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Heather Has Two Mommies
Originally self-published in 1989, Heather Has Two Mommies became the first title in Alyson's newly formed Alyson Wonderland imprint in 1990. The simple and straightforward story of a little girl named Heather and her two lesbian mothers was created by Newman and illustrator Diana Souza because children's books that reflected a nontraditional family did not exist, but a firestorm of controversy soon ensued. Attacked by the religious right, lambasted by Jesse Helms from the floor of the U.S. Senate, and stolen from library shelves, it was an uphill battle for Heather. Thanks to the overwhelming support of booksellers, librarians, parents, and children, however, Heather Has Two Mommies has sold over 35,000 copies, launched a minor industry in providing books for the children of gay and lesbian parents and, as attested to by a recent New Yorker cartoon, become part of the cultural lexicon. In response to teacher and librarian concerns, the often controversial artificial insemination section has been removed for the tenth anniversary edition, making Heather more accessible to younger children, while maintaining the central message of love and acceptance that has endeared the book to countless readers. After all, as Molly, Heather's beloved teacher points out, "The most important thing about a family is that all the people in it love each other".
32 pages, Paperback
First published October 28, 1989
22 people are currently reading
1822 people want to read
About the author
Lesléa Newman
107 books250 followersLesléa Newman (born 1955, Brooklyn, NY) is the author of over 50 books including Heather Has Two Mommies, A Letter To Harvey Milk, Writing From The Heart, In Every Laugh a Tear, The Femme Mystique, Still Life with Buddy, Fat Chance and Out of the Closet and Nothing to Wear.
She has received many literary awards including Poetry Fellowships from the Massachusetts Artists Fellowship Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts, the Highlights for Children Fiction Writing Award, the James Baldwin Award for Cultural Achievement, and two Pushcart Prize Nominations.
Nine of her books have been Lambda Literary Award finalists.
Ms. Newman wrote Heather Has Two Mommies, the first children's book to portray lesbian families in a positive way, and has followed up this pioneering work with several more children's books on lesbian and gay families: Gloria Goes To Gay Pride, Belinda's Bouquet, Too Far Away to Touch, and Saturday Is Pattyday.
She is also the author of many books for adults that deal with lesbian identity, Jewish identity and the intersection and collision between the two. Other topics Ms. Newman explores include AIDS, eating disorders, butch/femme relationships and sexual abuse. Her award-winning short story, A Letter To Harvey Milk has been made into a film and adapted for the stage.
In addition to being an author, Ms. Newman is a popular guest lecturer, and has spoken on college campuses across the country including Harvard University, Yale University, the University of Oregon, Bryn Mawr College, Smith College and the University of Judaism. From 2005-2009, Lesléa was a faculty member of the Stonecoast MFA program at the University of Southern Maine. Currently, she is the Poet Laureate of Northampton, MA.
She has received many literary awards including Poetry Fellowships from the Massachusetts Artists Fellowship Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts, the Highlights for Children Fiction Writing Award, the James Baldwin Award for Cultural Achievement, and two Pushcart Prize Nominations.
Nine of her books have been Lambda Literary Award finalists.
Ms. Newman wrote Heather Has Two Mommies, the first children's book to portray lesbian families in a positive way, and has followed up this pioneering work with several more children's books on lesbian and gay families: Gloria Goes To Gay Pride, Belinda's Bouquet, Too Far Away to Touch, and Saturday Is Pattyday.
She is also the author of many books for adults that deal with lesbian identity, Jewish identity and the intersection and collision between the two. Other topics Ms. Newman explores include AIDS, eating disorders, butch/femme relationships and sexual abuse. Her award-winning short story, A Letter To Harvey Milk has been made into a film and adapted for the stage.
In addition to being an author, Ms. Newman is a popular guest lecturer, and has spoken on college campuses across the country including Harvard University, Yale University, the University of Oregon, Bryn Mawr College, Smith College and the University of Judaism. From 2005-2009, Lesléa was a faculty member of the Stonecoast MFA program at the University of Southern Maine. Currently, she is the Poet Laureate of Northampton, MA.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 474 reviews
June 19, 2015
At over 40, I thought I was finally mature enough to read Heather Has Two Mommies. I was wrong...
The whole time I was hoping Heather's mommies would make out. Hey, they're both milf material, especially if Mommie Kate lost that vest and mullet. But alas, no luck. This is such a safe book for the childrens. Sex hardly plays a part at all. There wasn't even any nudity, besides a little side-boob action when Mommie Jane went to the doctor's.
But it wasn't even good side boob like this...
It had the arousal factor of side boob like this...
No, Heather Has Two Mommies stays classy and sticks with the science. There's mention of the womb with a short description, for which I was thankful. Sperm is briefly alluded to, but what it is and where it comes from remain a mystery!
Look, I don't need a lesson in how babies are made. I received all the lesson I need when I was about 6 years old and my slightly older cousin explained to me, "The man puts his penis in the woman's vagina and pees." So yeah, I've got it all figured out...though why my wife never gets pregnant, I don't know. Maybe it's because of all those bladder infections. Anywhoodle, this book could've been a good deal more instructional and salacious!
The lesbian part is kind of glossed over. Obviously you can forget about any steamy, girl-on-girl action. But the fact that Heather is sans daddy, is touched upon in a way that basically says, hey that's just how it is and that's okay, and look, you've got two mommies, so how cool is that? Kids are adaptable, so telling them this is just how it is and not to worry about it is probably the best way to handle it. Loving, supportive parents are the important part.
