Created primarily for the TWU course Literature for Children and Young Adults, this site provides a place for book reviews and critiques by Montclair staff and students.

Saturday, June 30, 2007

Fathers, Mothers, Sisters, Brothers: A Collection of Family Poems


Families come in all shapes and sizes. In Fathers, Mothers, Sisters, Brothers: A Collection of Family Poems, Mary Ann Hoberman introduces us to families—“What is a Family?” describes different types of families, while “Vacation” gives a humorous look at taking a family of five on vacation—when no one is sure where they are going. The rhyming verses cover family topics such as new babies, family reunions and being an only child. The underlying theme of family permeates each offering and reminds us that in part, we are who we are due to our family.

Through often amusing verses, Mary Ann Hoberman laughs her way through families. The rhymes are primarily narrative and are enhanced by the expressionistic illustrations by Marilyn Hafner. The collection of poems takes a different look at something that we all take for granted sometimes—our family.


I would recommend this book for students in grades K-3.

Keywords associated with this book: family, poetry, childhood, tradition, father, mother, sister, brother, vacation

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Shelf Suggestions

  • Hubert Invents the Wheel by Claire and Monte Montgomery
  • Mandy by Julie Andrews
  • Fablehaven and Fablehaven--Rise of the Evening Star
  • Emily Windsnap Series by Liz Kessler
  • Ingo by Helen Dunmore
  • You Wouldn't Want to Be... Series
  • The Young Wizards Series by Diane Duane
  • Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan