Reviewed by Jennifer Ibiam for Readers' Favorite

It was one of those days at the park for Scoochie and Skiddles. The children had fun on the swing set and monkey bars. They also met up with friends. One of the new friends asked their parents’ whereabouts, and Scoochie pointed to them sitting on a bench. There were two daddies, no mommies, and that was surprising! The friend had seen nothing like that. So she asked about the mommy, but Scoochie didn’t have one. Then with pride, Scoochie launched into the story of her adoption, the process, praises for her birth mom, incoming sister, and the family dynamics. Follow this delightful kid as she narrates her story, from birth to adoption, and every adoptiversary. Scoochie & Skiddles is written by Tom Tracy and illustrated by Dustin James.

As children, schools taught us that nuclear families comprised a mother, father, and children. They also said the relationship between couples was solely heterosexual. However, Scoochie & Skiddles by Tom Tracy shows that the world has evolved and love has no barrier. Love is broad, unconfined, and inclusive. It transcends race, gender, ideologies, laws, and beliefs. In this picture book, the author explores the intricacies of adoption and the beauty of different family makeup through Scoochie’s narrative. I loved the simple grammar because it will help children grasp this complex topic. The illustrations are also excellent as they merge captivating colors with descriptive images. This book addresses LGBTQ parents, heterosexual parents, and the children born to them. They were all unique. Great work, Tom and Dustin!