Love family members for who they are

In Jennifer Bioche's Dec. 11 column (“Step up standards in kids' literature”), she was critical of several children's books, including “A Bad Kitty Christmas.” I found the book at a local bookstore. On the day before Christmas, Bad Kitty opens her presents and makes a mess of the house. When the family goes on a trip to see Uncle Murray on Christmas Eve, Bad Kitty jumps out the car window.

Bad Kitty is lost and afraid until an elderly woman finds her and takes her in. The woman shows Bad Kitty her Christmas tree with photos of her relatives. There are mothers, fathers, children, all described in rhyme, including “Here's my Mother Marge with her lovely Niece Nan with her Offspring Oscar and her Partner Pam.” Next to the verse is a picture of a family with two moms, a baby and a doting aunt.

The elderly woman's message is that Christmas is about family. In the end, Bad Kitty redeems herself. She takes the woman home to join her own family's Christmas.

Bioche uses bad literature as a cover for her real objection to Bad Kitty, which is that the story includes a family with a same-sex couple. The author of Bad Kitty knows that the traditional family tree is changing, that a new and improved family tree should include everyone. The elderly woman clearly loves all her family. Isn't it better to love people for who they are, than let prejudice and fear guide our lives?

Cynthia Johnson

Cedar Rapids