The Family Tree - by Sean Dixon (Hardcover)

About the Book

"A young girl grapples with the feeling of being without a people when she realizes she cannot fill out her family tree for school"--

Book Synopsis

A family tree assignment leads an adopted girl to discover the different ways to be a family.

When her teacher gives her class a simple family tree assignment, Ada is stumped. How can she make her family fit into this simple template?

Ada is adopted. She can see where to put her parents on the tree, but what about her birth mom? Ada has a biological sister, but her sister has different adoptive parents -- where do they go on the tree?

But with the help of her friends and family, Ada figures it out. She creates her family tree . . . and so much more.

Loosely based on the author's own experience, this moving story explores the different ways families are created and how the modern family is more diverse and welcoming than ever before.

Review Quotes

One of CCBC's Best Books for Kids & Teens (Fall 2022)

"With a quiet and gentle tone, and a consistent metaphor, The Family Tree normalizes one child's background and, by extension, the lives of all our children." --Imaginary Elevators

"[A] good book for families to explore differences, similarities, and celebrate each family's own uniqueness." --CM Magazine

"There are numerous ways to create a family; this book thoughtfully explores some of them. Ada's extended family is one of diversity, acceptance, and shared love." --Sal's Fiction Addiction

"Read along as [Ada] creates more than her family tree, while learning that the modern family is more diverse than ever before." --Story Monsters Ink

About the Author

SEAN DIXON is a playwright, novelist and banjoist. His plays include Orphan Song and the Governor General's Award nominated A God in Need of Help. Novels include The Girls Who Saw Everything, The Many Revenges of Kip Flynn and the upcoming The Abduction of Seven Forgers, being published next year by Freehand Books. He lives in Toronto with his wife, the multi-award-winning documentary maker Katerina Cizek, and a daughter whose brilliant, funny, stubborn character permeates his work.

LILY SNOWDEN-FINE is an artist and illustrator with a focus on portraiture, children's design and sculpture. She was the voice of the original Peppa Pig when it first aired in 2004, and she is the author and illustrator of Why Do Dogs Sniff Butts? and Why Do Cats Meow?. Lily is currently based in Vancouver, BC.