*Review* The Small and Tall Ball by Frank J. Sileo

 

Genre: Children's 4-8 years

Published: May 23, 2023

Pages: 40

Everyone’s family looks different―and that’s okay!

Although our world is diverse, it is not always inclusive. To raise accepting, empathic, and open-minded children, it is important to instill the idea that differences are to be celebrated within families, communities, and throughout the world.

In The Small and Tall Ball, readers will follow the heartwarming story of Oliver, a child who feels excluded from the yearly “Mother-Son & Father-Daughter Dance” because he has two dads. While planning for the dance goes on around him, Oliver learns that other kids in his class are also unable to attend because they have diverse families. “This is NOT fair!” cries one student. How can the students come together to plan a dance where all kids and families are welcome? Find out how the class thinks up a clever idea so everyone can enjoy the dance―making it a special night for those small and those tall!

Inside you’ll also find a special note for parents and caregivers that explains how to talk to kids about the importance of inclusion and the diverse families all around us.

This book is perfect for PRIDE Month and to help kids understand diverse family dynamics such as LGBTQ+ families, multigenerational families, families of people with disabilities, military families, and more.

I received a copy of this book through Netgalley. This is my honest review. 

An elementary school class is having a parent/child dance, as apparently a lot of schools do these days, although I don't remember my kids' school ever doing that. While they're planning it, they realize that the typical father/daughter and mother/son pairings leave out a lot of their classmates who come from less "traditional" families. So they brainstorm on ways they can change the theme of the dance to be all inclusive of every type of family. That's how they land on the Small and Tall Ball theme, because they are small, and their adults are tall. 

I love the inclusivity and the way the book approaches the topic of familial differences. And while this book is touted as a great read for Pride month, LGBTQ+ families aren't the only different looking families featured in this story. It really does have a little bit of something for every possible family. The illustrations were bold and colorful. 

Overall I give The Small and Tall Ball 4.8759 out of 5 stars. - Katie 

Amazon

Frank J. Sileo, PhD, is a licensed psychologist and the founder and executive director of The Center for Psychological Enhancement in Ridgewood, NJ. A Fordham University graduate, he works with children, adolescents, adults, and families. Since 2010, he has been consistently recognized as one of New Jersey’s top kids’ doctors He is the author of fifteen children’s books, which have received various prestigious book awards and have been translated into four languages. He also wrote an award-winning parenting book about raising chronically medically ill children. Dr. Sileo speaks across the country, has published in numerous peer-reviewed journals, and is a go-to psychologist in the media. Learn more at drfranksileo.com. You can follow him on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @drfranksileo.

Katie Dwyer is a children’s book illustrator living in the magical woods of Asheville, NC, with her husband and three wildlings. She loves illustrating stories that teach valuable lessons while adding a twist of whimsical charm. When she’s not drawing or painting in her studio, she can be found drinking iced matcha lattes with her nose in a book or watching a good movie. Visit her at katiedwyerillustrations.com or on Instagram @katiedwyer.illustrations.