Daddy's Roommate facts for kids
Cover for Daddy's Roommate
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| Author | Michael Willhoite |
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| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's Literature |
| Publisher | Alyson Books |
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Publication date
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November 1990 |
| Media type | Print (Paperback and Clothbound) |
| Pages | 30 |
| ISBN | 1-55583-118-4 |
| OCLC | 26563465 |
Daddy's Roommate is a children's book written by Michael Willhoite and published by Alyson Books in 1990. One of the first children's books to address the subject of homosexuality, the story follows a young boy whose divorced father now lives with his life partner. The book's depiction of a gay household has led to its inclusion in many educational programs, and Willhoite's work was awarded a Lambda Literary Award in 1991.
Due to the book's intended audience and the controversial topic of gay relationships, there have been numerous attempts to remove it from schools and libraries. Because of these attempts, it was the second-most challenged book in the United States from 1990 to 1999.
Contents
Summary
The main character, who narrates the story, is a young boy whose parents were divorced the previous year. Living separately with both his mother and his father, the boy discovers that his father has a new roommate named Frank. He observes that his father and Frank do many activities together, including working, eating, sleeping, and occasionally even fighting. Additionally, the boy accompanies his father and Frank on multiple excursions, including trips to the zoo, beach, and a baseball game. The boy enjoys when Frank plays with him, cooks for him, and reads to him. When he asks his mother about his dad and his roommate, his mother explains that they are gay. When the boy is confused, his mother elaborates that the boy's dad and Frank partake in many of the same activities that other couples do, and that being gay is just another form of love. The story concludes with the boy's acknowledgement that since all of his parents are happy, he is happy too.
Genre
This is a short picture book recommended for children between 2–8 years old. The illustrations are full-page watercolor paintings, with single-line text below. The book has been credited as having simple language and descriptive artwork that makes it easily accessible for young readers.
About the author
Prior to writing Daddy's Roommate, Michael Willhoite was a cartoonist for the Washington Blade, a gay newspaper. His cartoons have been published in two different collections by Alyson Books.
In the tenth anniversary edition of Daddy's Roommate, an afterword is included by Willhoite reflecting on the book's tumultuous early history. Acknowledging that the book was the target of numerous acts of censorship, including burning, theft, and defacement, Willhoite thanks librarians across the country who "fought like tigers on the book's behalf." Demonstrating pride that the book was "still, triumphantly, what [he] first intended: a mirror in which children of gay parents can see themselves", Willhoite acknowledged that the book has been widely utilized to educate children about gay families.
Willhoite also wrote a sequel, Daddy's Wedding, which was published in 1996. The book features the same characters, and in this installment the boy serves as best man for their commitment ceremony.
See also
In Spanish: Daddy's Roommate para niños
