Daddy's Roommate (Alyson Wonderland)
by Michael Willhoite
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Book Summary Information
Author: Michael WillhoiteEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1994-07-01
ISBN: 1555831184
Number of pages: 32
Publisher: Alyson Books
Book Reviews of Daddy's Roommate (Alyson Wonderland)
Book Review: Children's Book Explores Divorced Families & Gay Fatherhood
Summary: 4 Stars
DADDY'S ROOMMATE, by Michael Willhoite, is a story told by a young boy about his weeks with his father and his father's partner, Frank. The child discusses some of the activities his dad and Frank do together (activities which are familiar to all kinds of families). For example, they work, eat, sleep, shave and fight together, and always make up. The boy then describes how important Frank is to him and how Frank, as a co-parent, likes him and helps the boy feel comfortable, safe, and loved.
This book might appeal to children who, after their parents get divorced or are separated, live with one parent and visit the other parent and his/her new partner. The explanation given by the mother for being gay is one many children will understand. She says being gay is "just one more kind of love and love is the best kind of happiness." One teacher of nine- and ten-year-old children was uncomfortable with the fact that it is the mother in this story who explained the father's sexual orientation. It would be nice to see the adults in these stories take responsibility (and control) over explaining and feeling proud of their own lives and families.
Still, DADDY'S ROOMMATE presents a positive connection among gay people, love and family with illustrations of the father and Frank hugging, shaving, sleeping and caring for each other. Of the five illustrations which show the two men physically and emotionally together, only one occurs outdoors, when Frank is placing suntan lotion on the father's back at the beach. The almost exclusive private expression of love may reinforce, for some, the fact that their intimate lives cannot be exhibited in the public eye.
With the mention of the parent's divorce on the first page, the story implies that the young boy was once raised by and lived with his mother and father until his father moved out and fell in love with another man. Given the often messy divorce relationships after a marriage breaks up, it is interesting to see how well this child's biological parents get along (this may not reflect the reality in the lives of many children). As well, in the case of children who were born and raised or adopted into a gay-headed household, the biological mother may not have ever been a part of the family structure or the child's experiences. When reading the book to these young children, the first two pages can be skipped so that the story is begun where it reads: "Daddy and his roommate Frank live together." The color illustrations and short text make DADDY'S ROOMMATE appropriate for children as young as three.
Summary of Daddy's Roommate (Alyson Wonderland)
This story's narrator begins with his parent's divorce and continues with the arrival of "someone new at Daddy's house." The new arrival is male. This new concept is explained to the child as "just one more kind of love." The text is suitably straightforward, and the format--single lines of copy beneath full-page illustrations--easily accessible to the intended audience.Marriage & Divorce Books
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