Huia is worried.

They are doing something special in her classroom the next day and Huia isn’t sure she wants to take part.

Each student has been asked to bring a photo of their family as part of a new class topic. But Huia knows her family is different and isn’t sure what her classmates might say and think?

Her efforts to avoid it are waylaid by her mum who visits school with what Huia needs. Huia soon learns that hers isn’t the only family that is a little different from ‘Mum, Dad and the kids.’

There are adopted children, children raised by aunts, or grandparents, or only one parent. There are step mums and step dads too.

Huia finally shares the photos of her own whanau. She’s surprised to hear her friends exclaim with joy,

“You are so lucky! You have two mums!”

The perfect picture book to show that all families are special no matter their make up. 

Many things worry children and being different in any way from their classmates can cause uncertainty. Written in both te reo Māori and English (te reo appears first on the page), My Beautiful Family is a book for every shelf, whether at home or school which can help counter these fears.

Illustrator Izzy White captures main character Huia’s apprehension, dread, then realisation that everything is going to be okay – perfectly.

Author – Rauhina Cooper

Illustrator – Isobel Joy Te-Aho White

Picture Book

(2023, Oratia Books, NZ, New Zealand, Aotearoa, Bilingual, English, te Reo Māori, Family, Whanau, School, Photograph, Fears, Feelings, Different, Two Mums, Fitting in, Confidence, Kindness, Inclusivity, Diversity, LGBTQ+)