When Asha's lesbian mums become an issue for the teacher and the curiosity of classmates, Asha responds that having two mums is not a big deal. They are a family. (20100121)
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About the Author
Rosamund and Michele currently live in Toronto. Rosamund likes attending to her plants and romping around with the kids. Michele likes knitting, sewing and bicycling. Rosamund Elwin has been involved in publishing for the past eight years, working on children's and adults' books. Her involvement in publishing children's books sparked her interest in writing for children. This led to the co-written stories Asha's Mums and The Moonlight Hide Seek Club. Rosamund sees publishing first-time writers as cultural activism. She enjoys publishing and wants to see many more of her ideas materialize, including anthologies on lesbians and men, and Caribbean lesbians, both of which she is currently developing. (20100222)
Dawn Lee, when she isn't designing exhibits that thrill a million people every year at the Ontario Science Centre, illustrates children's books. The Mouse That Couldn't Squeak was published in 1988. Dawn also paints and makes videos and animated films. (20100222)
Dawn Lee, when she isn't designing exhibits that thrill a million people every year at the Ontario Science Centre, illustrates children's books. The Mouse That Couldn't Squeak was published in 1988. Dawn also paints and makes videos and animated films. (20100222)
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Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
ASHA'S MUMS by Elwin and Paulse is the story of a little girl, who is told by her teacher to have her field trip permission slip which was signed by her two mums re-done "correctly." While there is a bit of a mystery about what "correct" exactly means, the teacher blatantly tells Asha she can't have two mums, and if the form is not filled out correctly, she cannot go on the trip. Clearly Asha is devastated because she believes she, her brother, and her two mums are a family, and she wants to go on the trip. The next day, Asha tries to explain her family. This provokes discussion among the children abut whether or not a child can have two mums. One child says her parents told her that having two mothers living together is bad. While the class is in gym, Asha's mums have a talk with the teacher to clarify their family structure. Asha is able to go on the trip and the other children are informed that both of her mums are important to her. This books makes an important statement: children from gay- and lesbian-headed households do not always make distinctions between their parents such as the "real" mother or father. Parents are frequently distinguished most commonly by names, such as "Mama" and Mom" or "Papa" and "Daddy."
ASHA'S MUMS is one of a few books which raises the issue of children's families not being accepted or represented in the classroom. It also highlights the difficulties children of gay and lesbian families encounter when their parents have not disclosed their family structure to the school or teacher. Some readers may feel a little uneasy that it was initially left up to Asha and some of her friends to defend and explain her family structure. Still, this may very well be the reality for some children from gay- and lesbian-headed families, especially as parents are not yet aware of the need to explain their family until a "crisis" occurs.
The wonderful illustrations add to the beauty of the story. They portray Black, Asian, Latino/a and European-American children. This story works well with a discussion on exclusion, acceptance and diverse family structures.
ASHA'S MUMS is one of a few books which raises the issue of children's families not being accepted or represented in the classroom. It also highlights the difficulties children of gay and lesbian families encounter when their parents have not disclosed their family structure to the school or teacher. Some readers may feel a little uneasy that it was initially left up to Asha and some of her friends to defend and explain her family structure. Still, this may very well be the reality for some children from gay- and lesbian-headed families, especially as parents are not yet aware of the need to explain their family until a "crisis" occurs.
The wonderful illustrations add to the beauty of the story. They portray Black, Asian, Latino/a and European-American children. This story works well with a discussion on exclusion, acceptance and diverse family structures.
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Asha's Mums is delightful. The story surrounding this publication is most interesting. The book was banned by the Surrey School District in the early 2000s because it challenged the notion of traditional family. This children's book featured a little girl raised by a lesbian couple. The book banning was eventually
lifted (the case had to go to court!). As a result of this development, Asha's Mums is now part of Greater Vancouver's history.
lifted (the case had to go to court!). As a result of this development, Asha's Mums is now part of Greater Vancouver's history.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
3.0 out of 5 stars
2 reviews
46 of 49 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Raises Awareness About Gay/Lesbian Families
Jan 4 1998
By A Customer
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
ASHA'S MUMS by Elwin and Paulse is the story of a little girl, who is told by her teacher to have her field trip permission slip which was signed by her two mums re-done "correctly." While there is a bit of a mystery about what "correct" exactly means, the teacher blatantly tells Asha she can't have two mums, and if the form is not filled out correctly, she cannot go on the trip. Clearly Asha is devastated because she believes she, her brother, and her two mums are a family, and she wants to go on the trip. The next day, Asha tries to explain her family. This provokes discussion among the children abut whether or not a child can have two mums. One child says her parents told her that having two mothers living together is bad. While the class is in gym, Asha's mums have a talk with the teacher to clarify their family structure. Asha is able to go on the trip and the other children are informed that both of her mums are important to her. This books makes an important statement: children from gay- and lesbian-headed households do not always make distinctions between their parents such as the "real" mother or father. Parents are frequently distinguished most commonly by names, such as "Mama" and Mom" or "Papa" and "Daddy."
ASHA'S MUMS is one of a few books which raises the issue of children's families not being accepted or represented in the classroom. It also highlights the difficulties children of gay and lesbian families encounter when their parents have not disclosed their family structure to the school or teacher. Some readers may feel a little uneasy that it was initially left up to Asha and some of her friends to defend and explain her family structure. Still, this may very well be the reality for some children from gay- and lesbian-headed families, especially as parents are not yet aware of the need to explain their family until a "crisis" occurs.
The wonderful illustrations add to the beauty of the story. They portray Black, Asian, Latino/a and European-American children. This story works well with a discussion on exclusion, acceptance and diverse family structures.
ASHA'S MUMS is one of a few books which raises the issue of children's families not being accepted or represented in the classroom. It also highlights the difficulties children of gay and lesbian families encounter when their parents have not disclosed their family structure to the school or teacher. Some readers may feel a little uneasy that it was initially left up to Asha and some of her friends to defend and explain her family structure. Still, this may very well be the reality for some children from gay- and lesbian-headed families, especially as parents are not yet aware of the need to explain their family until a "crisis" occurs.
The wonderful illustrations add to the beauty of the story. They portray Black, Asian, Latino/a and European-American children. This story works well with a discussion on exclusion, acceptance and diverse family structures.
10 of 12 people found the following review helpful
1.0 out of 5 stars
This book is awful.
April 7 2008
By Helen
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
My partner and I bought this book for our two small children. To the seller's credit, it arrived early. However after reading it ourselves, we decided not to share it with our children. It conveys an incredibly negative point of view. The teacher in the book tells the little girl that she couldn't have two mum's and must go home and have her permission slip signed correctly.
Apparently the mum's take care of it, but we don't know what they say. Nothing is explained except to say that it might be hard in our society to have two mom's and that is NOT the message we are looking to send our children. If the author was going to create such a negative situation, they could also create a positive resolution.
I highly recommend you not buy this book.
Apparently the mum's take care of it, but we don't know what they say. Nothing is explained except to say that it might be hard in our society to have two mom's and that is NOT the message we are looking to send our children. If the author was going to create such a negative situation, they could also create a positive resolution.
I highly recommend you not buy this book.
›
Go to Amazon.com to see both reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
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