Heather Has Two Mommies
 | |
| Author | Lesléa Newman |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Alyson Books |
Publication date | 1989 |
| Publication place | United States |
| ISBN | 1-55583-543-0 |
| OCLC | 43227323 |
| [Fic] 21 | |
| LC Class | PZ7.N47988 He 2000 |
Heather Has Two Mommies is a children's book written by Lesléa Newman with Diana Souza and Dana Kingsbury's[1] illustrations, first published in 1989. Google Books describes it as "the first lesbian-themed children's book ever published".[2]
The story is about a child, Heather, raised by lesbian women: her biological mother, Jane, who gave birth to her after artificial insemination, and her biological mother's same-sex partner, Kate. At Heather's playgroup, her family situation is discussed simply and positively, as are those of other children in other family units.[3]
Lesléa Newman related:
The idea for Heather came about one day when I was walking down Main Street in Northampton, Mass., a town known for its liberalism, tolerance of difference, and large lesbian population. On this particular day I ran into a woman who, along with her female partner, had recently welcomed a child into their home. "We have no books to read our daughter that show our type of family," the woman said. "Somebody should write one."
The American Library Association ranked it the 11th most frequently challenged book in the United States in the 1990s; a similar phenomenon can be seen in the Sugartime! episode of the American television series Postcards from Buster. In the 1980s, comparable political controversy erupted in the United Kingdom over the book Jenny Lives with Eric and Martin. Comedian Bill Hicks famously included the book in one of his stand-up routines.
The book and the controversy over it were parodied in the 2006 Dav Pilkey book Captain Underpants and the Preposterous Plight of the Purple Potty People. In it, the parallel-universe Miss Singerbrains (the school librarian) invites the two main characters, George and Harold, to read the book Mommy Has Two Heathers.
See also
- Homosexuality in children's literature
- Daddy's Roommate - portrays a gay couple in a similar positive light. It became point of discussion in the 2008 US Presidential Election.[4]
- The Rainbow Cubby House - similar book in Australia.
- Jenny Lives with Eric and Martin - similar book that caused controversy in the United Kingdom.
- "Bart Has Two Mommies" - an episode of The Simpsons parodying the controversy.
References
- ^ Book Review: Heather has Two Mommies
- ^ Heather Has Two Mommies: 20th Anniversary Edition, Google Books, retrieved March 17, 2012
- ^ Annotated Bibliography of Children's Books With Gay and Lesbian Characters Resources for Early Childhood Educators and Parents Archived 2005-03-14 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Once Elected, Palin Hired Friends and Lashed Foes" Jo Becker, Peter S. Goodman and Michael Powell. New York Times' September 14, 2008
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