Oh The Things Mommies Do! An LGBT Children's Book for Lesbian Parents and Their Kids

Oh The Things Mommies Do!: What Could Be Better Than Having Two? captures two-mom families at work and play. The book is extremely colorful and engaging and its prose is straightforward and lyrical, showing a range of families that reflect the book s opening dedication: To mothers of all varieties, shapes, and sizes. The refrain of Oh the things mommies could do! What could be better than having two? follows images of mothers doing typical things like making breakfast, building blanket castles in the living room and conquering the flu. But the simplicity of the moments is part of what makes the story so enjoyable and refreshing: all of the pictures show the families doing activities that any family might do. Oh The Things Mommies Do!: What Could Be Better Than Having Two? strikes a nice balance by celebrating the uniqueness of two-mom families without emphasizing the otherness. Highly recommended. --AfterEllen.com

Oh The Things Mommies Do! is a playful 30-page celebration of the new age of parenthood, and of growing up with two mothers. Given the physical and mental capacity available to one mom, it's hard to imagine that of two. Imagine even more phone calls 'to say Hi,' and exponentially more when you've got a cold or vocational hiccup. Written in rhyme, the whimsical tale expounds on the many maternal strengths inherent in those women to whom we owe our lives and upbringings: 'Mommies ride bikes and conquer the flu. They keep on the fridge the things that you drew. Mommies jump on trampolines and plant gardens too. They sing your favorite songs with you! Oh The things mommies do!' That being said, Tompkins raises the only remaining question: 'What could be better than having two?' --Boston Spirit Magazine

Gay parenting has long raised eyebrows and evoked tones of disapproval from the conservative community. Still, LGBT families continually strive to achieve the same goals as their "traditional-family" counterparts: to create a safe, healthy environment for their children to grow up into happy, well-adjusted and responsible adults. Families may come in a multitude of different shapes and sizes but they all share the universal joys of kinship.

When Crystal Tompkins and her wife Lindsey Evans discovered a lack of resources for LGBT families, they decided to join forces to help fill the void. Their first book Oh The Things Mommies Do! celebrates the love and laughter of two-mom families.

"With the number of same-sex parents increasing at a very rapid pace, I believe it is very important for the children of our families to see themselves represented in their literature," Tompkins shared.

Oh The Things Mommies Do! is a playful romp through the everyday adventures of life. Tompkins' poetry is in perfect symphony with Evans' energetic images.

Oh the things mommies do!
What could be better than having two?
Mommies ride bikes and conquer the flu
They keep on the fridge the things that you drew
Mommies jump on trampolines and plant gardens too.
They sing your favorite songs with you.
Oh the things mommies do!
What could be better than having two?

Oh The Things Mommies Do! is a delightful book that children and their parents can enjoy together. Share the love and celebrate the diversity of our families! -- Denver Gay Culture Examiner

It is not a requirement that you have a child to write a children's book. Just the prospect of someday starting a family, and, perhaps, the memory of your own parents' love might provide the right perspective to write a book about the connection between parents and children.

In the case of, "Oh The Things That Mommies Do! What Could Be Better Than Having Two?" written by Crystal Tompkins, and illustrated by her wife Lindsey Evans, it was just the idea of having children that inspired their creation.

The children of LGBT parents are lacking books and resources to which they can relate -- Tompkins and Evans plan to change that.

"Oh The Things Mommies Do!" is a simple journey through the wonderful adventures of everyday moms, with an emphasis on normalcy that the children of same-sex couples truly need.

The book's inclusiveness is its greatest strength, often emphasized by way of illustrations portraying interracial families, little boys and little girls, mommies in dresses with long hair and mommies with short hair and pants. The illustrations even include both cats and dogs -- perfect to spark personal recognition in every young reader.

The books only minor flaw is that many of the pages reflect privilege that not all readers will identify with - telescopes, trampolines and canoes are not commonplace for many children; however, to Tompkins' credit, an equal number of pages are simply about love. Every child can relate to mommies that "hold you tight when you're feeling blue, and ice your bumps and kiss your boo-boos."

It is clear that Tompkins and Evans understand the most important aspects family, and have the right perspective to share it with children. Hopefully they will continue their work, and perhaps create a series of inclusive books that will become a staple of every child's collection. --Chicago LGBT Community Examiner