What Makes a Family? Eric Ruiz Roxas. Illustrated by Aldy C. Aguirre. Hardcover Picture Book. Published by Lantana Publishing UK (Distributed in Australia by Simon & Schuster) 2026. RRP $24.99. ISBN 9781836290339.
Reviewed by Debra Williams
It
is Undas, the Filipino Day of the Dead – a day when families visit the cemetery
and gather around their dead loved ones’ tombs. It is not a day of mourning but
of celebration – a day in which stories are shared and lives remembered.
Today, brother and sister Pedrito and Pipay will encounter families of all shapes and sizes, all united in their desire to honour their loved ones. Whether through quiet prayer and contemplation or joyful song and laughter, whether through sharing great feasts or lighting a single candle, each family will find a way to pay tribute. As the siblings trace their route through the cemetery, they will learn that families aren’t defined by their size, wealth, gender or distance from one another, but by the love they share – a love that echoes like prayers, burns like candles, and blooms like flowers in life and beyond.
The families treasure the memories of their loved ones in a special way. This book explains the way a different culture honours their departed loved ones. The only term that may need explaining to young listeners is “tombs”, which we generally do not use here in Australia.
A gently illustrated story of family love within a diverse and inclusive community where life and hope continue, despite the sadness of loss.
The
recommended age level is 5-8 years.