Other than that, it's solid literature and the illustrations are fine. Well, I say "fine", but I do have a problem with the way Heather's dog is drawn. It looks more like a coyote than a house pet and so now that's the story I want to read, how Heather ended up with a coyote for a pet!
The whole time I was hoping Heather's mommies would make out. Hey, they're both milf material, especially if Mommie Kate lost that vest and mullet. But alas, no luck. This is such a safe book for the childrens. Sex hardly plays a part at all. There wasn't even any nudity, besides a little side-boob action when Mommie Jane went to the doctor's.
But it wasn't even good side boob like this...
It had the arousal factor of side boob like this...
No, Heather Has Two Mommies stays classy and sticks with the science. There's mention of the womb with a short description, for which I was thankful. Sperm is briefly alluded to, but what it is and where it comes from remain a mystery!
Look, I don't need a lesson in how babies are made. I received all the lesson I need when I was about 6 years old and my slightly older cousin explained to me, "The man puts his penis in the woman's vagina and pees." So yeah, I've got it all figured out...though why my wife never gets pregnant, I don't know. Maybe it's because of all those bladder infections. Anywhoodle, this book could've been a good deal more instructional and salacious!
The lesbian part is kind of glossed over. Obviously you can forget about any steamy, girl-on-girl action. But the fact that Heather is sans daddy, is touched upon in a way that basically says, hey that's just how it is and that's okay, and look, you've got two mommies, so how cool is that? Kids are adaptable, so telling them this is just how it is and not to worry about it is probably the best way to handle it. Loving, supportive parents are the important part.
Other than that, it's solid literature and the illustrations are fine. Well, I say "fine", but I do have a problem with the way Heather's dog is drawn. It looks more like a coyote than a house pet and so now that's the story I want to read, how Heather ended up with a coyote for a pet!
April 3, 2022
"The most important thing about a family is that all the people in it love each other."
Imagine how shocking it is to realize how shocking this book might have been when it first came out in 1989. See Agnes's review for a comparison of the 1989 and this revised edition which is more of a true picture book, with new artwork. It's about a family, living together, going to school, going to parks, loving each other. You know, what families do.
Not that this struggle seems completely over, but in more places than then, when this book was banned all over this country--prompting me to buy more than a dozen and give them to friends and family--maybe it seems better? My own family was torn apart by this very issue, of two women--lesbians--raising a child. And while it is better for the individuals in my family most affected, more than fifteen years ago, recent events make it clear this "issue" is sadly still very much alive--and unwell--in my world.
I like very much this sweet and happy story making a positive image of family--with lots of different kinds of families, now a commonplace theme in picture books--clear and strong.
Imagine how shocking it is to realize how shocking this book might have been when it first came out in 1989. See Agnes's review for a comparison of the 1989 and this revised edition which is more of a true picture book, with new artwork. It's about a family, living together, going to school, going to parks, loving each other. You know, what families do.
Not that this struggle seems completely over, but in more places than then, when this book was banned all over this country--prompting me to buy more than a dozen and give them to friends and family--maybe it seems better? My own family was torn apart by this very issue, of two women--lesbians--raising a child. And while it is better for the individuals in my family most affected, more than fifteen years ago, recent events make it clear this "issue" is sadly still very much alive--and unwell--in my world.
I like very much this sweet and happy story making a positive image of family--with lots of different kinds of families, now a commonplace theme in picture books--clear and strong.
September 15, 2016
Yesss I loved this. I loved with the teacher did and how she made them see that it was okay to have a different family than what everyone was used to. Definitely worth a read if you haven't read it yet!
July 15, 2020
Such a sweet story ♥️
March 19, 2012
This book was first published in 1989 and was reissued in 2000. It is a story of a lesbian couple who are parents to three year old Heather. In the first printing it was written that the couple had this child through artificial insemination but in the second printing that fact is missing. Heather lives a happy life with her two mothers but when she begins daycare, questions arise. This is when she is asked by another child “Why don’t you have a daddy?” All Heather has ever known was Mama Jane who is a carpenter and Mama Kate who is a doctor. Her daycare teacher Molly does a wonderful job in making Heather and the other students comfortable with the families they have. She gives them an assignment to draw pictures of their families and all of the members. She explains to Heather that not everyone as a Daddy and the assignment proves that to be true. One student has a Mommy, Daddy and a big brother. One student has a Mommy and a baby sister, Stacy has two Daddies. Joshua has a mother, a step-father and a daddy. David was adopted by his mommy and daddy. Each child has a different family structure but the main point that Molly emphasizes is that “The most important thing about a family is that all the people in it love each other.”
I selected this book because this topic is one that we are still not comfortable teaching about. I think most of the disagreements come from the parental side. Children are more apt to conform to situations than adults. We must, however, include works such as this because the landscape of our classrooms has changed right along with the landscape of our country. Gay and lesbian couples with children are no longer a rarity…….they are the norm. The recent change in laws to accommodate them and give them equal rights as a male and female couple proves that. There is much disagreement and discourse about this topic and how it should be presented. Overall, we teach our children that marriage is between male and female. Now we are faced with the task of teaching them that marriage can be between two people of the same sex and everything is still OK. And in my opinion, everything is OK. Teaching children that gay and lesbian relationships are wrong provides a disservice to them. It also teaches them that it is OK to hate and frown upon families that are not like your own. There is a term for this and I call it discrimination. Teaching is hard. There are subjects that we don’t want to talk about. There are things that we as teachers may not believe in but we cannot allow our own opinions to affect the lives of our children. This book has been on the banned reading list. I had to ask the librarian to retrieve it for me as it was hidden from the shelves. I would hope that if any of us find ourselves in the same situation in the classroom as Molly that we would handle it as tactfully as she did. This book is about more than a lesbian couple with a little girl. It is about cultural diversity. The illustrations are done in black and white and there were certain things that just let you know that Momma Kate and Momma Jane are a couple. I thought this book was tactfully done but before using in the classroom I would definitely inform my student’s parents.
