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Some Do, Some Don't
How do families live together, and why are they sometimes apart? This profound and moving book will inspire reflection and conversation about what unites us and what makes us distinct individuals.
Colombian creator Dipacho explores the many ways we live with other people—or, at times, apart from them—with striking illustrations of the jabiru, the largest member of the stork family of birds. In spare, poetic text and stunning watercolors, Dipacho honors family togetherness as well as families whose members choose to live apart, or are separated by circumstances. Moving spreads pay tribute to family members who have died, and those just born. This ingeniously conceived book gives equal weight to the conventional and the unconventional arrangements in which we live, sparking conversations about what it means to be a family. The book ends with informational back matter about the fascinating jabiru stork, grounding it in the world of facts.
Colombian creator Dipacho explores the many ways we live with other people—or, at times, apart from them—with striking illustrations of the jabiru, the largest member of the stork family of birds. In spare, poetic text and stunning watercolors, Dipacho honors family togetherness as well as families whose members choose to live apart, or are separated by circumstances. Moving spreads pay tribute to family members who have died, and those just born. This ingeniously conceived book gives equal weight to the conventional and the unconventional arrangements in which we live, sparking conversations about what it means to be a family. The book ends with informational back matter about the fascinating jabiru stork, grounding it in the world of facts.
42 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 31, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
March 17, 2024
Uns e outros (Companhia das Letras, 2024)
November 16, 2022
Every family is unique and no two are the same. This book is a celebration of family and the many forms it comes in. The important lesson is that no matter how different every family looks, the love that is felt is what makes a family so special. Deeply moving, this book explores a family of jabiru, storks native to the author's country of Colombia.
Rich and gorgeous watercolor illustrations accompany beautiful prose about all the ways people live as families, whether together or apart, by choice or circumstance, conventional and unconventional.
This story was entertaining and educational, which can be a tricky balance to maintain in a children’s book, and I will be suggesting it to teachers, families and counselors whenever possible. Mental health is such a critical part of childhood that often gets overlooked. Especially when a child is affected by a move, divorce, loss, or deployment. Incorporating social and emotional education into children's picture books is a tried and true way to teach an important life skill in a way that is fun. This would be an amazing addition for classroom libraries, counselling offices and more.
Rich and gorgeous watercolor illustrations accompany beautiful prose about all the ways people live as families, whether together or apart, by choice or circumstance, conventional and unconventional.
This story was entertaining and educational, which can be a tricky balance to maintain in a children’s book, and I will be suggesting it to teachers, families and counselors whenever possible. Mental health is such a critical part of childhood that often gets overlooked. Especially when a child is affected by a move, divorce, loss, or deployment. Incorporating social and emotional education into children's picture books is a tried and true way to teach an important life skill in a way that is fun. This would be an amazing addition for classroom libraries, counselling offices and more.
April 22, 2023
“Some of us have no family. / Others do. / Some of us take off on our own, / and some like company.” Dipacho talks about how families are different by showing various groupings of jabirus, a giant bird from South America. (Readers find out abut jabirus at the end.) By showing that some of us have no family, or that some of us are different from our family, or that some family members “have left us, / and aren’t here anymore,” kids can see that many families are not complete. It’s a reassuring message that is delivered simply but with profound wisdom.
Dipacho’s charming, whimsical art is paint with scratch elements, and his birds are regal but are imbued with human attributes by their poses. Young readers will enjoy pointing out in the art what the text is saying, and adults will appreciate the the message.
Dipacho’s charming, whimsical art is paint with scratch elements, and his birds are regal but are imbued with human attributes by their poses. Young readers will enjoy pointing out in the art what the text is saying, and adults will appreciate the the message.
October 14, 2023
Explore the dynamics of family relationships and individuality with a family of jabiru storks native to Colombia. The story explores how families live together and why they sometimes live apart. It encourages readers to reflect on what unites us and makes us unique.
Some Do, Some Don't provides an opportunity to discuss diverse family structures, individuality, empathy, acceptance, and how people coexist.
Discussion Questions:
How does the jabiru stork family represent human families?
Why do you think some families live together and others live apart?
How does the book portray individuality among the jabiru storks?
Can you think of ways your family is similar or different from the jabiru stork family in the story?
What does the story teach us about unity and uniqueness within a family?
How can we show empathy and acceptance towards people who live differently from us?
Some Do, Some Don't provides an opportunity to discuss diverse family structures, individuality, empathy, acceptance, and how people coexist.
Discussion Questions:
How does the jabiru stork family represent human families?
Why do you think some families live together and others live apart?
How does the book portray individuality among the jabiru storks?
Can you think of ways your family is similar or different from the jabiru stork family in the story?
What does the story teach us about unity and uniqueness within a family?
How can we show empathy and acceptance towards people who live differently from us?
February 18, 2023
The author uses jabiru birds as a metaphor to affirm different types of families and living situations. The tone is neutral and accepting--all ways of living are presented without judgment as normal variations in experience. This could be a good conversation starter for young kids to get them to thinking about how there are all kinds of different ways to navigate the world. It may be of great comfort for kids to see a family situation similar to their own presented on the page. The art is simple but colorful and lively. It supports the story well. This would be a nice addition to school and classroom libraries for pre-K and early elementary!
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!
February 24, 2023
I am constantly expecting these birds to throw back their heads and yell “HECK!” because they just look so goofy. The artwork is the star here, for me, over the words. These birds just have so much personality. They’re not rendered as elegant, despite how they look in real life but they are endearing.
