Our Class Is a Family
By Regan McMahon,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Simple classroom story brims with kindness and empathy.
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What's the Story?
OUR CLASS IS A FAMILY begins with the unseen narrator saying that when you think of family, you might picture Grandma, parents, maybe cousins or a twin. But family "doesn't have to be who you're related to. It can be a special group who love and care for you." The narrator points out that a classroom can have some of the same things a family has -- a pet, art on the walls, folks who care about you and "have your back." Then various scenes show the diverse classmates being kind and respectful to one another, demonstrating empathy and compassion. It ends with the teacher and classmates in joyful unity, as the narrator reminds, "So let's always remember what a great team we can be... We're a classroom family."
Is It Any Good?
This positive vision of classroom life drives home the idea that the folks you're thrown together with at school can be as nurturing and supportive as family. Our Class Is a Family urges kids to create a compassionate environment at school where everyone feels respected and valued. "We'll have things in common, these are connections that we'll seek," reads the text accompanying a picture of two boys who are both wearing a shirt with a planet on it. "But we'll still celebrate our differences and what makes us each unique," it says under a picture of two girls -- one with a paintbrush and artist's palette and the other holding a soccer ball. There's not a story to follow so much as an exploration of how a class can achieve a family vibe, where everyone has one another's back so all can thrive. Sandie Sonke's appealing, kid-friendly, cartoon-like illustrations help make every point easily understood.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what the classmates in Our Class Is a Family do to make their classroom feel like home. Kids: Do you have anything in your classroom that you also have with your family?
The story talks about how family members have your back and how you classmates can, too. What does it mean to have someone's back?
How do the classmates in the story show kindness, empathy, and compassion?
Book Details
- Author: Shannon Olsen
- Illustrator: Sandie Sonke
- Genre: Picture Book
- Topics: Great Boy Role Models , Great Girl Role Models
- Character Strengths: Compassion , Empathy
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Shannon Olsen
- Publication date: May 5, 2020
- Number of pages: 27
- Available on: Paperback, Hardback, Kindle
- Last updated: August 18, 2023
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Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
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