Recommended for ages 6-9 (even older would gain from reading this book).
I selected this book because this topic is one that we are still not comfortable teaching about. I think most of the disagreements come from the parental side. Children are more apt to conform to situations than adults. We must, however, include works such as this because the landscape of our classrooms has changed right along with the landscape of our country. Gay and lesbian couples with children are no longer a rarity…….they are the norm. The recent change in laws to accommodate them and give them equal rights as a male and female couple proves that. There is much disagreement and discourse about this topic and how it should be presented. Overall, we teach our children that marriage is between male and female. Now we are faced with the task of teaching them that marriage can be between two people of the same sex and everything is still OK. And in my opinion, everything is OK. Teaching children that gay and lesbian relationships are wrong provides a disservice to them. It also teaches them that it is OK to hate and frown upon families that are not like your own. There is a term for this and I call it discrimination. Teaching is hard. There are subjects that we don’t want to talk about. There are things that we as teachers may not believe in but we cannot allow our own opinions to affect the lives of our children. This book has been on the banned reading list. I had to ask the librarian to retrieve it for me as it was hidden from the shelves. I would hope that if any of us find ourselves in the same situation in the classroom as Molly that we would handle it as tactfully as she did. This book is about more than a lesbian couple with a little girl. It is about cultural diversity. The illustrations are done in black and white and there were certain things that just let you know that Momma Kate and Momma Jane are a couple. I thought this book was tactfully done but before using in the classroom I would definitely inform my student’s parents.
Recommended for ages 6-9 (even older would gain from reading this book).
January 20, 2019
Very cute. This is the original edition, put out on lesbian press Alyson Books, and therefore has lots more blatant lesbian imagery than the contemporary edition -- Heather's Mama Jane wears labrys necklaces and NO NUKES shirts, and both mommies very much look like lesbian feminists of the late eighties. Overall charming.
September 12, 2015
"Each family is special. the most important thing about a family is that all the people in it love each other."
Very cute! Loved the message it delivers, and love that it doesn't go on about 'homosexuals' or anything. it's just about a girl with two mommies who all love each other.
Very cute! Loved the message it delivers, and love that it doesn't go on about 'homosexuals' or anything. it's just about a girl with two mommies who all love each other.
June 16, 2025
“Each family is special. The most important thing about a family is that all the people in it love each other.”
Beautiful book with lots of diversity 💝 I heard about this book through Emily Chudy’s fantastic article “Banned Lesbian Books You Should Read This Week” and the following paragraph caught my attention :
I’m assuming this is about the 1989 version and not the 2015 one—in this version, Heather isn’t upset about not having a daddy, she’s wondering if she’s the only one without one. She’s quickly shown the opposite as her classmates begin painting their own very diverse families. I thought this book was beautiful and definitely worth the read, it’s hard to believe it was first published in 1989! It’s one of my favorite children’s books about queer families so far.
My review of the 1989 version : Heather Has Two Mommies (1989)
Review first posted on June 15, 2025
Beautiful book with lots of diversity 💝 I heard about this book through Emily Chudy’s fantastic article “Banned Lesbian Books You Should Read This Week” and the following paragraph caught my attention :
“Some critics argue the book is a little outdated, and take issue with the fact that at one point in the story, Heather becomes upset that she doesn’t have a “Daddy”.
I’m assuming this is about the 1989 version and not the 2015 one—in this version, Heather isn’t upset about not having a daddy, she’s wondering if she’s the only one without one. She’s quickly shown the opposite as her classmates begin painting their own very diverse families. I thought this book was beautiful and definitely worth the read, it’s hard to believe it was first published in 1989! It’s one of my favorite children’s books about queer families so far.
My review of the 1989 version : Heather Has Two Mommies (1989)
Review first posted on June 15, 2025
April 4, 2021
The 25th anniversary edition of Heather Has Two Mommies sports Lesléa Newman's significantly shortened and revised text (e.g., the story of Heather's conception and birth is gone) and brand new watercolor and gouache illustrations by Laura Cornell. If you are interested, I also reviewed the original edition of this classic.
The closer collaboration (i.e., less redundancy) between the shortened text and colorful spreads in this recent edition makes Heather Has Two Mommies feel more like an actual picturebook, in which illustrations are an integral part of the book, rather than an illustrated book, in which illustrations serve as decorations (the original edition was definitely the latter). However, I wouldn't say that Laura Cornell's modern visual reinterpretation is a huge improvement over Diana Souza's black-and-white drawings with an '80s vibe. It's just different.
Diana Souza's illustrations in the original edition:
Laura Cornell's illustrations in the 25th anniversary edition:
Although the overtly instructional vibe and explicitness of the original text are gone, the 25th anniversary edition of Heather Has Two Mommies is essentially the same sweet (and still not very exciting) story with an important message: "The most important thing about a family is that all the people in it love each other."
