Families belong /

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

A rhyming, light-hearted celebration of families being - and belonging - together.

Families belong
Together like a puzzle
Different-sized people
One big snuggle

This deliciously warm board book is an appreciation of the unconditional love and comfort shared within a family. Through a handful of specific yet universal scenarios, from singing songs together to sharing food together, from dancing together to lying still together, this book invites the youngest readers to celebrate what it means for a family to be truly together.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Publishers Weekly Review

This simple board book, first in the cocreators' Families series, highlights a selection of the activities families may participate in, using "together" as the end of a shifting refrain. Rhythmic, loosely rhymed quatrains ("Families sing/ with voices bellowing/ songs that make us giggle / on the back of Dad's bicycle") are paired with inclusive illustrations in watercolor and gouache, edited digitally, that portray families snuggling, singing, sharing food, dancing, and more. Spreads effectively emphasize characters' movement in a variety of formations and undertakings, with families of various skin tones and compositions depicted on almost every page. Though one spread oddly depicts "cleaning up the crumbs together" as what seems to be a platter of crumbless fresh spring rolls scatters across the floor, this is a solid introduction to family fun that should entertain its target audience. Ages 1--3. (Sept.)

Kirkus Book Review

Families in a variety of configurations play, dance, and celebrate together. The rhymed verse, based on a song from the Noodle Loaf children's podcast, declares that "Families belong / Together like a puzzle / Different-sized people / One big snuggle." The accompanying image shows an interracial couple of caregivers (one with brown skin and one pale) cuddling with a pajama-clad toddler with light brown skin and surrounded by two cats and a dog. Subsequent pages show a wide array of families with members of many different racial presentations engaging in bike and bus rides, indoor dance parties, and more. In some, readers see only one caregiver: a father or a grandparent, perhaps. One same-sex couple with two children in tow are expecting another child. Smart's illustrations are playful and expressive, curating the most joyful moments of family life. The verse, punctuated by the word together, frequently set in oversized font, is gently inclusive at its best but may trip up readers with its irregular rhythms. The song that inspired the book can be found on the Noodle Loaf website. A joyful celebration. (Board book. 1-3) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Author notes provided by Syndetics

Dan Saks is a musician and music educator specializing in early childhood education. He has lived and taught in New York City, Mexico City, and Switzerland and has traveled the world as a performing musician. He currently lives with his wife and two daughters in Brooklyn, New York, where he produces Noodle Loaf , a popular music education podcast for kids. A Top 10 Apple Podcast in Music Education for Kids and a 2018 Discover Pods Nominee for Best Kids & Family Podcast, Noodle Loaf brings families together to learn music fundamentals through play, laughter, and lots of fun.