And Tango Makes Three

link related to the story that can be used as a resource

And Tango Makes Three | Official Short Film | "A couple of penguins wished that they had the same family as the other penguins at the zoo!" Now is your chance to watch again the heartwarming true to... | By Active Thinkers Child Development Center | Facebook"A couple of penguins wished that they had the same family as the other penguins at the zoo!" Now is your chance to watch again the heartwarming true to...

Justin Richardson & Peter Parnell

Author Qualification(s): Authors had been a couple for years and were trying for their own baby when the book was published

Illustrator Qualification(s): Mother was an illustrator and helped him when he was younger. Illustrated over 150 books (and authored some of those)!

Genre(s)

Picture Book

Nonfiction

Banned Book

Diverse / Multicultural Topic(s)

Homosexuality

Two dads

Awards

American Library Association Notable Book Award

ASPCA Henry Bergh Children's Book Award

Plot Summary

This book is based on a true story of two boy penguins at the Central Park Zoo who took turns sitting on a rock because they wanted to raise a baby penguin so badly. One of the zoologists took pity on them and gave the couple an egg from another penguin couple who had a spare to give. The boy penguins raised their baby girl penguin happily together.

Connections & Representation

Students that have two dads, especially girls, can relate to this book.

Stereotypes

The main characters are presented in a factual way. There is nothing that sets this penguin family apart from any other except that both parents are of the same gender.

Conflicts

Roy and Silo, a penguin couple, want a child of their own like the other penguins so badly, they build a nest of their own and pretend that a rock is an egg.

Insider/Outsider

Roy and Silo, the two boy penguins, are presented as Outsiders in this story because they are unable to sire their own offspring. They perhaps feel more like Insiders when their own Tango begins to hatch from her egg.

Teachable Moment

This book teaches us that families come in all shapes and sizes and that sometimes there are parents of the same sex. All families, even non-traditional ones, deserve love and respect and want to feel a part of the mystery of bringing a life into the world.

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