Donovan's Big Day

Newman, Leslea. (2011). Donovan’s Big Day. Berkeley: Tricycle Press.  

Hardcover | $15.99 | ISBN-13: 978-1-58246-332-2.  | 32 pages. | Age 4-7 yrs.

This picture book intended for young readers, ages 4-7 years, goes through Donovan’s entire day and all the important things he must do on his parent’s wedding day.  Donovan begins by waking up in the morning and he gets out of bed before being yelled at because he realizes he must be well behaved and must be helpful too. He has to feed the dog and clean up after himself after breakfast. He has to wash up and also get dressed up in some fancy clothes.  These are all usual tasks and he has no problems doing them.  He has to keep special care of a small satin box on the inside of his jacket pocket. He has to behave in his Uncle’s car and sit between his cousins without causing any problems. He is very excited once he arrives at the ceremony and runs inside to see everyone.  He knows he must talk to all the grown ups and greet all the guests.  Finally, he walks down the aisle and quietly listens to the ceremony. He is the ring bearer at the wedding of his two moms.

Newman’s picture book treats this big wedding day like it was any other wedding day. While reading and going over the activities of Donovan’s Big Day, you do not get the feeling that it is any different to have two brides who are getting married. All the activities of the day are exactly the same. There is still a lot for Donovan to do and he knows how important his job is. The book teaches a young boy how to be a ring bearer. It is important for a kid at this young age to not feel different or judged. At this young age, kids do not need a book about how it is okay to have two moms that get married or how it is okay to have two dads in love. They need a book just like the rest of the kids – a book that simply tells a story while showing a family’s love. It was cute that it was Donovan’s job to “kiss the brides” at the end of the story. Donovan had a big role to play and he does exactly what he has to do. It didn’t matter who was getting married – it was only important that Donovan was there and that he has two parents who love him.

This juvenile picture book would be useful in any library or community with a lot of same-sex marriages or unions. This way the children in these families would be able to see how their families are the same as the other families. Ultimately, this book is about family and the love within. Donovan’s Big Day was nominated for the 2012 Rainbow Book List and that list can be accessed here: http://glbtrt.ala.org/rainbowbooks/archives/953.

Leslea Newman is the award-winning author for Mommy, Mama and Me and Heather has Two Mommies according to the front cover of Donovan’s Big Day. Newman has been earning awards for her writing for quite a long time.  She has won awards for her picture books, novels, as well as for several poems that she has published.  For more info about her publications & awards, please visit http://www.lesleakids.com/publications.html. For more information about Leslea Newman, please visit her official website at http://www.lesleakids.com/aboutleslea.html.