A Cork author has just released a children’s book that captures the diversity of modern families in a truly heartwarming way.
Loved Just The Same by Irish writer Aisling De Barra is a rhyming picture book that celebrates families in all shapes and sizes, from same-sex parents to one-parent families to blended families to families with siblings living near and far.
De Barra told GCN that she was inspired to write Loved Just the Same after struggling to find books for her daughter (who has two mothers) that reflect their family’s experience and reality.
“I wanted to create a story that reflects diverse families like my own, which is full of love,” De Barra said. “When I started to read to my daughter, I noticed there was a lack of books about family diversity, blended families, et cetera that showed these structures in an every day way. I wrote this story to fill the gap and show that all families should be celebrated.”
Loved Just The Same uses the questions all children have about the families they encounter as a starting point for the narrative, and with gentle reassurance and vivid imagery, these questions are answered. As the story evolves, the reader meets different types of families that make up our world, and the overarching message is clear: love is the ingredient that makes a family complete.
The Cork author hopes this message resonates with children and families who read the book.
“Families are all beautifully different but at the end of the day, love makes a family whole,” De Barra said. “I hope that children feel represented and see themselves reflected in the pages, and I also hope that it allows adults to find a gentle way to talk about inclusion and kindness.”
Loved Just The Same is geared towards children aged 3-7 and their families. It is available through this link.
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