All the Families in My Town

Originally published in France in 2021 under the title Toutes les familles de mon village, this English translation by Robin Bright is an affirming and convivial celebration of the many types of family structures.

A child narrator takes readers on a tour of her small hometown. There are only nine houses, but, as Aria explains, “Each one of them contains an entire universe.” Starting at her own brick house, Aria warmly introduces her two moms. They like to sing, laugh, play outdoors and read stories together. Next door lives a single father and his four kids. Mealtimes gathered around their kitchen table are happy, delectable daily occasions, and Aria loves visiting and sleeping over.

Aria’s first-person narration is direct and invitingly conversational, peppered with comments like, “Have I ever told you about” and “I made you this cute little drawing.” Across the street lives Aria’s best friend, Judith, whose father identifies as transgender. Aria’s sincere statements cut to the heart: “He chose to make his body match who he was in his heart. Some people mocked and criticized him, but I don’t understand why it bothered them.”

Some family units are large, like the clan who reside in the blue house (“Some of the children have different fathers and some have different mothers”), and others are small, like the couple down the street who don’t have any children. Other friends in the town include Samir, who lives with “the people he calls his grandma and his grandpa”; and Lily, who lives with “happy parents who chose to adopt her.” Respect and acceptance bind the community together: “Everyone feels free to be themselves.”
Ariane Caldin’s winsome watercolours have a cozy, soft sepia and gold tone glow. Crayon drawings featuring cheery, repeated images of trees, and rectangular houses with heart-shaped smoke billowing from chimneys appear on the endpapers. The cartoon illustrations capture children and adults in relatable scenes, like playing a game of cards and being embraced in a group hug.

Endnotes define family as “all the people who really matter to you”, including friends, neighbors, and pets. A “Your Turn to Shine” activity invites readers to draw their own family portraits. In a concluding note to adults, the aim of the book is explained: “As an open door to dialogue and tolerances, it is intended both to encourage your child to ask questions and to help you give meaningful answers.”

All the Families in My Town effectively conveys this heartwarming message: “Love – like a family – comes in an infinite variety of forms.”