Interestingly, the 25th anniversary edition of Heather Has Two Mommies now includes a grandparent as a caregiver but no longer explicitly mentions adoption or siblings in wheelchairs.
The closer collaboration (i.e., less redundancy) between the shortened text and colorful spreads in this recent edition makes Heather Has Two Mommies feel more like an actual picturebook, in which illustrations are an integral part of the book, rather than an illustrated book, in which illustrations serve as decorations (the original edition was definitely the latter). However, I wouldn't say that Laura Cornell's modern visual reinterpretation is a huge improvement over Diana Souza's black-and-white drawings with an '80s vibe. It's just different.
Diana Souza's illustrations in the original edition:
Laura Cornell's illustrations in the 25th anniversary edition:
Although the overtly instructional vibe and explicitness of the original text are gone, the 25th anniversary edition of Heather Has Two Mommies is essentially the same sweet (and still not very exciting) story with an important message: "The most important thing about a family is that all the people in it love each other."
Interestingly, the 25th anniversary edition of Heather Has Two Mommies now includes a grandparent as a caregiver but no longer explicitly mentions adoption or siblings in wheelchairs.
September 10, 2019
Though I’ve been aware of this book for what feels like my entire life (though minus ten years or so, considering the publication date), I’d never actually read it. It’s really sweet and well written and touches on a variety of different family makeups.
December 30, 2008
I remember when this book got so much attention, when there was so much controversy surrounding it. When I finally read it (as an adult in my 20s), I thought it was sooooo boring. It almost put me to sleep. The drawings were boring, the plot was boring. What kid could sit through this book long enough to be corrupted? I wanted to like it, if only because it upset conservatives, but YAWN.
February 10, 2018
A nice story book acknowledging diversity in family composition.
September 22, 2017
Although the story is way too instructional and not very exciting, and the illustrations serve as decorations rather than being an integral part of the book, Heather Has Two Mommies is a sweet picturebook, or rather an illustrated book, with an important message: "The most important thing about a family is that all the people in it love each other." Also, when it was first published in 1989, Heather Has Two Mommies was way ahead of its time in terms of its refreshing lack of stereotypical gender roles (e.g., Mama Jane is a carpenter) and a surprisingly diverse cast of characters (different races, kids with two mommies or two daddies, kids with single or divorced parents, adopted children, and a sibling in a wheelchair).
I usually prefer color illustrations, but Diana Souza's black-and-white drawings with an '80s vibe and the family portraits drawn by an actual 5-year-old nicely complement Lesléa Newman's original text:
Finally, I was surprised and amused by explicitness in this original edition of Heather Has Two Mommies, which is not very common in modern children's books (I'm talking about an illustration of half-naked Mama Jane showing off some side-boob and such matter-of-fact statements as "After the doctor examined Jane to make sure that she was healthy, she put some sperm into Jane's vagina" or "She was hungry a lot and her breasts felt tender").
I usually prefer color illustrations, but Diana Souza's black-and-white drawings with an '80s vibe and the family portraits drawn by an actual 5-year-old nicely complement Lesléa Newman's original text:
Finally, I was surprised and amused by explicitness in this original edition of Heather Has Two Mommies, which is not very common in modern children's books (I'm talking about an illustration of half-naked Mama Jane showing off some side-boob and such matter-of-fact statements as "After the doctor examined Jane to make sure that she was healthy, she put some sperm into Jane's vagina" or "She was hungry a lot and her breasts felt tender").
April 2, 2025
Heather actually doesn't have two mommies. Not many people know this (although it makes sense if this is the direction you go in), but lesbian parents don't both go by "Mommy" because that's too confusing for the kids. One goes by "Mommy," but the other goes by "Mom" or "Mama," and some argue that it's a matter of neighborly courtesy to learn which is which (see Butterfield's book on hospitality, p. 53).
"The most important thing about any family is that all the people in it love each other." But what is a "family"? And who decides?
In 2013 at Baylor I heard Marvin Olasky note that people often ask, "Why constrain love?" Yet, Olasky said, everyone constrains love somehow; everyone draws boundaries somewhere. Even if all parties are consenting, everyone still draws a line at a certain number (Should a man express sexual love for 20 different women?), age (Should a 50-year-old man express sexual love for a 5-year-old girl?), and relationship (Should a brother express sexual love for his sister?).
WORLD comments here.
"The most important thing about any family is that all the people in it love each other." But what is a "family"? And who decides?
In 2013 at Baylor I heard Marvin Olasky note that people often ask, "Why constrain love?" Yet, Olasky said, everyone constrains love somehow; everyone draws boundaries somewhere. Even if all parties are consenting, everyone still draws a line at a certain number (Should a man express sexual love for 20 different women?), age (Should a 50-year-old man express sexual love for a 5-year-old girl?), and relationship (Should a brother express sexual love for his sister?).
WORLD comments here.
December 21, 2010
I need to get a previous edition. This edition has been water down in the hopes of simplification, in more ways than one. I've heard enough about this, and am interested enough in banned/challenged books that I also want to read the alternate edition.
I read through this before reading it to Julia. Basically because of the off chance that it was inappropriate. It's not. Julia is 5 years old and she was interested throughout. She understood throughout. She even asked a few questions although she didn't have the need to ask what some more sheltered children would probably ask. Julia has always been around people with different beliefs, lifestyles and families so this was only new to her as a book and the fact of the "missing father". (I've tended to shy away from this issue until now and honestly, she hasn't really cared from what I can see, and still doesn't so I'm letting her lead.)
