Non-traditional Families

Picture Books Library < Issues < Non-traditional Families

Picture books about Non-traditional Families from the Little Parachutes reviews library

Many children’s picture books still feature the traditional ‘nuclear family’. Our book library contains non-traditional family stories, including blended, single-sex and single-parent families, cohabiting couple families, or children living with grandparents. We also have lots of books about adoption and fostering

Those Shoes

A brilliant book that puts the reader in the shoes of a child in poverty, acknowledging the frustration and sense of injustice a child feels when they can’t have the things their friends take for granted.

Hair Love

A positive story of how a father and daughter work together to create the perfect hairstyle for a very special day. There are many helpful messages within which could apply to a child who is dealing with an absent or ill parent, or who is simply finding it hard not to give up on a challenging task.

Tilly’s At Home Holiday

This picture book acknowledges that not every child is able to go on holiday and shows that it is possible to have fun at home for free with a little bit of creativity and imagination.

And Tango Makes Three

This classic picture book shows children that every family looks different and all family groups are equally valid and wonderful regardless of shape and size, colour or gender: love is all they need!

The Journey

This powerful story about a family's forced migration to a new country gives children the chance to empathise with people in difficult circumstances. It promotes greater understanding and respect for those with different origins and cultures. Children who are refugees themselves may recognise something of their own story here.

What Happened to Daddy’s Body?

This is a frank and lovingly written book, explaining clearly what happens to someone’s body when they die. It provides young children with a means to understand what happens after death, whilst reassuring them with the message that life goes on for those left behind.

Mummy’s Home!

This book helps explain to children why a parent must sometimes temporarily leave their family in order to work; it acknowledges the challenges associated with having an absent parent, while remaining positive; the book provides the child with coping strategies to help them through a period of absence.

Space Alien at Planet Dad

Perfect for a child who is struggling to cope with adjusting to a new blended family environment. An entertaining and comforting book which has accurately captured the emotions of a child adapting to his father's new partner.

The Great Big Book of Families

Highlighting the fact that families come in all shapes and sizes, this book celebrates diversity, explaining how every personal situation is different. It's a good book for debunking the traditional storybook myth that happy families usually consist of mother, father and two children.

My Daddy’s In Jail

When a family member goes to prison, young children can be frightened and confused and perhaps feel they are in some way to blame. This important book, sensitively written by a former prisoner, is packed full of comforting explanations and reassurance for children in this challenging situation.

A Day With Dad

Shows how the love between a child and an estranged parent can remain strong regardless of how far apart they are. Reinforcing the pride a father and son can have for each other.

Mum and Dad Glue

Acknowledges the emotional challenges children may feel when parents divorce or separate. Reinforces the view that the child is not to blame and will continued to be loved as before, and sometimes it is not possible to 'fix' a problem. Explains that parents can sometimes live happily apart.

The Girl With Two Dads

This story does a brilliant job of normalising the non-traditional family. It is a great book for all children to read, so that they have acceptance and understanding, and fewer preconceptions about what a "normal" family looks like.

Love Makes a Family

This fun, inclusive board book for very young children celebrates the one thing that makes every family a family: LOVE.

You Make Your Parents Super Happy

Written to reassure children in separating families that both parents love them and this will never change no matter what happens.

Daddy and I

Spending time with Daddy can be great fun!

Two of Everything

Providing a starting point to encourage children to talk about divorce and separation. Reassuring them that they are not alone in their experiences, and parents can live happily apart.

Two Homes

Highlighting that parents can live apart successfully and reassuring children that this situation does not mean that they are loved any less.

Dear Daddy

Reassuring children that they are loved despite the fact that a parent sometimes needs to be absent for extended periods. Acknowledging separation anxieties and sadness children may experience when a parent is away from home.

Two Nests

For very young children, experiencing the separation or divorce of their parents can be an extremely confusing and troubling time. This book provides an easily understood and reassuring picture of how family life can continue happily even if parents are living apart.

Tommy’s Dad

Informing and comforting children who have a loved one in prison

My Dads

This book gives a very positive view of living within a blended family. Both men are very proactive parents and the book shows many positive images of the time they spend with their daughter.

Molly and Her Dad

A touching portrayal of the bonding process between a distant father and his daughter. Although their interaction is awkward at first, love shines through and their similarities become obvious to the reader. As the book progresses, Molly adopts her father's funny expressions and behaviour.

Those Shoes

Hair Love

Tilly’s At Home Holiday

And Tango Makes Three

The Journey

What Happened to Daddy’s Body?

Mummy’s Home!

Space Alien at Planet Dad

The Great Big Book of Families

My Daddy’s In Jail

A Day With Dad

Mum and Dad Glue

The Girl With Two Dads

Love Makes a Family

You Make Your Parents Super Happy

Daddy and I

Two of Everything

Two Homes

Dear Daddy

Two Nests

Tommy’s Dad

My Dads

Molly and Her Dad

At Daddy’s on Saturdays

Picnic in the Park

Living with Mum and Living with Dad: My Two Homes

My Daddy’s Going Away

Mommy, Mama and Me

The Nanny Goat’s Kid

Josh and Jaz have three mums

Every Second Friday

Dad David, Baba Chris and Me

Was It the Chocolate Pudding?