Book: A Family is a Family is a Family by Sara O’Leary
Target audience: Foundation Year
About The Book
A Family is a Family is a Family by Sara O’Leary is a heartwarming picture book that celebrates diverse family structures and the love that binds them together. Through a classroom discussion, children share stories about their families, highlighting the uniqueness of each one while reinforcing the idea that all families are special. With simple, engaging language and vibrant illustrations, the book encourages children to appreciate their own families and embrace the differences in others, fostering empathy, belonging, and inclusivity.
Understanding Children
When choosing a book for Foundation-year learners, I always think about how concretely the ideas are expressed and how well it connects with their world. A Family is a Family is a Family is one of those stories that captures children’s curiosity straight away. The language is simple and engaging, making it easy for little ones to follow. As we turn each page, I love seeing their excitement build—What kind of family will we meet next?
This book does a beautiful job of showing family diversity in a way that feels natural and respectful. It goes beyond just traditional families and includes single parents, same-sex parents, foster families, and blended families. Children will quickly see themselves reflected in the story, which makes for some really rich and meaningful discussions.
Exploring Text Features
Main Themes
At its heart, this book is all about family diversity, making it a great fit for subjects like Humanities and Social Sciences and Personal, Social and Community Health in Foundation Year. It naturally leads into conversations about identity, relationships, and the different ways families show love and support.
Characters
The children in the story introduce their families through everyday moments—playing, cooking, laughing together. It’s a reminder that families aren’t just defined by who’s in them, but by the love and care they share. It will be a great opportunity to connect our kids with the story through activities like discussing their favourite family traditions or how their family members show care can make these themes more meaningful.
Mood
One of my favourite things about this book is how warm and uplifting it feels. The illustrations are bright and happy, and each family is shown as loving and connected. This positive tone reassures children that every family is special in its own way.
Viewpoint
I often ask my students, Why do you think the author wrote this book? Exploring Sara O’Leary’s perspective helps children understand that stories can have a purpose beyond just entertainment. It’s a great way to introduce the idea that authors write to share messages and ideas with the world.
Text Structure
The book is structured around each child recounting their own family story, which makes it easy for young readers to follow along. I love using this as an opportunity for prediction—What do you think the next family will be like?—and encouraging children to share their own family experiences.
Use of Language
The language is simple, clear, and easy to remember, making it perfect for read-along sessions. Reading along with the teacher—where I read a sentence and encourage children to repeat after me really helps them develop comprehension and fluency.
Considerations for Teaching
At this stage, children should feel valued and included, regardless of their family circumstances. Some children, like the main character in the book, might worry that their family is different from others, but the story helps them see that difference is normal and worth celebrating. For those who consider themselves part of a ‘standard’ family, this book provides a gentle opportunity to challenge their perceptions. It reassures them that families come in many forms and that what truly makes a family isn’t its structure but the love and care within it—an important lesson for students to learn and embrace at this age.
Unit Synopsis
By the end of the Talk For Reading (T4R) unit of A Family is a Family is a Family, children may be able to:
- Compare the similarities and differences between family settings.
- Recognise that families come in various forms beyond the traditional structure.
- Justify their opinions by making personal connections and references to the text.
- Identify key elements, such as love and care, that define a family.
- Talk about their favourite family activities and how their family members show care for one another.
A Family is a Family is a Family is one of those special books that makes a lasting impact. It’s simple, engaging, meaningful, and opens up so many important discussions about diversity, empathy, and belonging. When paired with thoughtful activities and other cross-curriculum contents, it becomes more than just a story—it’s a way to help children build understanding, connection, and confidence in the world around them through storytelling.
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