Module 6 - Picture Book focusing on Gay/Lesian characters - TWU - Multicultural Literature

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Polacco, Patricia. 2009. IN OUR MOTHERS' HOUSE. New York: Philomel Books. ISBN 9780399250767.

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This is the first Patricia Polacco book that I have read that I absolutely did not enjoy. She is a brilliant storyteller and illustrator, but this book was preachy and way-over-the-top. She was shoving this "politically correct" story down the reader's throat, and nothing about it set well.

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Before critiquing this book, I want to state that the pictures are beautifully drawn and accompany the story very well. They are drawn with pencils and markers, and there is lots of color, life, and movement in the art. The expressions on their faces are very endearing and there seems to be lots of story contained within these pages.

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This is the story of two lesbian women who adopt three children, of three different ethnic backgrounds. They have a perfect life and have lots of fun. There is a lot of love and happiness, and everything is perfect despite the fact that the moms' lifestyle is questioned by a neighbor. The kids all grow up to be quite successful and "normal," and all of this is to be celebrated.

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Before beginning my critique of the story, I must say that I am a high school librarian in an ultra -conservative area, and that my hands are really tied on purchasing any types of controversial books for my school library. Personally and politically, I am very conservative in my thoughts and opinions, and I know that gay and lesbian books are a "hot-button" topic. I realize that I am part of that very "hot" part of the button. I have strong opinions on this subject, and luckily they match up with my community and school's opinions.

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Throughout this class, I have been taught tolerance and respect for all cultures, and that all should be represented and appreciated. But, I am from the "dominant", female, and heterosexual culture, and my opinions deserve to be shared, spoken, and respected as well. As a librarian, I am required to allow my patrons to have access to all information that they desire, the information is to be authentic and truly reflective of all cultures, and to be on the look-out for information that is unfair, unjust, and disrespectful to a culture, let alone inauthentic. But instead of accepting everything as "politically correct," why doesn't someone stand up and say, "No, gays and lesbians are not a culture, and are not to be embraced and celebrated, but instead to be recognized as a psychological disorder, and that they deserve treatment and counseling to deal with their issues?" Librarians should use caution in promoting books that show any deviant mental disorders in a positive light, especially with story characters interacting with children. Promoting these types of books to kids is ludicrous. Being "politically correct" does not always mean CORRECT.

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There are cultural markers in this story, but they have been criticized as being stereotypical. The lesbian mothers have short hair and only wear pants. In the end of the story, they wear dresses and hats to a tea party, but it states that they are very uncomfortable in this attire, and only do it to please their daughters. I don't see the short hair and wearing of pants as stereotypical, I see it as the norm for the lesbians that I have known and many of the ones that are featured on TV and in the movies.

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One of the scenes in the book shows how a member of their neighborhood feels about this lesbian couple:

At the end of the day, when everyone was cleaning up and getting ready to sit in our backyard and just talk, Meema looked up to see Mrs. Lockner coming down the street. The Lockners had been invited but hadn't come. She planted her feet squarely in front of our mothers.

"I don't appreciate what you two are!" she snarled at Meema and Marmee.

Will and Millie came running up. I froze where I was. Mrs. Lockner wheeled and stalked off.

"What the matter with her, Momma, what's the matter with her?" Millie kept saying.

All of the neighbors closed in on us.

"She is full of fear, sweetie. She's afraid of what she cannot understand: she doesn't understand US," Meema quietly said.

"There seems to be no love in her heart, either," whispered Marmee.

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The author is telling the reader that if you cannot accept gays and lesbians, then the problem is yours, and not theirs. The lesbians are "wonderful" and "contributing positively" to the world, and anyone with a different opinion, or medical psychological evidence showing homosexuality to be a mental disorder , is just WRONG. I would never share this book with a child and try to deliver this kind of a message to them. It would be wrong.

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Ms. Polacco has the moms create a beautiful home environment for their kids, celebrating the art, music, food, family, and stories there. She promotes it as being better than heterosexual parents even, and the children blossom and happily thrive in this loving environment. They even grow up to be "normal" and productive members of society and marrying opposite sex partners. This is supposed to show us as the reader that the homosexual lifestyle does not harm the children in any way. This is up for major debate.

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Here is a positive critique from School Library Journal, but I disagree with it completely. This is one of those times that it is best to read the book personally and not depend on a critic's review:

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From School Library Journal

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Grade 1–4—This gem of a book illustrates how love makes a family, even if it's not a traditional one. The narrator, a black girl, describes how her two Caucasian mothers, Marmee and Meema, adopted her, her Asian brother, and her red-headed sister. She tells about the wonderful times they have growing up in Berkeley, CA. With their large extended family and friends, they celebrate Halloween with homemade costumes, build a tree house, organize a neighborhood block party, and host a mother-daughter tea party. The narrator continually reinforces the affectionate feelings among her mothers and siblings, and the illustrations depict numerous scenes of smiling people having a grand time. Most of the neighbors are supportive, except for one woman who tells Marmee and Meema, "I don't appreciate what you two are." Eventually, the children grow up, marry heterosexual spouses, and return home to visit their aged parents with their own children. Is this an idealized vision of a how a gay couple can be accepted by their family and community? Absolutely. But the story serves as a model of inclusiveness for children who have same-sex parents, as well as for children who may have questions about a "different" family in their neighborhood. A lovely book that can help youngsters better understand their world.