Summary: Jeff's parents got divorced and now his mom is getting remarried. Jeff didn't want a new dad or new siblings. At first, Jeff had a really hard time adjusting to his new life. He had to share a room with his new brother, Scott, who was very messy and loud. Scott also had a teenage step sister who took forever in the bathroom. Jeff was not used to having to share space or share the TV with anyone and now all the sudden he had too. When Jeff talked to his mom about it, she told him that he just had to wait and that it would get easier. One day, Jeff and Scott got in a fight. Jeff said something about how he liked his old room better because it had a cave. This gave Scott an idea, to turn their closet into a cave! Jeff loved this idea and the boys got to work. They finally started to get along. After this, Jeff began to slowly adjust and accept his new life.

Argument: I think this book is a great tool to use to help a child who is going through the same thing as Jeff. It provides an alternative for explaining with words what is going on. This book also helps children have someone to relate too, someone who went through a similar thing as they are. I think it would give students hope, that if Jeff can overcome his adjustment that so can they. This book also shows kids that it takes time to adjust to a new family and not loving it right away is totally normal. The issue of divorce and remarriage is something that many people today have to go through so this book would definitely be relevant to those students. ( )

Summary: "What Kind of Family is This?" is a story about step families and the adjustments that come with having one. A boy named Jeff moves into a new home with his mother, his step father's home. Jeff immediately faces trouble with the new environment, especially with his new step brother, Scott. The two share a room and do not get along with each other at first. After Jeff mentions his secret cave from his old home (closet), Scott decides that the two should work together to create a new cave in the room. This creates a bond between the two boys and they end up forgetting their differences.

Review: I enjoyed reading this story, especially because there may be a student I come across in my days of teaching who has a step family. By understanding how the two boys worked together to create something of their own (such as the cave in the closet), I can put myself in a position to help a child in need if they need it. The book was extremely well written and the illustrations provided a deeper meaning of the possible struggles of having to adjust to a new family. ( )

I think this book is a very good read for children whose parents are going through a divorce/remarrying. These children can make personal meaning to the book. Before reading this book, I have never thought what it might be like to move in with a new family. Children who have not had to go through the step family process can still relate to this book because it involves siblings fighting with each other. A lot of siblings fight, and this gives the readers a chance to make a personal meaning with the book. The central message in this book is that although living with a new family might be scary, it isn't as bad as it first may seem. The editors make this clear before the story even starts. They wrote two paragraphs titled "Note to Parents". In these paragraphs, they explain that children usually have fears about having new families and this book is encouraging and shows them that they shouldn't be scared.

Summary: Jeff and his mom moved in with her new husband after his mom and dad got a divorce. Henry got a new stepfather and two step siblings, Scott and Samantha. Jeff was not happy with the new living arrangements and wasn't going to allow Henry, his new stepfather, to take his dad's place. He did not like that there were now new rules to remember about chores, TV, talking on the phone, and for using the bathroom. Jeff also had to share a room with Scott. This ended up in fights between him and his stepbrother because they did not agree on many things. After getting in a fight with Scott, Jeff went downstairs to complain to his mother. Jeff's mom explained to him that she and his stepdad loved each other and they would all have to learn to be a family together. As Jeff went back into his room to clean out his gerbil's cage, Scott brought his cat inside the room. Scott's cat immediately ran after the Gerbil. Luckily, Jeff was able to catch the gerbil before the cat did. Jeff accidentally admitted his secret to Scott that he used to have a cave in his old room. After hearing about Jeff's old cave, Scott decided to clean out his closet to create a cave for the both of them. Jeff was so happy that him and Scott finally started to agree on something. After that day, Scott and Jeff became closer and Jeff found out that his stepbrother felt the same way as he did when Jeff and his mother moved into their house. As time went on, Jeff started to get used to his new family. ( )

Summary: Jeff's parents got a divorce and his mom has gotten remarried. He finds that moving in with his step father and step siblings was very hard. He now had to share a room, argued with his step siblings often, and had no privacy anymore. In the end, he began to get used to the new arrangement, and even got closer with his new step brother.

Review: I think this is a great multicultural book. So many families get divorced and kids can relate to the main character in this book. He explains how frustrated he is and how hard it is. For example, "But Jeff was not getting used to it. He was sure he'd never be used to it. As a matter of fact, he hated it." This book is very relatable and could help children understand the process of step families.

This is a story that is about step families in which the mother remarries and her son is trying to figure out how to blend in with his new family and realizes its going to be ok.
Pierce ECE Class Room
Ages: 4-8