And Tango Makes Three- Family Diversity

I often hear adults remark "they're too young to know about gay relationships," but do we also say that children are too young to know about straight relationships? No, because we have already normalized them and we need to normalize LGBTQ relationships as well. If an infant can live with and know that their mother and father are in a loving relationship, why can they not know that their best friend's two moms are in a loving relationship as well? 

The picture book And Tango Makes Three by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson tells the true story of two male penguins and their relationship together. The penguins, Roy and Silo, do everything together. They love to swim, catch fish, and sing. One day they want to start a family and try to hatch a rock. After that doesn't work, the zookeepers are able to give the two penguins an egg of their own to hatch and raise. Tango, the penguin that they raise completes their loving family.

This story opens discussion on family dynamics and LGBTQ relationships. Using animals allows for children to talk about same-sex relationships in a way that does not immediately bring up any prejudices that children may have learned from other adults.

Check out this book trailer created by Sarah Nicholson to learn more about Roy and Silo's story.