Remixed: A Blended Family

by Arree Chung

In this companion to Arree Chung's stand-out picture book Mixed: A Colorful Story, the colors must re-evaluate what it means to be a family.

In Mixed City, when colors care for each other, they decide to mix. They create families that come in every combination of colors, shapes, and sizes. But sometimes those sizes, shapes, and colors can change. And change isn't always easy. It might be hard to get used to. It might make some colors feel worried, or sad.

Remixed: A Blended Family is an inspiring picture book that celebrates the strength and resilience of remixed families and the beauty of chosen families, showing how even after change, or loss, love can thrive.

Genres: Picture Books, Family, Divorce, Childrens, Parenting, Fiction, Cultural

40 pages, Hardcover

Published July 5, 2022

About the author

Arree Chung makes picture books but he didn’t always do so. Once he made spreadsheets all day long and he decided that he wanted to make pictures instead. Arree learned how to draw, paint and think a little bit differently at Art Center College of Design.

Arree is represented by Rubin Pfeffer at Rubin Pfeffer Content. http://www.rpcontent.com

Lots of cool stuff at: http://arree.com

Reviews

[SamSamSam · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wasn't a fan of this. I think the concept that it's touching on is great, but there was SO much going on in the illustrations that it was overwhelming and confusing. And the narrative was very choppy. Also, why did the dad just randomly change colors on one page?

[Kimberly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I LOVED Mixed, and so did my son, but we were both disappointed in this one. Mixed taught a very important lesson while still being fun, but this one didn't have the same sense of whimsy. I wonder if the author was going through a blending of families and wrote this for their own child?

Disclaimer: I am also going through a divorce, so both my son and I are sensitive to the topic. While he is usually drawn in by books about divorce/separation, I think he was overwhelmed by the very idea of the parents in this one having new partners. Grownups should be aware this is probably not the best book for the children of newly-divorced parents if there are no stepparents or new SOs in the picture.

[Axl Mendoza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Remixed: A Blended Family is a fun, vibrant book that shows how different family members can come together to make one happy, blended family. It’s great for the classroom to teach acceptance, cooperation, and the value of all kinds of families.

[Tam I · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read an ARC

Cute way of explaining blended families to children.

[The Book Squirrel · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book about how families can change - separation and finding new families - was ok, but not great. I am in a blended family, and I would not choose this book to read to children going through family change.
The message that everything is going to be ok, and can be even better than it was, is great but the way it was presented was very confusing.

The text was a bit choppy and there is SO MUCH going on in those illustrations. I didn't find the colours to be very consistent, so it was really hard to see who was breaking up with who and who was meeting who, etc. They orange dad and the grey mum and kid were the only ones I could keep track of.

The inclusion of the punk rockers added the confusion, as I didn't get the sense that they were a "family", but just a group (or were representing some sort of orgy or the non-monogamous?? - like I said, for a book supposedly about family, it didn't fit. The book didn't make it clear that it was about friendship groups as well as families. For children who are reading it and believing it is about families, it was also disturbing to introduce the idea that if you "play the wrong music" you can be chucked out of the family).

Overall, this is a book to read yourself before reading to your kids. If it works to help your children make sense of your situation, then that's wonderful. But it's not going to work for everyone.

[Victoria Simmons · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so cute. I love the way that it uses the coloured blobs to represent families and how they can change and mix. I read it with the children at my school and it promoted some great conversation about family structures, blended families and how their families are made up. I think this book would be a really good way to talk to younger children about what is happening when there is a family break down and how things might be sad and difficult at the time but that they will get better. I also think it would be great in schools to use to allow them to help children who are experiencing this.

[Shari · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of MIXED, so it's no surprise that I love this sequel. Such an important story about how families change, but love can still grow. I loved that there were simultaneous stories happening, one with a family and one with a band, showing readers that "family" can have multiple meanings. This can be a story of hope for kids of divorced parents, and affirmation for all types of families. The book also lends itself to looking at it over and over to find more little details in the pictures. I love the colorful dot characters against the black and white background.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an electronic ARC from Henry Holt and Company through Picture Book Palooza.
Chung uses dots of all colors to help readers understand that sometimes people change. The colors interact but something may change and they separate. I appreciate that Chung showed a family separating and a band separating as not all splits in life are the same. Readers see colors go on and develop new relationships and styles. They "remix" to become even better and stronger. Helpful for younger children who may not understand what is happening in their lives.

[Kayla Fleshman]

This book is amazing. I grew up in a blended family, with my parents divorcing when I was very young, and it was difficult for me to understand I was confused and sad a lot of the time before I grew up and slowly understood. I think this book does a wonderful job of showing kids that their feelings are valid, but also that things will get better. This is a book that I would have in my classroom and I would've loved to have read it when I was a kid. I might even gift it to a child that I know is going through something like this.

