The GLBTRT has been reviewing books and movies in its newsletter since the early 1990s. Trace the evolution of queer publishing through these historic reviews. This review was originally published in Vol. 3, No. 1 & 2, Fall 1990/Winter 1991.
Newman, Leslea. Heather Has Two Mommies. Diana Souza, illustrator. In Other Words Publishing, 1989. $6.95. (ISBN 0-9622789-0-4).
Leslea Newman and Diana Souza have created a picture book which deals explicitly with many of the questions and concerns a young child of a lesbian couple might have. Heather Has Two Mommies discusses how two lesbians become a couple, how donor insemination works, and what it is like to find out your family is different. The book also deals with more common childhood issues such as how babies are born and what it feels like to go to a new day care provider.
Newman uses vocabulary and explanations geared to young children without talking down to them. The black and white illustrations are somewhat stylized, but very attractive. Dana Lee Kingsbury, a five-year-old friend of Newman contributed her artwork for some of the illustrations. This picture book about Heather, her Mama Jane and her Mama Kate, is an attractive, literate story for children from ages 3 to 7. Public libraries who want to represent all types of families in their collections should consider it.
Reviewed by Nancy A. Higgs
Evansville-Vanderburgh County Public Library
Evansville, Indiana
[Editor’s note: cover image is from the 20th anniversary edition.]
