Ask the richest people in the world what their true priorities are, and they will tell you that it’s their family. Such is the importance of a family to everyone.

Every strong family legacy starts with one crucial element; love. Without love, there is no support for one another, and a family that does not fully support each other will never rise to be a great family. Memories of friendships and relationships may fade away, but the love that you receive from your family is one that will never go away. You will always remember your family members, even long after they are gone. Family and love are two words that are inseparable from one another. Without love, there’s no family, and with no family, there’s no love. These two coexist peacefully and create a wonderful synergy. Book: Marisol McDonald Doesn't Match by Monica Brown (Children's Book Press, Bilingual edition, 2011)

Success!

Identity 1: I know and like who I am and can talk about my family and myself and name some of my group identities. Love Makes a Family was a non-profit advocacy and assistance organization of families headed by LGBT people, and their friends, working for equal marriage and family rights in the United States. It was also the name of a former organization in Connecticut that disbanded in 2009 after achieving its aims.

As you prepare for this unit, consider the composition of your classroom and the different kinds of families represented in it. Make sure to think about the following things before teaching the unit: Frankly, I couldn't get enough of this book. It is everything I believe an LGBTQ book should strive to be. It is one of the most inclusive stories I've ever read and it is perfectly suited for young readers. The vibrant and intentional illustrations create a space for multiple races, sexes, and nationalities to be featured in the story. In a way, I feel as if Love Makes a Family is the updated and more relevant take on the concepts Heather Has Two Mommies introduced into LGBTQ books. I thoroughly enjoyed the presence of men and women of different genders, races, and ages, breaking through social gender constructions with their children. This story can serve as a reminder to parents in regards to what it means and looks like to love your child unconditionally and be present/involved in their interests/preferences. Similarly, the story can provide children with images and words representing what that presence and acceptance looks and sounds like. Book: I Love Saturdays y domingos by Alma Flor Ada (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, Reprint edition, 2004)It is not the job of students to teach other students about a particular type of family. For example, if you have one student in your class with same-gender parents, be mindful of not putting that student on the spot and requiring them to teach others.