We both would have prefered the pictures in color. The cover leaves much to be desired in my opinion also. I think I would like to know a little more about the author herself, maybe the illustrator too.
There are many things I really like about the book, the "daring" subject, even still, Mama Jane being a carpenter, the other kids in Heather's class having differences in subtle (subtle?) ways, etc.
I applaud Newman for writing this. I think this is something that can really help a kid in the right circumstances. Feeling alone is a horrible feeling, even for us adults, for children is can be downright life-altering.
If nothing else maybe it'll help newer generations with tolerance.
I read through this before reading it to Julia. Basically because of the off chance that it was inappropriate. It's not. Julia is 5 years old and she was interested throughout. She understood throughout. She even asked a few questions although she didn't have the need to ask what some more sheltered children would probably ask. Julia has always been around people with different beliefs, lifestyles and families so this was only new to her as a book and the fact of the "missing father". (I've tended to shy away from this issue until now and honestly, she hasn't really cared from what I can see, and still doesn't so I'm letting her lead.)
We both would have prefered the pictures in color. The cover leaves much to be desired in my opinion also. I think I would like to know a little more about the author herself, maybe the illustrator too.
There are many things I really like about the book, the "daring" subject, even still, Mama Jane being a carpenter, the other kids in Heather's class having differences in subtle (subtle?) ways, etc.
I applaud Newman for writing this. I think this is something that can really help a kid in the right circumstances. Feeling alone is a horrible feeling, even for us adults, for children is can be downright life-altering.
If nothing else maybe it'll help newer generations with tolerance.
April 14, 2021
This book has had the words revised 4 times. First published in 1989 and then redone in 2000, 2009, and 2015, this story does a great job of telling a delicate tale of a girl named Heather who has two mommies. Heather's favorite number is 2, and she has two arms, legs, eyes, ears, hands, feet, pets, and mommies! One mommy is a doctor, and the other is a carpenter. This could be seen as stereotypical (one "manlier" mom and one girly mom), or as a nice added touch in which one mom has a job not typically done by women. Being a woman who will one day have children with another woman, I often worry what my child will feel when they start school in a world full of children who aren't yet taught that families come in all shapes and sizes. This book does a great job of capturing that every family is made up of different people, but all families are made up of love. I will definitely have this book in my classroom and home library. Recommend for children ages 0-10.
September 27, 2016
I smile like a fool through the whole book . All I have on my mind right now is " Why the hell on earth they could ban a book like this ???" I absolutely have no idea what's wrong with people who thought this book deserved to be banned . It is just a beautiful book about a happy little girl and her family with two mommies . It also delivers a beautiful message :
" Each family is special . The most important thing about a family is that all people in it love each other"
As a queer woman , I do want my kids to be happy whether my partner is a man or a woman . The whole time while reading this I think of my girlfriend and it makes me feel mega happy to think that someday we could build a family like Heather's . And I'd read my baby this book too , that for sure <3
" Each family is special . The most important thing about a family is that all people in it love each other"
As a queer woman , I do want my kids to be happy whether my partner is a man or a woman . The whole time while reading this I think of my girlfriend and it makes me feel mega happy to think that someday we could build a family like Heather's . And I'd read my baby this book too , that for sure <3
November 11, 2012
Well, here it is, THE right wing-enraging book of the early 1990s. It's not unheard of to hear pundits still complaining about it to this day.
Heather Has Two Mommies is, despite the hype, a rather calm and pleasant little book directed toward children whose families may look different than the nuclear style household. I wasn't terribly impressed with the illustrations, and I thought the overly graphic description of one mommy's IVF process was entirely out of place. For maximum value to preschool kids, this book should be rewritten, omitting the "special doctor" scene.
Heather Has Two Mommies is, despite the hype, a rather calm and pleasant little book directed toward children whose families may look different than the nuclear style household. I wasn't terribly impressed with the illustrations, and I thought the overly graphic description of one mommy's IVF process was entirely out of place. For maximum value to preschool kids, this book should be rewritten, omitting the "special doctor" scene.
November 15, 2018
I didn’t realize the first edition of this book was self-published in 1989! That makes it more of a classic than I realized.
March 19, 2022
Edited more tightly with all new illustrations, this 25th anniversary edition is very different from the 1989 original in its vibe (see Agne's review here for a comparison of the imagery). Now it's more of a real children's picture book, still with the message "The most important thing about a family is that all the people in it love each other" but without the unique 1980s lesbian feel of the first one.
I've decided to check out all the titles on a list of "banned" children's picture books. This one was at the top. It is so iconic — its name alone became the stuff of legend — and led to such mockery and hand-wringing when it came out. Now, it's simply sweet and sweetly simple. I enjoyed it. The Kindle version is only 99 cents.
I've decided to check out all the titles on a list of "banned" children's picture books. This one was at the top. It is so iconic — its name alone became the stuff of legend — and led to such mockery and hand-wringing when it came out. Now, it's simply sweet and sweetly simple. I enjoyed it. The Kindle version is only 99 cents.
Read
September 29, 2021cute read for banned book week
August 1, 2018
The only interesting thing about it is the title. And someday, even that won't be interesting.
It's one of those books, like "The Snowy Day" by Ezra Jack Keats, whose mere existence is important. I am kind of stunned that it took until 1989 for something like this to be published, and with a rather small niche press. So it's a revolutionary book concept, but the book itself is just okay.
There's a little girl named Heather. She likes the number two. She has two mommies. The illustrations seem like somebody copied them from the nineteen sixties or earlier. The book is just full of--I don't know what to call it--hippie-type stuff? But it's not necessarily stuff the hippies actually cared about at the time. Although to be fair, one of the moms has a shirt that says "no nukes" on it, and that's quite hippie-ish. Nearly every family at the playgroup Heather goes to is nontraditional in some way, to a point that breaks my suspension of disbelief. Is it a playgroup aimed at nontraditional families? It's like playing minority bingo.
It's kind of interesting that that they actually mention the doctor putting sperm into Jane (the biological mother)'s vagina. It doesn't talk about what that means except that a baby grows there. They have a midwife, who is drawn like a female Jesus or something. One mother is a doctor, one mother is a carpenter. I mean, congratulations on having characters who break traditional gender roles, but it actually reinforces the stereotype that lesbians tend to be more masculine than straight women. Everything in this book is just too convenient.
At the playgroup, Molly, the woman who runs it, reads a book about a boy whose father is a veterinarian. The other kids talk about their daddies, and Heather basically starts crying because she doesn't have a daddy. Molly says, that's okay, not everybody has a daddy. Another girl says that she doesn't have a daddy, just a mommy and a sister (it doesn't explain whether her father is dead or just not around). Stacy says, I have two daddies. Another kid says, I have two daddies also, my dad and my step-daddy. Then they all draw pictures of their families, this super-multicultural group. Juan has a mommy and a daddy and a big brother named Carlos. Miriam has a baby sister and a mother. Stacy has two daddies. Joshua has a mommy and a stepfather and a daddy. David has a mommy and a daddy and two brothers and a sister, all of whom were adopted, and one of them uses a wheelchair. Like he hit the token minority lottery.
Heather's mommies see her picture of them, and then they go home. And that's it. I mean it's got a great message, it's just boring.
In the new edition, copyright 2015 and illustrated by Laura Cornell (who also illustrates Jamie Lee Curtis's books), some of the text was actually changed. It no longer mentions that Heather is making a table with her carpenter mother. The teacher doesn't explicitly state that it's okay to have two mommies. It kind of glosses over Stacy's two daddies, and David, the lottery winner, isn't even mentioned. The text seems a bit modernized, but it's still quite boring. It has some slight improvements, but some changes made it a bit worse, so it evens out.
Maybe if this story was about an actual real person with two mommies, it might be more interesting. Or about some kind of interesting event. But as it is, it's a boring day in someone's life.
Message: Children with two mommies are just like any other child.
For more children's book reviews, see my website at http://www.drttmk.com.
It's one of those books, like "The Snowy Day" by Ezra Jack Keats, whose mere existence is important. I am kind of stunned that it took until 1989 for something like this to be published, and with a rather small niche press. So it's a revolutionary book concept, but the book itself is just okay.
There's a little girl named Heather. She likes the number two. She has two mommies. The illustrations seem like somebody copied them from the nineteen sixties or earlier. The book is just full of--I don't know what to call it--hippie-type stuff? But it's not necessarily stuff the hippies actually cared about at the time. Although to be fair, one of the moms has a shirt that says "no nukes" on it, and that's quite hippie-ish. Nearly every family at the playgroup Heather goes to is nontraditional in some way, to a point that breaks my suspension of disbelief. Is it a playgroup aimed at nontraditional families? It's like playing minority bingo.
It's kind of interesting that that they actually mention the doctor putting sperm into Jane (the biological mother)'s vagina. It doesn't talk about what that means except that a baby grows there. They have a midwife, who is drawn like a female Jesus or something. One mother is a doctor, one mother is a carpenter. I mean, congratulations on having characters who break traditional gender roles, but it actually reinforces the stereotype that lesbians tend to be more masculine than straight women. Everything in this book is just too convenient.
At the playgroup, Molly, the woman who runs it, reads a book about a boy whose father is a veterinarian. The other kids talk about their daddies, and Heather basically starts crying because she doesn't have a daddy. Molly says, that's okay, not everybody has a daddy. Another girl says that she doesn't have a daddy, just a mommy and a sister (it doesn't explain whether her father is dead or just not around). Stacy says, I have two daddies. Another kid says, I have two daddies also, my dad and my step-daddy. Then they all draw pictures of their families, this super-multicultural group. Juan has a mommy and a daddy and a big brother named Carlos. Miriam has a baby sister and a mother. Stacy has two daddies. Joshua has a mommy and a stepfather and a daddy. David has a mommy and a daddy and two brothers and a sister, all of whom were adopted, and one of them uses a wheelchair. Like he hit the token minority lottery.
Heather's mommies see her picture of them, and then they go home. And that's it. I mean it's got a great message, it's just boring.
In the new edition, copyright 2015 and illustrated by Laura Cornell (who also illustrates Jamie Lee Curtis's books), some of the text was actually changed. It no longer mentions that Heather is making a table with her carpenter mother. The teacher doesn't explicitly state that it's okay to have two mommies. It kind of glosses over Stacy's two daddies, and David, the lottery winner, isn't even mentioned. The text seems a bit modernized, but it's still quite boring. It has some slight improvements, but some changes made it a bit worse, so it evens out.
Maybe if this story was about an actual real person with two mommies, it might be more interesting. Or about some kind of interesting event. But as it is, it's a boring day in someone's life.
Message: Children with two mommies are just like any other child.
For more children's book reviews, see my website at http://www.drttmk.com.
May 20, 2023
A classic. This is one of those books of known about for a long time, but I don't remember ever reading. This book is on the 100 most challenged books from 2010 to 2019. The idea that this book would be banned in the United States is unthinkable. The book itself has okay serviceable art and readable text. It tell the story of one little girl and her moms. And then her first day at school. And all of the kids draw their families. We don't know if the kids are drawing their entire set of the people they live with, they just draw who they draw. But the message is clear, that families are not all the same and that's okay. This is sweet and simple and not overdone.
And looking at other reviews, perhaps it had redone art at one point. Now I want to chase down the book with the other art.
And looking at other reviews, perhaps it had redone art at one point. Now I want to chase down the book with the other art.
October 19, 2017
This children's book was one of the most challenged books of the 1990's. It has been banned from both schools and libraries because of same-sex relationships and same-sex parenting. When the book was published, same-sex couples were not accepted. It was challenged due to homosexuality, but it played a powerful role in talking about same-sex relationships. Towns across the country were attempting to ban this picture book and some critics going further and burning their copies. Some readers mentioned this book was the work of the devil. Some parents remarked, "if my kids read this once, they'll grow up to be gay". This is very illogical.
My opinion on this controversial book is that I would endorse all teachers to read it in their classrooms. This book can teach kids that families come in many different forms. This was a very sweet picture book that displayed a beautiful message, " The most important thing about a family is that all the people in it love each other". There are also no negative stereotypes and discrimination against the two parents. It touches on all families being remarkable and unique in their own way. I feel there shouldn't have been any controversy over this book, when it depicts a necessary message. Now the idea of same sex couples is more accepted, therefore, I feel as if this is a special book for young children to be exposed to. This lifestyle is normalized now and homosexuality is a part of society currently.
I understand this topic used to be a sensitive issue and people didn't want to acknowledge it, especially around young children. As of today, I think it's a notable book to show kids to be accepting of ALL people and that love is love. Not all families will look the same and that is far alright. Kids need to be educated about same sex couples to show them that it's okay. It will let children know they will not be judged for who they love or discriminated against. I believe we need more books like this one and to talk about all kinds of families, single parents, two parents, parents with a mixed race, e.t.c. I entirely loved this book and how it portrayed family diversity and how the teacher supported all the diverse families as well.
My opinion on this controversial book is that I would endorse all teachers to read it in their classrooms. This book can teach kids that families come in many different forms. This was a very sweet picture book that displayed a beautiful message, " The most important thing about a family is that all the people in it love each other". There are also no negative stereotypes and discrimination against the two parents. It touches on all families being remarkable and unique in their own way. I feel there shouldn't have been any controversy over this book, when it depicts a necessary message. Now the idea of same sex couples is more accepted, therefore, I feel as if this is a special book for young children to be exposed to. This lifestyle is normalized now and homosexuality is a part of society currently.
I understand this topic used to be a sensitive issue and people didn't want to acknowledge it, especially around young children. As of today, I think it's a notable book to show kids to be accepting of ALL people and that love is love. Not all families will look the same and that is far alright. Kids need to be educated about same sex couples to show them that it's okay. It will let children know they will not be judged for who they love or discriminated against. I believe we need more books like this one and to talk about all kinds of families, single parents, two parents, parents with a mixed race, e.t.c. I entirely loved this book and how it portrayed family diversity and how the teacher supported all the diverse families as well.
October 29, 2018
I hadn't read this in a very long time, and I was pleasantly surprised by how well it holds up, especially with the new illustrations (although I kinda missed Mama Jane's "No Nukes" t-shirt from the original). This remains a very solid book for exploring all kinds of families with your child.
October 15, 2014
This realistic fiction story begins with Heather telling the reader that she loves the number two; she even has two mommies. This is what she grew up with and thinks nothing of it until children begin talking about their fathers and realizing that she doesn't have a father to talk about. The class then discusses all of the different types families and that there's really no such thing as a 'normal family' because of how diverse families are.
I think it's important to note that I read the newer edition that didn't include any details about Heather's birth. I enjoyed that one of her mothers works in the medical field while the other one's a carpenter. All of Heather's classmates accepted her family and everyone else's family. This story lacks any gender roles and neither of her parents are compared to being "the dad" of the family; they're both mothers who have their own roles. Like many books involving parents who are a part of the LGBTQIA community, the underlying message is one of acceptance.
The pictures are a little outdated but relevant to the story that's being told. There's a problem and resolution; however, I could see it being a little dry if the students aren't being actively involved during the reading. I would say that it's appropriate for children ages 3 to 9. The side characters are not too diverse; however, the families are portrayed without any stereotypes present and without any gender roles placed upn any of the characters.
I think it's important to note that I read the newer edition that didn't include any details about Heather's birth. I enjoyed that one of her mothers works in the medical field while the other one's a carpenter. All of Heather's classmates accepted her family and everyone else's family. This story lacks any gender roles and neither of her parents are compared to being "the dad" of the family; they're both mothers who have their own roles. Like many books involving parents who are a part of the LGBTQIA community, the underlying message is one of acceptance.
The pictures are a little outdated but relevant to the story that's being told. There's a problem and resolution; however, I could see it being a little dry if the students aren't being actively involved during the reading. I would say that it's appropriate for children ages 3 to 9. The side characters are not too diverse; however, the families are portrayed without any stereotypes present and without any gender roles placed upn any of the characters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 5, 2015
In this LGBTQ fiction children’s book, this story talks about a little girl named Heather who has two mommies. When she gets to school one day, she learns that she does not have a dad. At first, she is upset by this, but then she learns that every family is different! I absolutely love this book! It not only talks about what a child may go through if they have parents who are the same sex, but other families as well, like families who adopt children, etc. This children’s book relates to my cultural topic families because this book can relate to children who do have two mommies or two daddies, or stepfather and stepmom, adopted parents, etc. This book will show all readers that every family is different and that is okay. Overall, this story offers children many things to think about, for example, that every family is different. The illustrations in the story are accurate when it comes to the setting, plot and characters. In all, the illustrations match up with the story. Lastly, there are no negative stereotypes of any family that it is being talked about. This book makes readers feel honored that there family is different, because in the end there is no “normal” family. I would recommend this book to everyone! It definitely teaches readers about all family types and mostly everyone can relate to them!
June 25, 2017
Heather Has Two Mommies is a great book that talks about how a family does not necessarily have to consists of a mom, a dad, and children. There are so many different types of families and no one should be embarrassed if they don't have that "ideal" or "cookie-cutter" family. Blood does not make a family-- love does. There was a line in the book that I really enjoyed. It read, "Each family is special. The most important thing about a family is that all the people in it love each other." I think this is an important lesson for children to learn at a young age. I know, growing up, I was embarrassed because all of my friends had married parents and I was just raised by my mom until she recently remarried. I think that this book could help children understand that every family has a different background and every family is different.
I know that this can be a touchy subject for some people, but I believe that in this day and age, we should teach the younger generations to be accepting of all people. Love is love, and love is what makes a family.
I would have this book in my classroom and I would read it for a read aloud session. In most elementary classes there is a family unit where you make a family tree or something like that. I would read this book and have a discussion to start off that unit so that everyone feels comfortable sharing about their family.
I know that this can be a touchy subject for some people, but I believe that in this day and age, we should teach the younger generations to be accepting of all people. Love is love, and love is what makes a family.
I would have this book in my classroom and I would read it for a read aloud session. In most elementary classes there is a family unit where you make a family tree or something like that. I would read this book and have a discussion to start off that unit so that everyone feels comfortable sharing about their family.
November 6, 2017
Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman portrays a controversial theme because this children’s book reflects a nontraditional family image. Most children associate the perfect family image with a daddy, mommy, and a few kids; however, times have changed. In today's society, many people are a lot more expecting of one's religious beliefs, nationality, and gays and lesbians. I enjoyed reading this children’s book because it gave me a different perspective of gays and lesbians.
The overall theme of Heather Has Two Mommies is for all readers to understand family is forever, a family will always provide unconditional love, and to have acceptance of everyone. The message Newman portrays is honestly so beautiful and her writing fulfills the reader with many happy thoughts.
As a teacher, I would share this book with my class. Although this book is controversial because it reflects a nontraditional family image, it is important for children to understand everyone is different and lives different lives. However, just because one may live a different life than you, does not mean you need to treat them differently or look down upon them for loving the opposite sex as you may love. It is important to fulfill young minds with the values of not judging one another and accepting everyone for who they are.
The overall theme of Heather Has Two Mommies is for all readers to understand family is forever, a family will always provide unconditional love, and to have acceptance of everyone. The message Newman portrays is honestly so beautiful and her writing fulfills the reader with many happy thoughts.
As a teacher, I would share this book with my class. Although this book is controversial because it reflects a nontraditional family image, it is important for children to understand everyone is different and lives different lives. However, just because one may live a different life than you, does not mean you need to treat them differently or look down upon them for loving the opposite sex as you may love. It is important to fulfill young minds with the values of not judging one another and accepting everyone for who they are.
April 13, 2015
This is a re-release of the famous picture book first published in 1989, this time with new illustrations. In 1989, a story like Heather Has Two Mommies was groundbreaking and controversial. While still somewhat controversial, to see an LGBT book in the children's section of the library is not that uncommon any longer. Leslea Newman helped pave the way for that to be possible.
I love the message that all families are unique and special in their own way and so Heather's family's uniqueness should be celebrated along with everyone else's, but it felt like something was missing from the narrative. It was all too happy and saccharine for my tastes, and while a dose of excess sweetness is likely needed for kids in Heather's situation in order to see themselves as normal, I would criticize the naivete of it all even if it weren't an LGBT book. For what it is and the need it fills, it's a good book. For the kind of picture books I consider compelling and worth sharing.... I'm not convinced.
Having said that, I had the opportunity to hear Leslea Newman talk about the re-release of Heather Has Two Mommies at a Candlewick event at ALA Midwinter and she is an incredibly engaging speaker with a beautiful heart.
I love the message that all families are unique and special in their own way and so Heather's family's uniqueness should be celebrated along with everyone else's, but it felt like something was missing from the narrative. It was all too happy and saccharine for my tastes, and while a dose of excess sweetness is likely needed for kids in Heather's situation in order to see themselves as normal, I would criticize the naivete of it all even if it weren't an LGBT book. For what it is and the need it fills, it's a good book. For the kind of picture books I consider compelling and worth sharing.... I'm not convinced.
Having said that, I had the opportunity to hear Leslea Newman talk about the re-release of Heather Has Two Mommies at a Candlewick event at ALA Midwinter and she is an incredibly engaging speaker with a beautiful heart.
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