And Gayby Makes Controversy

And Tango Makes Three

Author:
Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell

Published:
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing 2005

Number of Pages: 34

Review: “There they snuggled together and like all other penguins in the penguin house, and all the other animals in the zoo and all the families in the big city around them, they went to sleep.”

After listening to a CBC Radio One’s interview with the authors of this beautiful story and hearing that it was the most controversial book of this century I would say (in fact it’s the most banned book of 2009) I went and bought myself a copy to read to my little cousin who was coming over that weekend. Needless to say, with the simplistic words, engaging story line and vivid pictures she was enthralled and rightly so. It is enchanting and charming and most importantly true. Yes my friends, this story is indeed based on real life events about two loving homosexual male penguins and their quest for a family.

The penguins, Roy and Silo, fell in love at a very young age, and while there were many female companions available at the zoo they only had eyes for each other. They were partners for 2 years before they tried to build a nest, and following their natural instincts they tried to hatch an egg, but of course the egg was just a rock (for two male penguins cannot produce an egg). Seeing their heartbreaking efforts to start a family the zookeepers brought them an egg that was no longer being cared for and both males nurtured and cared for the egg until it hatched. The female, Tango, certainly made this family of three complete.

I am a huge advocate for this picture book. It teaches compassion, it teaches love, diversity and most importantly it teaches that not everyone lives in the “nuclear” family (perhaps we can call gay families secular families?). Of course after reading this book to my cousin she had many questions. How can she have two daddies? Where is her mommy? Does she have two mommies too? I proceeded to answer, to the best of my abilities. It is so important for people to teach their children that not everyone is exactly like them, that they will come into contact with someone who is homosexual eventually in their life and that they should not judge them but instead embrace them.

The book itself is aesthetically pleasing. The pictures illustrated by the wonderful Henry Cole are vivid and appealing for the younger reader. They capture your attention but they don’t distract from the story and the story itself is very readable for a young reader, easy to follow and understand and enjoyable for both the young and old. It’s an over all cute book that should be read to every child to enlighten them on this very taboo topic.

Happy Reading!!!