Family and Feelings

PreS-Gr 2–Veronica’s parents host a party as they are expecting twins. It’s a time of great celebration. Veronica looks and sees all the people who have come to express their happiness for her family; she has all types of feelings, but happiness is not one of them. She looks around; some of the people she knows, and some she doesn’t. She notices that there are families that are not like hers. Most of all, Veronica has a lot of questions that she isn’t sure how to ask. How will her family change when the twins are born? Will her parents still love her? She likes life the way it is and is afraid. Haraštová skillfully writes about the emotions young children experience when their families change, presenting a new scenario with each page, then a corresponding page with reasons for this, and provides possible solutions. Gaigalova adeptly uses creative text and illustrative circles for parents to talk through and discuss with their children.