[E · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I loved MIXED I found REMIXED a little disappointing. I get the concept but I’m not sure the chosen format worked. It is a heavy subject to try and convey in a way children will understand and at the same time enjoy. The premise of this book is that change can be hard to get used to but it can be done with open minds and hearts. I’m not sure little ones understand what open minds and hearts are. Maybe if this was written for 8 to 12 year olds it would work better? But, I’m not sure of what age group this was created for. I think maybe 3-5 yo?

[Anneliese Grassi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a sweet book that helps explain the common occurrence of families that split and then make new beginnings over time by blending with others. I love that it doesn’t just represent families, but shows a band breaking up as well. The colors are beautiful in the pictures and they do a great job throughout the story. This one is perfect for helping littles understand that things will be okay.

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Colorful interpretation of blended families, literally colorful! The story substitues colorful blobs for human people, adding to the lighthearted tone.

Also, this book alternates:

* Narration, describing what happens as a family blends.
* With comic-style dialog, complete with thought bubbles.

Altogether, this is lighthearted treatment of a sensitive topic. I say, "Bravo" to the author and illustrator, Arree Chung. And FIVE STARS.

[Katelin Soroko · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book does a nice job of demonstrating how families and groups change over time. Talks about how blending things that happened in the past with the new things of the future, creates a new beginning for everyone.

In my classroom I would use this to demonstrate how everyone's family came to be is different. I feel like this would be a nice book to use or have kids look at if their family is going through something, like a divorce.

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kinda two stories, but only one text? I had trouble figuring out what was being communicated and am still confused by some of the images. The art is cute for littles, but the message uses syntax better for older children, and the whole thing is kind of a mess. I'm sure there are better books out there.

And, btw, this seems to focus on very simple divorce and new step-parents, no nuances or other options.

[Amanda]

I was confused in the beginning of this and then sad and the sad feelings lingered throughout the entire book as I figured out what was happening. The first book was so uplifting and yet this one I kept on feeling sad the whole way through even at the end when everyone had made new lives for themselves. This is just me and my personal opinion.

[Hannah Peddle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about how families can change and that can be scary, but in the end things get better. I like the message behind the book and I think a lot of students can relate to it, and this book could be comforting for them to read. However, I think there are better books out there on this topic so I am not sure I would include this in my classroom library.

[Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about families and how they start off strong, but sometimes they have to go their separate ways. But later on, they might find new people to love and make a new family with. I would use this book in my classroom to show kids that not all families are perfect, and there are many other kids and adults out there that have multiple parents and split families, and that it is okay!

[Jaye Latts · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful book that shows how families can change and grow and have more love! The main characters are in colour so they stand out, while the background illustrations are in black and white. The story is simply told but right on point. Love it!

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

“But with open minds…
…and hearts
…love… grows.”

Mixed: A Colorful Story by Areee Chung has always been a fave, & four years later @arreechung’s new picture book is finally here! Remixed: A Blended Family tells a story of growth, resilience, and chosen family! 🎶

[Cara Byrne · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were a lot of strengths of this book (showing both the joys/success of "mixing," but how families (and bands) can also part ways and go in new directions), but also a lot going on in the narrative/illustrations that made it confusing at times.

[Leova Manbhat · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book about divorce, breaking up, moving on, starting over and it all being okay.

I love that the author did not just focus on family in the traditional sense but also included friend groups as a family.

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 2 out of 5]

Like others, I LOVED Mixed by Chung, so was very excited to see this follow-up. However, Remixed failed to live up to the expectation. The idea of blended families is muddled and the confusion illustrations cause the intent to be even murkier.

Not recommended.

[Roxanne Troup · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved Mixed! And while I appreciate the concept of this one, it doesn't come across with the same sense of purpose or pizazz. Perhaps it was the digital copy I read from, but the art feels less vibrant, the dialog more chaotic. It confuses the narrative and makes for a hard read.

[Jessica · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy this one. It was kind of confusing, especially with the band. I didn't understand what was going on with that part of the story. There were a lot of colors, and it was hard to keep all the characters straight.

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars for this book that beautifully treats the blending of families - now called remixed (love the term) - really a must share for any family who has been remixed

[A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A helpful addition to conversations around divorce/separation and family structure!

[Amber Wessies Owrey · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book uses color blobs to show how blended families can come to be and grow in love. In general, I appreciate the concept and attempt but it was definitely too simple to me.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book uses colors to show how families can change over time. It is a good one for small children who need to understand these changes.

[Stephani · Rating 3 out of 5]

A well intentioned story that falls flat. Love that it features what equates to a poly family.

[KaitandMaddie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s an interesting concept, but maybe the two storylines together made it less clear than it could have been.