The text is much less about the jabiru bird (although there is some informational pages at the back of the book), and more about families and how people like to be together. Kids or no, married or no, gay, straight, neither, both. It’s just a little silliness and cuteness.
This is a good library pickup. I wouldn’t say it’s a must-buy for a household, but find out if your kid will fixate.
The text is much less about the jabiru bird (although there is some informational pages at the back of the book), and more about families and how people like to be together. Kids or no, married or no, gay, straight, neither, both. It’s just a little silliness and cuteness.
This is a good library pickup. I wouldn’t say it’s a must-buy for a household, but find out if your kid will fixate.
June 23, 2023
This nonfiction book tells you about a type of bird called jabirus. They don't mention them by name until the note in the back of the book. Each page has a simple sentence such as "Some of us have no family." or "Some of us take off on our own, and some like company". This book could easily be applied to people if you wanted. I wanted more from this book since it is nonfiction it only told you surface-level information about jabirus and I would have loved to see a real picture of one included in the note at the back of the book.
January 1, 2023
Some Do, Some Don’t by Dipacho is a gorgeous nonfiction book about family. Dipacho uses the jabiru, a type of stork, for the illustrations to show all the different ways families exist. There is information about the jabiru included too. This book is sure to spark wonderful conversations with young readers. Thank you to Netgalley and Astra Publishing for the eARC. Look for this book January 31, 2023. #netgalley #somedosomedont
October 16, 2022
Dipacho’s lovely tale of jabiru storks serves as a awesome resource for teaching the concept of differences/opposites and that people aren’t all alike in their wants/needs/experiences. In this book we examine different jabiru families and how they experience togetherness or loneliness. Beautifully told and stunningly illustrated, this is a great read for toddlers and preschoolers.
March 21, 2023
Splendidly transcribed through picture book what we face daily, with Jabiru as illustration. We are all different, though we shared the same profile. And sometimes you cannot understand what others do, because we are not the same. A good remembrance of what we are actually, unique.
April 7, 2023
Really beautiful picture book that broaches tough subjects of how our families all look different. The subetely combined with beautiful illustrations of the jaibiru storks is masterful.
April 30, 2023
Beautiful book and loved it.
Want to Read
May 10, 2023found from Astra Publishing newsletter
July 18, 2023
Great book about acceptance.
October 12, 2024
This book talks about family and how families live together and how sometimes they have to live apart. It teaches children what it means to be family.
February 10, 2026
This is a good book about how all people and families live differently. This would be a good classroom addition, although it doesn't necessarily have a storyline.
June 10, 2023
The Jabiru is an unusual bird that does not often feature in stories and even less often is found in children’s picture books because not very many people know very much about it.
Here are some facts: it is the tallest flying bird in the Americas; it can be anything between four and five feet tall; it has a wingspan of nine feet. With a white body, black head, and red throat pouch it certainly stands out and the parents of any potential hatchlings take turns to look after the nest. The Jaribu birds are very family oriented but as with us humans, some do, and some don’t.
In Dipacho’s Some Do, Some Don’t picturebook we discover those things that unite us and those which make us different. Some of us have no family, others have lots of family, some like to be along, others love company, some even like crowds whilst others prefer some alone time. Both near and far some are fortunate enough to live together even if those they live with are very different from one another.
As we turn the pages of this simply told but incredibly evocative picturebook we quickly see that we are engaging in a profound exploration about what unites us and what makes us distinct as individuals. Sparsely worded this profound book allows readers to insert their own thoughts and feelings, discussing what each of the ideas and concepts mean for them, their idea of family.
Here are some facts: it is the tallest flying bird in the Americas; it can be anything between four and five feet tall; it has a wingspan of nine feet. With a white body, black head, and red throat pouch it certainly stands out and the parents of any potential hatchlings take turns to look after the nest. The Jaribu birds are very family oriented but as with us humans, some do, and some don’t.
In Dipacho’s Some Do, Some Don’t picturebook we discover those things that unite us and those which make us different. Some of us have no family, others have lots of family, some like to be along, others love company, some even like crowds whilst others prefer some alone time. Both near and far some are fortunate enough to live together even if those they live with are very different from one another.
As we turn the pages of this simply told but incredibly evocative picturebook we quickly see that we are engaging in a profound exploration about what unites us and what makes us distinct as individuals. Sparsely worded this profound book allows readers to insert their own thoughts and feelings, discussing what each of the ideas and concepts mean for them, their idea of family.
December 23, 2022
My review will be live on my blog - donnasbookblog on 31 January 2023 - publication day!
I thought that this was a really good book and the illustrations were brilliant!
The illustrations really worked with the story and brought the book to life
The book is a simple read that shows it everyone is different in their own ways, some want to be together, some want to be alone, some live in family groups, but in the end as long as everyone is happy that is all that matters - a simple message that the book gets over really well.
I loved reading the book with my five-year-old daughter and she really enjoyed it too - well she read it to me! I loved the facts at the end too so you can learn more about the Jabiru Stork too.
It is 5 stars from me for this one, very highly recommended!
I thought that this was a really good book and the illustrations were brilliant!
The illustrations really worked with the story and brought the book to life
The book is a simple read that shows it everyone is different in their own ways, some want to be together, some want to be alone, some live in family groups, but in the end as long as everyone is happy that is all that matters - a simple message that the book gets over really well.
I loved reading the book with my five-year-old daughter and she really enjoyed it too - well she read it to me! I loved the facts at the end too so you can learn more about the Jabiru Stork too.
It is 5 stars from me for this one, very highly recommended!
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews