Fathers, Mothers, Sisters, Brothers

I just love this book. There is only one caveat, and that's a sad poem about being a child of divorce, but, hey, that's reality and if it opens the mind of a kid whose parents are married, maybe not a bad thing.

Fathers, Mothers, Sisters, Brothers: A Collection of Family Poems by Mary Ann Hoberman is a specialized poetry book containing twenty-six different lyric and narrative poems all focusing on different aspects of families and their lives. The poems throughout the book are structured differently some structures include are: couplets, quatrains, and free verse. Each poem has different sound patterns, examples of sound pattern in some of the poems are: onomatopoeias, rhyme and assonance, and rhythm. All the poems describes an experience from a child's point of view to help the children gain meaning and understanding of different families. This book includes something that all different types of families can relate to. Marylin Hafner's illustrations provide pictures to help children gain a better understanding of the text and add comical entertainment to interest the children.

Genuine characters juggle their big sisters, step-mothers, and cheek- pinching aunts in this collection of family-centered poems. While Fathers, Mothers, Sisters, Brothers entertains young readers with situational humor and sprightly rhyme, selections such as "Half-Whole-Step" and "When Annie Was Adopted" deviate from its lighthearted verse to celebrate and explore diversity: "I am a half-brother / I am a whole-brother / I am a step-brother / There's just one of me!" Although metaphor is sparse, Mary Ann Hoberman's utilization of natural meter and playful diction spawns vocalization of each line. Readers will smirk and reminisce as they hear, "A not-everyday jacket / That's-not-for-play-jacket / A do-as-I-say jacket." Aside from the different features and members of families, this collection reveals those situations common in many households, such as new births, shyness around extended family members, and jealousy among siblings. Varying tone and dynamic narratives encourage children to read this book as a whole, but inclusion of different family types provokes students to focus on certain poems to which they relate. Marylin Hafner's lively illustrations complement the multicultural slant of Hoberman's poetry, encompassing a kaleidoscope of individuals and lifestyles. Each colored-pencil drawing supplies glimpses into the action of each poem and drives readers to consider what happens next. Children ages four to eight will enjoy the book's smooth, fun language, its action-packed pictures, and its sensitivity to their own lives.