Is that your mama?

Name: William Joseph
Price range: $

by Patrice Lawrence and Diane Ewen

Interest age: 4 to 5
Reading age: 2 to 3

Published by Scholastic, 2023

Picture books

About this book

Josie loves her family. She has a mum, dad, two brothers and a sister and they all look different. At home she doesn’t even think about it. But when she’s out and about, often people ask, ‘is that your sister?’ or ‘Is that your mama?’ Josie starts to worry. Maybe families are supposed to all look alike? If they were all hummingbirds no one would ask if they were related.

Luckily, her family find the perfect way to show Josie that even if they look different, they all shine together. And Josie realises that although people will always ask nosy questions, she doesn’t have to answer them!

This is a heartfelt celebration of the variety within families. Every family is different. Every family is special. This book will encourage conversations about difference and about empathy. And manners! Gorgeously illustrated and beautifully told.

About the author

Patrice Lawrence was born in Brighton and brought up in an Italian and Trinidadian household. Her first book for young adults, Orangeboy, was shortlisted for the Costa Children’s Book Award and won the Bookseller YA Prize and Waterstone’s Prize for Older Children's Fiction. Indigo Donut, her second book for teenagers, won the Crimefest YA Prize. Both books have been nominated for the Carnegie Medal. Patrice worked for more than 20 years for charities supporting equality and social justice. These themes (along with a serious amount of music) inform her stories. Patrice still lives in Brighton.

She is our current Writer in Residence.

Watch our interview with Patrice Lawrence

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