A Family Like Ours by Frank Murphy and Alice Lee, illustrated by Kayla Harren; Sleeping Bear Press, 2023.

The latest in the …Like series of SEL-related picture books, A Family Like Ours explores the beauty of the unique nature of family. In fact, uniqueness is what all families share: families we are born to and those we grow into. Big or small, near or far, family is home. As the refrain that grows throughout the book reflects, “We are braver together, we are better together, we are made to be together. We are safe together; we are stronger together.”

Why this book? Why will it matter to kids?

Here’s a joyous light-filled, hopeful picture book that, from the cover forward, celebrates family in all its sizes, shapes, and forms. Young readers and listeners are likely to find themselves–and their families–represented on the pages, and best of all, they’re likely to see an array of possibilities, too.

Levels and Layers of Learning

Grade level: K-3

Social-Emotional Learning Themes

Acceptance, compassion, concern, connection, courage, creativity, curiosity, dedication, empathy, empowerment, encouragement, fortitude, friendship, generosity of spirit, gratitude, helpfulness, hope, inspiration, integrity, kindness, loyalty, perspective, resilience, respect, responsibility, relationship skills, self-assurance, self-awareness, self-management, self-reliance, social awareness, understanding

Content Area Connections: Community, Social-Emotional Learning

Using This Book in the Classroom

Hit the Ground Running Ready Resources for Educators, Homeschoolers, and Parents

A Family Like Ours Activities

Learn more about Frank and his books.

Illustration © Kayla Harren

Write Away! Ideas to prompt writing

A Family Like Ours describes many kinds of families. Tell about your family. Draw a picture of your family.

Family is a place to learn and share memories. Write about something you have learned from your family, or share a favorite family memory.

Your classroom is a family, and so is your team or group, and even your neighborhood. On one page in A Family Like Ours it says, Families give us a place to learn and practice and grow. To learn to disagree. To practice “I’m sorry” and “I love you.” To grow into who you’re meant to be. Describe a family you belong to and tell how this family helps you to learn and grow.

Poetry Break Related poetry to recite before or following the reading of this book

Poetry breaks fit perfectly into brief moments in the school day—from opening or closing exercises to lining up for lunch; from zipping up backpacks and jackets to transitioning from one subject to the next. Reading a poem typically takes less than a minute; yet, it can introduce or reinforce a concept, provide clarity, celebrate language, exemplify rhythm, enhance vocabulary, expand understanding of a concept, increase attention span, initiate reflection, spark imagination, or simply summon a giggle. And, poetry soothes and strengthens the spirit.

“Poetry builds resilience in kids and adults; it fosters Social and Emotional Learning. A well-crafted phrase or two in a poem can help us see an experience in an entirely new way.” ~  Elena Aguilar

Poetry books that celebrate family:

• Amazing Faces poems selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins, illustrated by Chris Soentpiet
• Dear Mother, Dear Daughter: Poems for Young People by Jane Yolen and Heidi E. Y. Stemple, illustrated by Gil Ashby
• Fathers, Mothers, Sisters, Brothers: A Collection of Family Poems by Mary Ann Hoberman, illustrated by Marylin Hafner
• Friends and Foes: poems about us all by Douglas Florian
• I Remember: Poems and Pictures of Heritage compiled by Lee Bennett Hopkins
• Where I Live: Poems About My Home, My Street, and My Town selected by Paul B. Janeczko, illustrated by Hyewon Yum 

And Then There’s This…
Enrichment activities, related books, online resources, craft projects, and ideas for further study

Related Books of Interest:

• Around Our Way on Neighbors’ Day by Tameka Fryer Brown, illustrated by Charlotte Riley-Webb
• Dozens of Cousins by Shutta Crum, illustrated by David Catrow
• Families by Shelly Rotner and Sheila M. Kelly
• Families by Susan Kuklin
• The Great Big Book of Families by Mary Hoffman, illustrated by Ros Asquith
• Jingle Dancer by Cynthia Leitich Smith, illustrated by Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu  
• The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Stephen Gammell
• Too Much: My Great Big Native Family by Laurel Goodluck, illustrated by Bridget George
• Ruby’s Reunion Day Dinner by Angela Dalton, illustrated by Jestenia Southerland
• We Had a Picnic This Sunday Past by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by Diane Greenseid
• When Lightning Comes in a Jar by Patricia Polacco

Frank’s latest installment in the …Like series, co-written by April Groman, releases in March! You’ll find peeks of the interior pages of A Voice Like Yours in my interview with Frank.

