Asha's Mums
By Rosamund Elwin and Michele Paulse
Reviewed by Julia Ransohoff, High School Student Writer
Asha's Mums describes a young girl's struggle to explain to her friends and teacher that she has two "mums." Asha is required to have both parents sign a field-trip permission form, and her teacher does not believe she has filled out the form correctly when Asha returns it with the signatures of her two mums. Her mothers meet with the teacher, and the next day Asha presents a drawing of her family to the class and explains to them what makes her family special. She answers questions and concerns from her classmates, and in the end they all go on the field trip together. This story concludes on a positive note, with Asha's classmates learning about Asha without being judgmental, and open-mindedly learning about a family situation different from their own. Overall, this book communicates to young children that there are differences among them, and that there is not one traditional way for a family to exist. Families come in all shapes and sizes, and this book presents the realistic journey of a young girl sharing her story with others..