And Tango Makes Three

Hi Everyone! This has been a CRAZY week for me (that ultimately ended up with me getting sick! =()  so I'm sorry it's taken me so long to get this up.

My entry today is about And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell.

Publication Information 
ISBN: 1481446959
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Publish Date: 2005
Lexile Reading Level: AD720L
Awards/Recognition: American Library Association Notable Children's Book 2006

Banned Book 


This is a really heartwarming and quirky narrative nonfiction book about the true story of how two male penguins at the Central Park Zoo, Roy and Silo, end up hatching and raising a baby penguin together. True to form, it follows the style of a fiction picture book, however, the author's note at the back of the book explains that all of the events are true, and retells the story with some specific detail such as dates, and how exactly Roy and Silo were given the egg.

The book focuses on Roy and Silo's relationship and how they try to copy the actions of other penguin couples, including building a nest, and sitting on a rock every day since they couldn't lay their own eggs. The story goes for the story telling style rather than blunt information. For example, the zoo keeper plays a big role in how Roy and Silo get an egg. In the author's note, it says that the zoo keeper found another penguin couple, who normally can only raise one egg at a time, laid two fertile eggs. The zoo keeper gave the one of the eggs to Roy and Silo. In the story, it leaves out the specifics of how the zoo keeper got the egg, and instead says simply, "He found an egg that needed to be cared for and he brought it to Roy and Silo's nest." I'm not criticizing the book for this stylistic choice, especially since it is explained at the end. In addition, And Tango Makes Three has a bigger message to get across. A message about family. The book ends with zoo-goers seeing Roy, Silo, and little Tango living happily with their fellow penguins, just like any other penguin in the habitat.

All families in this day and age are very unique and come in all shapes, sizes, and combinations. It's important for children to see that there isn't a 'normal standard' for families except that they all love one another. In a school or group setting, we need to make sure all of our students and children feel that they belong, no matter what kind of family they come from. If not, it can lead to bullying,, depression, and a lot of awful things that it makes me tear up reading about. Regardless of my beliefs on some of these issues, I absolutely cannot stand these issues making their way into the hearts of a young child, leaving them feeling like they don't belong. Unfortunately, a lot of books that instill love and respect for 'non traditional' families cause some controversy and I can understand that because of the way I was raised growing up.  And Tango Makes Three has been the number one banned book for several years because it not only shows a 'non traditional' family, but they're animals. Parents can have a big problem with that. However, when I read this book, after the first few pages the focus shifted from Roy and Silo as a couple, to the problem of infertility, which is a very common problem that any couple could face and relate to. Baby penguin Tango needed a family since her biological parents were unable to care for more than one baby at a time. It's ultimately a story about adoption.

I would pair this book with The Family Book, by Todd Parr. This book brings up very diverse families, including same-sex families. While it's gotten some heat from parents and it's been banned in a few places for that reason, it's caused less of a fuss than And Tango Makes Three. That may be because the same-sex couple section only takes up two pages that can easily be skipped by parents who don't want their child seeing it. It delivers the same message that every family is special and all families love one another. I read The Family Book for a story time one time and I was hesitant at first because I was concerned about upsetting people. However, there were a few tenants that I always stand by at my story times, which is what ultimately got me to read it: 1) Everyone is welcome at my story times. 2) I knew for a fact I had some children who attend my story times who have two moms or two dads and I want them to feel included and valued. 3) I work at a public library for pete's sake. I can always stand by intellectual freedom. 4) If anyone really did get mad, I knew my boss would support me and they're free to leave. After that story time, only one family did leave, but they left quietly and I haven't seem them since.

Teacher's should consider books such as And Tango Makes Three and The Family Book because it's important to have these discussions with children about our families and what makes them great.