Activities for A Voice Like Yours 

Meet the Author

Frank Murphy

Frank Murphy has taught various grades at the elementary level for 32 years. He has published several award-winning picture books and easy readers for over 23 years. He loves traveling, and watching the Philadelphia 76ers and UFC matches with his sons. He is also an accomplished Cavachon wrangler, taking his two Cavachons puppies, Jumper and Cali, on many leash-tangled walks. Visit Frank’s website to learn more.

Backstory: Q & A with Frank Murphy

It has been a true pleasure getting to know Frank! I was immediately drawn to A Family Like Ours when I read the book, and I knew I wanted to feature it on Children’s Book Corner. When I reached out to Frank, he was warm, kind, generous, and down to earth. He expressed sincere gratitude for the invitation to be on the blog, and our collaboration was a joy from start to finish. I am happy to introduce my new friend to you. Here’s my interview with Frank Murphy: SEL author, dedicated teacher and coach, and devoted father and husband.

Judy Bradbury: Tell us about your series of …Like books, with the most recent being A Family Like Ours, and the upcoming release, A Voice Like Yours: what links these books, how did you land on the theme of each? Also tell us about co-writing these books with other authors.

Frank Murphy: In the winter of 2018, I wrote A Boy Like You. It only took a few months—but not really. I didn’t realize at the time why it came so easily to me; I actually had been “writing” it in some sense for years—as a parent, teacher, and coach. I teach leadership lessons in all three roles, so the messages I was trying to share in the text of A Boy Like You are the same ones I’d shared with my own sons and stepdaughter, my students, and basketball players I coached over the years.

After the success of A Boy Like You, there were so many people who asked for A Girl Like You. I never imagined that A Boy Like You would inspire a whole series. I wrote it to help boys of all interests, backgrounds, and more feel like they could be themselves, no matter what. (“Be the you that makes you feel most alive” is my favorite message in the text.)

So, at first, I balked at it. Then I realized I could pull it off with the help of my wife, Carla Murphy. She was a little girl, she is a mom of a girl (who is now a 22-year-old readying herself to be an elementary school teacher, too), and she’s a pediatric nurse. Carla turned out to be the perfect writing partner; I couldn’t have come up with some of the messages in Girl without her. After that, I decided to invite co-authors for future titles. Part of the criteria would be to invite someone who brings a different dimension of diversity to the project than I bring.

For the next book I wanted a primary-level teacher. I asked my good friend and teaching colleague, Barbara Dan to co-author A Teacher Like You. Barbara is a first generation Korean-American who had an interesting path to becoming a teacher, and she’s one of the best teachers I’ve ever known.

I invited my kidlit-world friend Charnaie Gordon to co-write A Friend Like You. She brought a different dimension of diversity and perspective to this book; Charnaie is a mom, a wife, an African-American woman, and one of the most influential people in the children’s book world. Her biggest platform for influence is on Instagram where her handle is HereWeeRead. Charnaie is a leading expert on representation and diversity in kids’ books; parents, librarians, and teachers rely on her for honesty, guidance, and inspiration when it comes to choosing impactful books that honor and promote everyone! We connected soon after A Boy Like You was published; she was the first influencer to help amplify the book. And I still remember the first day we met in person—instant friendship. Choosing Charnaie was perfect for A Friend Like You. Our illustrator, Kayla Harren (who I could go on and on about. She is a force!!! Her career has skyrocketed!) actually used us as inspiration for the two main characters in Friend. Charnaie also partnered with me on A Planet Like Ours and a book published by Triumph Books Heroic Heart: An Illustrated Biography of Joe Delaney. Charnaie has gone on to write more books on her own. She, too, is a force.

A Family Like Ours is really special to me for several reasons. First, my co-author is someone I met by chance. I was vacationing in California and Alice Lee, who at the time was a principal near Los Angeles, messaged me on Instagram because she saw that I had stopped by to sign a few books at Pages Bookstore in Manhattan Beach, her local bookshop. I told her we could meet up and I’d sign a bunch of books for her. Just like with Charnaie, we became instant friends. Alice is a mom, a wife, a lifelong educator, a first generation Korean-American, and also an international kidlit influencer who serves on different boards and committees.

Another reason A Family Like Ours is special to me is that we (and “we” means the whole team: our incredible editor Sarah Rockett, Kayla, the art department, everyone at Sleeping Bear Press) wanted the book to ignite conversations about all the different kinds of families in the world. So often kids don’t see their family represented in picture books. There are so many kids sitting in a classroom, library, or in their own home listening to a picture book being read to them and they search for families that look like theirs. It might be an adopted family, a mixed-race family, or a family with only one parent – there are so many possibilities. We tried to include as many as we could. And we hope that kids are seeing some semblance of their families represented in our book.

Illustration © Kayla Harren

A Voice Like Yours is about to meet the world in March. A friend of mine who is a younger teacher in the earliest part of her career proposed the idea of a book that focuses on the kids she closely works with—kids who use tablets and other devices to express their voices. So many people propose ideas for the “like You” series, but none has ever instantly hit me like April Groman’s idea. When she shared it with me, I quickly realized the text could focus on kids who have needs that require assistance to have their voices heard, but we could also focus on activism and kids trying to make a difference in our world by using their voices. We think it’s a perfect combination. April is a mom and she is a biracial Korean-American special education teacher.

Illustration © Kayla Harren

Regarding choosing co-authors for the series, it was intentional and important for me, and for the team at Sleeping Bear Press, to contribute to providing opportunities for unpublished authors (when possible) and co-authors who bring varied cultural nuances, authenticity, and diverse voices to the kidlit world. The landscape in kidlit has improved with respect to “own voices” and “diverse voices,” but we need to keep at it. Kids need to see themselves represented in books, but also represented by the authors, illustrators, and publishing teams who create these books. I’d like to think that is one of the hallmarks of the …Like series.

JB: You are a full-time educator working with young kids. Tell us how you came to be a children’s author and how teaching informs your writing career.

FM: Without teaching (as a parent, coach, and educator) I wouldn’t have been able to write A Boy Like You. In the winter of 2018, I was noticing more and more that there were so many boys feeling a little lost, from things I’d see on the news to what I’d see right in front of me, for example, on the recess playground. There are some boys who struggle at recess because it can be a place that is dominated by sports. And some boys just don’t gravitate to sports. It’s why we decided to start with the message early in A Boy Like You that sports can be great, but there’s so much more out there for boys that can help them find their passions.

Teaching definitely informs my writing, and my writing informs my teaching – especially in the way that I teach young writers. I got my start in the children’s book world by loving picture books and easy readers as a young teacher in the early 90s teaching second grade. I wanted to write biographies that were super interesting. So I bought some blank books and created my own. Sometimes I’d draw pictures to go with the text and I’d ask my students to color in the drawings. Soon enough, I tried to get some of them published. It took six years of rejection letters, attending writing conferences, making connections, and honing the craft of writing for kids before I got two contracts pretty close together. The first was from Sleeping Bear Press for the picture book The Legend of the Teddy Bear and the second was from Random House for the Step into Reading series book Ben Franklin and the Magic Squares. Teddy Bear published in 2000 and Ben Franklin in 2001. So I’ve been at this for over 20 years now. And it’s been an incredibly great ride for me as a teacher and parent.

