In her Freeda the Frog children’s book series, author Nadine Haruni makes coping with various life challenges easier for little ones with the help of a momma frog, Freeda, and her three little tadpoles, Frannie, Frank, and Jack. Her latest title, Freeda the Frog and the Two Mommas Next Door, helps kids understand that families come in all shapes, colors, and sizes. This marks the series’ fifth release.
The tadpoles are surprised and filled with questions when they first meet their new neighbors, Jessica and her parents, Morgan and Irene. Why does Jessica have two mommas? Does not having a mommy and daddy like most kids make her feel weird?
But their mother, Freeda, encourages Frannie, Frank, and Jack to get to know Jessica’s two mommas. Before long, the tadpoles discover that Morgan and Irene are a lot like other mommas they know. Through spending time with Jessica and her mommas, the tadpoles realize that families can have two mommas or two daddies—because what really makes a family is love.
Freeda the Frog and the Two Mommas Next Door was released in June by Mascot Books. Illustrations are by Tina Modugno.
“The common thread of all the books is to not only be helpful to kids and families who can relate to these specific situations, but to help all kids recognize that no two families look the same, and encourage an environment of awareness, empathy, and inclusivity,” the author said in the book’s press release.
The series serves as a tool to help parents, educators, and school counselors open up conversations about difficult topics with children in an upbeat and non-scary way. The entire series has been leveled for the schools to align to National Education standards, and all five books have all received a Readers’ Favorite 5-star review and the Gold Mom’s Choice Award for excellence in the family-
friendly picture book category.
Haruni is the mother of five kids in a blended family and the author of the brand new middle-grade trilogy adventure, The Hat Diaries and the award-winning children’s book author of the Freeda the Frog series. She is a frequent guest on parenting podcasts, aiming to reach as many families as possible on her mission to encourage an environment of awareness, empathy, and inclusivity. Along with writing and parenting, Nadine is a practicing attorney and a certified yoga instructor. She lives in Bergen County, New Jersey with her family.
一From staff reports