Mama and Mommy and Me in the MiddleMama and Mommy and Me in the Middle

Not all children are raised by a mom and a dad; families can come in many different forms. Mama, Mommy, and Me in the Middle is a beautiful story that celebrates diversity and normalizes same-sex parenting. Mommy, an African-American working woman with a fierce hairdo has to leave for a week to go on a work trip. Mama, a hip purple-haired woman with colorful tattoos takes care of their daughter while she is gone. The daughter speaks openly about how sad and lonely she feels when one of her mothers leaves. She expresses her emotions in several different ways; by crying, accepting hugs, talking to her peers, creating art, and using descriptive language to explain her feelings.

The illustrator indirectly provides information by planting visual cues that can serve as a learning opportunity. The nameless main character and her Mommy have discoloration on their skin and hair; a condition known as vitiligo. The peers in her classroom are composed of children with different ethnic backgrounds and even some struggling with disabilities. Even though these visual representations are not discussed in the story, they serve as an excellent conversation starter to talk about diversity and inclusivity with young readers.