JB: Tell about one hurdle you experienced in the creation of A Family Like Ours, or provide a memorable (or humorous!) anecdote related to the writing of the book.

FM: Earlier I mentioned that A Family Like Ours is really special to me. I gave two reasons. There’s a third. Kayla Harren asked Alice Lee and me if we wanted her to illustrate any family photos that she could sneak into the art. (That’s how cool Kayla is!) I gave her my favorite photo of my mom. It shows her kneeling down and looking up, smiling. I’m petting our dog and my sister Kathleen is standing, smiling. It’s my whole childhood family. You can’t see my dad. But I can. I can see him because, to me, the way my mom is looking at my dad (who’s taking the photograph) speaks volumes about how much she loved him, so he’s there too. My mom passed away in 1998. She never got to see any of my books published; she never got to hold one. But now, because of Kayla’s generous heart, she is in one of my books. When my dad saw it, he was really moved and so excited.

Illustration © Kayla Harren

JB: What is one unexpected joy that came from the creation of A Family Like Ours?

FM: Definitely seeing family photos from Alice’s life, Kayla’s life, and my life. It makes the book that much more personal for all of us.

JB: What would surprise readers to learn about you or about the writing of A Voice Like Yours?

FM: I’ll answer this one with a twist. It’s that A Voice Like Yours will, hopefully, not be the last. I hope to do three more in the series – so there is a nice round number of ten titles. Voice might be the last one – I hope not. But if it is, I’ll be proud of it. It’s a beautiful book.

JB: What do you hope young listeners and readers will take away from A Family Like Ours?

FM: Simply, that they feel seen. And that they will learn to be more accepting of kids who have families that may look wildly different than theirs.

JB: And from A Voice Like Yours?

FM: That kids (and adults) realize that there are so many different ways to express our voices – whether it be through art, singing, performing, writing, whispering, sign language, a tablet, a love letter, peacefully protesting, and more.

Illustration © Kayla Harren

JB: From an educator’s perspective, who do you perceive your target audience to be and why?

FM: I believe (and know) that picture books need to be shared with all ages. I don’t like that books get categorized into age groups. So many picture books are tagged with labels like “for ages 8 -11” or “for grades 2-4.” Picture books are for all readers. To me, they’re one of our highest forms of art. I personally love text-heavy picture books that may have even text-heavier backmatter that unpacks more and provides insight into the making of the book or more about the author(s)’ and illustrator’s processes. Readers will notice that all of my picture books have backmatter.

JB: How do A Family Like Ours and A Voice Like Yours connect to curriculum or being used in schools or learning settings?

FM: They connect with the most important kind of curriculum—the curriculum that is organically created in a classroom by teachers and their students. Teachers must build little “families” in their classrooms, each year. I know that these books can springboard important conversations that help build and fortify strong relationships in classrooms and schools.

JB: What is one question you wish I had asked, and what is your answer?

FM: Hmmm. What’s my favorite city?

I have a bunch! Rome, Nashville, San Diego, Santa Monica, Delray Beach, Philly, Austin. I want to visit Savannah, Georgia soon.

JB: What project(s) are you currently working on?

FM: I’m working on the next …like You manuscript with Charnaie Gordon. But I can’t share the title. We hope Sleeping Bear Press wants to publish it!

Meet the Illustrator

Learn more about Kayla Harren, the artist who illustrated both A Family Like Ours and A Voice Like Yours, as well as the other titles in the …Like series, and find her on Instagram.

Sidebar Spotlight New releases of note

Each month I receive several boxes of books to review from various publishers. As I read and peruse the books, I place them in two piles: those that I will consider featuring on the blog, and those that don’t fit the mission or theme of Children’s Book Corner blog for whatever reason. I highlight some of the books in the “possible” pile on Mondays (most weeks) on Instagram. Ultimately, I choose the one new release I will feature on my monthly blog post. Yet there are many terrific books I wish I could give a shout-out to, even if I can’t write an entire post about each one. So, Sidebar Spotlight is a means of giving a nod to new releases that, in my opinion, are noteworthy. I’ve linked each title to Bookshop so you can learn more. Happy reading, friends! And feel free to comment on these or other new books below.

