book cover

The Great Big Book of Families

by Mary Hoffman, illustrated by Ros Asquith

Interest age: 4+
Reading age: 7+

Published by Frances Lincoln, 2010

  • Picture books

About this book

The Great Big Book of Families represents a lovely diverse mix of different types of families, reminding us that families come in all shapes and sizes, from single parent families to same sex couple parents, grandparents that live with us, extended families, blended families and many more.

The simple message is that every family is unique and special. This message is delivered effectively through simple, accessible text and an abundance of delightful, cartoon-like illustrations. Subtle inclusive images of disability are scattered throughout. These include several wheelchairs, lots of glasses, leg braces, and a walker. It's a book packed with detail, humour and interest, reminding us that there is no such thing as 'normal' or 'abnormal' – we are all equal.

In terms of diversity in its widest sense, books simply don't get much more inclusive than this.

About the author

Mary Hoffman has written over 100 books for children. Amazing Grace, commended for the Kate Greenaway medal, and its sequels has sold over 1.5 million copies. As well as the successful Stravaganza sequence of teenage novels, translated into over thirty languages, The Great Big Books series of information books for younger readers, illustrated by Ros Asquith has done very well. The first, The Great Big Book of Families, won the inaugural SLA Information Book Award in the under 7s category.

Mary loves to write historical fiction and her books for Bloomsbury - The Falconer's Knot, Troubadour and David - have been followed by Shakespeare's Ghost and The Ravenmaster's Boy. She runs a widely-read blog called The History Girls. Mary is an Honorary Fellow of the Library Association (CILIP) and lives in Oxfordshire.

More books like this

Lists of recommended reads

Share this page Twitter Facebook LinkedIn