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This title in other formats:

And Tango Makes Three

by Justin Richardson

And Tango Makes Three Cover

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

In the zoo there are all kinds of animal families. But Tango's family is not like any of the others.

Based on the true story of two male penguins at the Central Park Zoo who built a nest and hatched a chick together, this book tells a heartwarming story for all families. Full color.

Review:

"Tango has two daddies in this heartwarming tale, inspired by actual events in New York's Central Park Zoo. Two male penguins, Roy and Silo, 'did everything together. They bowed to each other....They sang to each other. And swam together. Wherever Roy went, Silo went too....Their keeper...thought to himself, 'They must be in love.' Cole's (The Sissy Duckling) endearing watercolors follow the twosome as they frolic affectionately in several vignettes and then try tirelessly to start a family — first they build a stone nest and then they comically attempt to hatch a rock. Their expressive eyes capture a range of moods within uncluttered, pastel-hued scenes dominated by pale blue. When the keeper discovers an egg that needs tending, he gives it to Roy and Silo, who hatch and raise the female. The keeper says, 'We'll call her Tango,... because it takes two to make a Tango.' Older readers will most appreciate the humor inherent in her name plus the larger theme of tolerance at work in this touching tale. Richardson and Parnell, making their children's book debut, ease into the theme from the start, mentioning that 'families of all kinds' visit the zoo. This tender story can also serve as a gentle jumping-off point for discussions about same-sex partnerships in human society. Ages 4-8. (June) " Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

Review:

"An author's note provides more information about Roy, Silo, Tango, and other chinstrap penguins. This joyful story about the meaning of family is a must." School Library Journal

Review:

"Charming! And Tango Makes Three proves that all kinds of love can create a family." Wendy Wasserstein

Review:

"A little miracle for children. Funny, tender, and true, the story of Tango will delight young readers and open their minds." John Lithgow

Synopsis:

In the zoo there are all kinds of animal families. But Tango's family is not like any of the others.

About the Author

Justin Richardson, M.D., is an assistant professor of psychiatry at Columbia and Cornell and co-author of Everything You Never Wanted Your Kids to Know About Sex (But Were Afraid to Ask). His advice to parents has been featured in the New York Times and on Today, 20/20, and NPR's Morning Edition.

Peter Parnell is a playwright whose most recent play, QED, was produced on Broadway. He was a co-producer of the television show The West Wing. He lives in New York City.

Henry Cole is an award-winning illustrator whose quirky, sensitive illustrations have graced more than two dozen picture books, including Jack's Garden, which he also wrote; And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell; The Sissy Duckling by Harvey Fierstein; and Moosetache and Bad Boys, both by Margie Palatini. Henry lives in Washington, D.C.

What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating based on 3 comments:
brandy.charlan, October 1, 2009 (view all comments by brandy.charlan)
This is a book portraying an actual event. Two male penquins are loving best friends and foster an orphan child. Period.
All this arguing over human sexuality is perversion. Do you hear me, far right, PERVERSION.
Give up your obsession with sex, and appreciate love in all it's forms. Remember, God is LOVE.
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(6 of 7 readers found this comment helpful)
Cathy from Olympia, Washington, July 27, 2009 (view all comments by Cathy from Olympia, Washington)
Feel like living dangerously? Read "And Tango Makes Three!" Disregard the charming illustrations and the fact this story is based on a true story, because this book is DANGEROUS-- the penguin parents are-- GASP! two male penguins!!!! Since 2006, And Tango Makes Three has been the most challenged book in the United States. Reasons given in formal written complaints to remove the book from library shelves are: the book is "anti-ethnic, anti-family, [portrays] homosexuality, [has an inappropriate] religious viewpoint, and [is] unsuited to age group" (from American Library Association website). So I say, live "dangerously," and enjoy the heartwarming story about Roy, Silo, and little Tango.

P.S. According to a July 19 article, Silo dumped Roy a few years ago, but that's another story...
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(9 of 12 readers found this comment helpful)
hcheu, November 11, 2008 (view all comments by hcheu)
"A well-developed, fully responsive, free readership is the most powerful force for personal and social change." from Read for Your Life by Joseph Gold
This book for children is the kind that challenges conservative grow-ups to grow up. The many awards it earned can show how the book is worthy of open discussion and possible personal and social change thereafter. One may think that it is not a school library's poisition to "push a political agenda" -- but what we have taken for granted, namely traditional family, is also an agenda. This is a book that children should read and think about in relation to other possibilities and agendas. It should be in our libraries.
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(18 of 26 readers found this comment helpful)
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Product Details

ISBN:
9780689878459
Author:
Richardson, Justin
Publisher:
Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Illustrator:
Cole, Henry
Author:
Parnell, Peter
Author:
Cole, Henry
Subject:
General
Subject:
Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks
Subject:
Animals - Birds
Subject:
Animals - Zoos
Subject:
Homosexuality
Subject:
Zoo animals
Subject:
Family - Single Parent & Non-traditional
Subject:
Penguins
Copyright:
Edition Description:
B221
Publication Date:
June 2005
Binding:
Hardcover
Grade Level:
Children/juvenile
Language:
English
Illustrations:
Y
Pages:
32
Dimensions:
8.74x11.30x.33 in. .79 lbs.
Children's Book Type:
Picture / Wordless
Age Level:
4-8

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