Who's Your Real Mom?

This imaginative picture book affirmation of family centers brown-skinned Elvi, who has two mothers. When Elvi's friend Nicholas asks which of her parents is the "real" one ("Only the one who had you in her tummy can be your real mom.... Which one is that?"), Elvi offers a plethora of whimsical answers: the one who "can do a handstand on one finger," is "a pirate in disguise," and "writes in a secret language only whales can read." When Nicholas insists on knowing the truth, Elvi cleverly reframes the subject, defining her mother in ways every child can understand: "the one who holds me when I'm scared... the one who tucks me into bed," Green writes. Hatched and stippled textures in ink and marker--layered digitally by Zobel and done in a palette of browns, blues, and goldenrod--offer the illustrations a snug, soft feel. Ages 4-7. (June)

"Elvi (a child of color with light brown skin and straight, brown hair) has two moms (one of whom has darker skin and hair and one, lighter than Elvi). When Nicholas (who has light brown skin and curly hair) comes over to their house, he asks, "Elvi, which one is your real mom?" Elvi's initial, confident retort is: "They're both my real mom." Elvi patiently offers similar responses as Nicholas persists, then starts to have a little fun...Ideally, readers who need this message will grasp it sooner than Nicholas does, though perhaps the book's impact will have more power for those who read it as validation of their own experiences enduring microaggressions."
—Kirkus Reviews

"This imaginative picture book affirmation of family centers brown-skinned Elvi, who has two mothers. When Elvi's friend Nicholas asks which of her parents is the "real" one...Elvi cleverly reframes the subject, defining her mother in ways every child can understand...Hatched and stippled textures in ink and marker...offer the illustrations a snug, soft feel"
—Publishers Weekly

"The limited color palette is striking for its yellows, which are gender neutral and contrast with the imagined scenes in blues...Square panels and sequential scenes give a comics feel to the illustrations and correspond with the playful tone of Elvi's responses to Nicholas' questions. This Australian import may encourage kids with same-sex parents and could serve as a prompt for a creative writing exercise."
—Booklist

"Who's Your Real Mom? is a beautifully illustrated and entertaining picture book story by the team of author/storyteller Bernadette Green and artist/illustrator Anna Zobel that celebrates nontraditional families and captures exactly what lies at the heart of family life—love."
—Midwest Book Review

"A sensitive story that encourages children to talk and think about a diverse range of family setups."
—The School Reading List

"[N]ot enough children's books out there that represent these families ... [A] great way to show children different kinds of families."
—Youth Services Book Review

"[A]n empowering approach that shows a child who confidently has her own solution...[T]here's still a time and a place for books that deal smartly with some of the questions that children in LGBTQ families may encounter. Who's Your Real Mom? is one of them."
—Mombian

"This is a question I imagine many children with same sex parents receive. It must get old. Real old. The illustrations of this picture book show how much Elvi feels loved and supported in her family, and how, as Nicholas continues to just not get it, she resorts to her powerful imagination...[W]e highly recommend it!"
—Baby Librarians

"Elvi's imagination guides her answer to a curious question about what is real. Love is bigger than any answer she can give and her age appropriate answer is pedagogically perfect and developmentally spot on."
—Jesica Sweedler DeHart, Librarian Review, Neill Public Library

"This is wonderful—the friend's curiosity and the child's creative, loving answers ring so true. All mums will love this! It's definitely not just for families with two mums; it is an endearing and fun book for all young readers and grown-ups who care for them."
—Tegan Tigani, Queen Anne Book Company, Seattle, WA

"This is an exceptional book. It promises kindness, humor and insight, and absolutely delivers...Who's Your Real Mom? manages that rare combination of meaningful moral and pure narrative pleasure."
—Anica Boulanger-Mashberg, Books+Publishing