The Best Way to Get Your Way by Tanya Lloyd Kyi and illustrated by Chanelle Nibbelink is an engaging, accessible guide to effective debating skills for middle graders and up. With bright illustrations and an organized approach to information, as well as relatable examples, it’s sure to be a winning choice. Topics include “Get Your Way About Chores,” “Get Your Way About Screens,” and more. Opening statements, sources, fact checks, rebuttals, and closing arguments are examined.

Jump for Joy by Karen Gray Ruelle and illustrated by Hadley Hooper is a picture book with all the good feels about a child and a dog finding their perfect companion. Expertly crafted with finely tuned text, page turns, and art that carries the reader from monotones to full color as dreams are realized is a model of a perfect picture book. Highly recommend for preschool and primary grades.

The Mona Lisa Vanishes: A Legendary Painter, A Shocking Heist, and the Birth of a Global Celebrity by Nicholas Day, illustrated by Brett Helquist is fast-moving, totally engrossing, expertly structured narrative nonfiction with  line drawings that add interest and appeal.  This terrific account with a timely message about faulty assumptions, drawing hasty conclusions, and the danger in failing to step away from preconceived notions won the 2024 Sibert Medal. For middle graders and up.

The Most Magnificent Makers A to Z by Ashley Spires is another recommended addition to the terrific Most Magnificent series. This A to Z offers encouragement, related vocabulary, and inspiration to support spunky creative makers as they move through the ups and downs in the makerspace. From Brainstorm to Idea, from Patience to Zillions of possibilities, this book is a winner for school and home bookshelves.

News, Updates, & Items of Interest

I’m booking school visits for the Spring semester! Find information and contact me to discuss a school visit tailored to meet your needs.

Read-aloud of a portion of Cayuga Island Kids Book 2, The Adventure of the Big Fish by the Small Creek

Readers Theatehttps://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/notalists/ncbr, complete with props! 

Find my books packaged as a series at your favorite bookshop or purchase directly from the publisher and receive a gift with purchase! Individual titles are also available in hard, softcover, and e-book versions.

On March 18th I will be meeting with Buffalo Niagara Children’s Writers and Illustrators (BNCWI) members at Audubon Library in Amherst, NY to talk about “Creating Chapter Books That Will Capture Growing Independent Readers” It’s one of my favorite subjects, so of course I’m very much looking forward to the evening!

You can always find where my books and I will be on my Events page.

Kindness tip: If you read and like a book, consider posting a review on GoodReads, social media, or on Amazon (if you bought it there). Authors and illustrators appreciate the shout-out. Even a one-sentence comment increases visibility of a book. Also consider placing a request with your local library to purchase a copy–another free way to support a book you recommend!

The American Library Association (ALA) announced the Youth Media Awards on January 22. Find a complete listing of all winners and honor books here.

Children’s Book Week,established in 1919, is a celebration of books and the connection they bring to readers. This initiative continues to grow and adapt each year with new resources and ideas for joining in. Celebrate this year from May 6-12. The 2024 Children’s Book Week poster created by Sophie Blackall visually captures this year’s theme, No Rules. Just Read.  To receive free copies of this delightful poster, sign up to participate in Children’s Book Week this spring and you will get two free posters delivered to your library, school, bookstore, or home. Additional Children’s Book Week resources will become available over the next month, including brand new promotional materials, participation ideas, resources created by a slew of amazing children’s book illustrators, and more!

Over to You…

Join the conversation! Offer your thoughts on this featured prompt related to this month’s post:

What picture book about families do you recommend? Share the title and author of the book in the comments section.

You are also welcome to post a general comment.

Giveaway! Frank has generously offered a signed copy of A Family Like Ours to be awarded to a Children’s Book Corner subscriber who leaves a comment on this post. Entries must be posted by March 15.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

Final Thought