Sarah & Ian Hoffman

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Celebrate the Launch of Operation Marriage! Book Review & Giveaway

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I’m so excited to share this book with you.

Operation Marriage tells the story of a spunky eight-year-old San Franciscan, Alex, whose best friend shuns Alex because she has lesbian parents. Set during the lead-up to California’s Proposition 8, the ballot measure that ultimately banned same-sex marriage, the story shows the impact that the struggle for marriage equality has on children—not just those from gay families, but on all children who witness the fight.

Based on a true story, Operation Marriage offers us universal themes— trust, perseverance, standing up to adversity—but its approach to the particular social challenge of marriage inequality is something I haven’t ever seen in a children’s book. There is power in viewing a problem from a child’s perspective, and much that we grown-ups can learn from looking at the world through Alex’s eyes.

Alex’s parents got married in the slim window that our state allowed them to; others since have not been so lucky. And because I know you’re wondering, ultimately Alex’s best friend comes around in support of Alex’s family. But it happens in a way that makes me cry every single time I read it. Yet no matter how lovely I think this book is, aided by Lea Lyon’s gentle, realistic illustrations, what I really hope is that someday this book  will be become part of dusty history, a quaint reminder of how narrow minded our state—our country—used to be.

The super awesome publisher of Operation Marriage, Reach and Teach—you should check out their other titles, too—is offering an autographed, hardcover copy of the book to one of my readers. Leave a comment below (and be sure to give me a way to get in touch with you by leaving your email address or friending me on facebook) for a chance to win. The winner will be announced Tuesday, the day the book is officially launched.

The national launch of Operation Marriage is next Wednesday, November 2. Local supporters can join the author, illustrator, and publishers at the launch party at Kepler’s in Menlo Park.

Wherever you are, please read and share this important book!

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The Winners (and Some Random Side Notes)

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As promised, two of my readers will receive autographed copies of both Mommy, Mama, and Me, and Daddy, Papa, and Me—courtesy of author Leslea Newman—to expand the worldview of the toddlers and preschoolers in their lives.

And the winners are…… Carolyn Finken-Dove and  Jacinta Bunnell! You’ll see how serendipitous it is that Jacinta won, later in this post.

(Carolyn and Jacinta, please email me at sarah_hoffman@yahoo.com with your addresses so I can send you the books.)

Whether or not you are not a winner this time, I want you to do three things:

  1. Buy Leslea’s books and/or ask your local library to stock them.
  2. Try again next time I do a giveaway.
  3. Read on for some random stuff you may find interesting.

The first thing is not so random at all. And it’s really good. And it’s really two things. The first: Leslea has a new book coming out in April, Donovan’s Big Day, about a little boy whose moms are getting married. Ask your local bookstore to stock it, or pre-order your copy from Amazon.

The second good thing: Reach and Teach, publishers of Jacinta Bunnel’s awesome coloring book Sometimes The Spoon Runs Away with Another Spoon (see? serendipity!), will soon release their book about same-sex marriage, Operation Marriage by Cynthia Chin-Lee.The book won’t be out until next fall, but you can support its production with your pre-order now!

And finally, the long-awaited random side note: Ever wonder how I choose my winners? Wildly funny and crazily wise momblogger Stark. Raving. Mad. Mommy introduced me to RANDOM.ORG, a cool website operated by the computer science school at Trinity College, Dublin that has generated nearly a trillion random numbers for people who need them.  They say:

RANDOM.ORG offers true random numbers to anyone on the Internet. The randomness comes from atmospheric noise, which for many purposes is better than the pseudo-random number algorithms typically used in computer programs. People use RANDOM.ORG for holding drawings, lotteries and sweepstakes, to drive games and gambling sites, for scientific applications and for art and music.

Kinda cool, right?

Happy reading!

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Praise for our books

“So many, many people need to read this book. Kids adults, politicians, administrators—there is not one person in this world that doesn’t need to digest and ponder the less of this sweet, simple, and very necessary (unfortunately) book.”

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Kiss the Book April 3, 2019

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