Happy International Day of Families! Discover our favourite families in fiction
To celebrate and inspire your reading this International Day of Families, we asked some of our colleagues at Scholastic to tell us about their favourite fictional families from children’s books. Happy reading!
Matilda by Roald Dahl
Even though they aren’t related, her teacher, Miss Honey, loves and supports Matilda for who she is even when her own family doesn’t. Matilda cares so much about her that she will even face off with Miss Honey’s horrible aunt! At the end, Miss Honey adopts her and they become their own new found family!
– Mara
Stick Man by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
Stick Man is a family favourite about a favourite family! The story follows Stick Man as he desperately tries to get back to his loved ones in their cosy family tree home. There is a striking family resemblance among all the Sticks in Axel Scheffler’s incredible artwork and my kids are always delighted when they can put together their own Stick family when we’re out in the woods.
– Emily
This Winter by Alice Oseman
If you’re a Heartstopper fan (and after the incredible Netflix series, who isn’t?!), you’ll love This Winter by Alice Oseman. The Springs certainly aren’t the perfect family – the book explores some tricky dynamics during a stressful family Christmas – but I love the supportive sibling relationship between Tori and Charlie (who you might recognise from Alice Oseman’s other books, Solitaire and Heartstopper, respectively. Little brother Oliver’s chapter is particularly heartwarming!
– Hannah
Look Up! by Nathan Bryon and Dapo Adeloa
Family may not be the main focus of this book, but I really love the way family relationships are portrayed in this picture book by the brilliant author-illustrator duo Nathan Bryon and Dapo Adeola. The sibling interactions between Rocket and her older teenage brother Jamal are so fun, and I think embody a sibling bond so perfectly. Plus, I couldn’t help but fall in love with Rocket’s passion and energy for all things space (and, despite his teen sulks, nor could Jamal!)
– Beth
Danny the Champion of the World by Roald Dahl
A favourite fiction family relationship of mine would have to be Danny and his father, William, from Danny the Champion of the World. Even though his mother died when he was very young and they don’t have much money, they have each other and that’s enough for them. They are very close, love doing fun things together, and they protect each other during the wild escapades they get themselves in to!
– Michelle
The Smeds and the Smoos by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
One of my favourite fictional family dynamics comes from the brilliant The Smeds and The Smoos by the infamous duo of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. When a young smed falls in love with a young smoo, their families do not approve. But this story illustrates how love can overcome differences, and bring together even the most difficult of families! I think it teaches the importance of understanding and accepting difference, which is incredibly important in any family.
– EleanorYou can find these books, and even more brilliant books about wonderful families, on our shop here.
