike to be sisters, and that love brings people together.

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story of 2 sisters who are "real sisters" due to adoption.

[MJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

wonderful story and illustrations

[Ellis Billington · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was sweet. If I ever adopted kids, I would definitely read them this book.

[Kate Puleo Unger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This story is wonderful and heartbreaking. In the story two young girls, sisters, are playing pretend. The younger suggests that they pretend to be sisters. The older says they don't need to pretend that because they are sisters, through adoption. This book is based on a true story of something her own girls said while playing after a woman at a store as asked if they were "real" sisters. Even aside from the adoption stuff this is a sweet story of pretend play.

Ages 4-8

http://www.momsradius.com/2016/10/cyb...

[Veronica · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very sweet story about two adopted sisters playing together and, in the process, repeating some of the history of how they became family. Very beautiful art.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ages 4 and up. Two sisters of different races, adopted from different birth families, play and discuss the silly people who ask if they are "real" sisters. They also talk about their memories of their adoptions by their two moms as they play. A cute story that could help kids learn to avoid the phrase "real sisters/brothers/parents" when talking about adoptive kids and their families.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book may be more for adults than it is for kids. I know, I know, it's a picture book. But kids grasp way quicker what a family is and who can be in it. Momma and Mommy adopted Tayja and Mia, so none of them look alike. The love that binds them is what makes them a family. It doesn't matter if other people can't see that at first or not.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two sisters relaying their adoption stories and how they are truly sisters. Interracial family with 2 mothers.

I love the premise. I am constantly seeking adoption stories. There need to be more. I just wish this had been done better. The make believe was clunky. The narrative felt like adults speaking as kids.

[Juliana Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adopted sisters play 'pretend' but they don't pretend they are sisters, they know they are real sisters. They are real sisters who pretend to be princess, climbing mountains, being rescued by a lion.

[Monique · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful story about sisters that were adopted. They pretend to go mountain climbing while having a conversation about being a forever family because of adoption. This book would be excellent to explain adoption and why all families don't look alike.