And Tango Makes Three

Title: And Tango Makes Three
Author(s): Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell
Illustrator: Henry Cole
Grade Level: K-2

BUY BOOK HERE!
RELATED LESSON IDEA!


Summary:  Based on a true story, And Tango Makes Three focuses on the different animal families that live in the Central Park Zoo in New York City.  Two penguins in the penguin house were a little bit different than the other penguins.  Roy and Silo were both boys, but they did everything together.  As a couple, they want a family like the other penguins at the zoo. After an unsuccessful attempt to hatch a rock, Roy and Silo are given an abandoned egg to care for. After their diligent efforts, their egg hatches and baby Tango joins their family.

Element 3: Exploring Issues of Social Injustice: And Tango Makes Three celebrates the diversity of families.  Because Roy and Silo are both male penguins,the book gives students a chance to explore same-sex relationships.  The book sends out the message that it is absolutely okay to be different, accepting the fact that everybody has his or her own way of defining a family.

Activity:  A good follow up activity after reading this book would be a classroom discussion.  I would openly ask the classroom to elaborate on their own perspective of family.  As a project, I'd have them go home and illustrate their family.  With the help of their parents/guardians, they could put together a collage including the different things that define/sums up his or her family.  Finally, the students could present their project, and then I'd display their finished work around the classroom.