Leslea Newman and her famous book.
Lesléa Newman recently stopped by the Powerhouse Arena Bookstore in DUMBO, Brooklyn to celebrate the re-release of her children's book “Heather Has Two Mommies.”
First published in 1989, the book was repeatedly challenged and banned for being “innappropriate material for children,” though Newman has chosen to focus on the positive side of the attention her story recieved.
Now featuring new color illustrations by Laura Cornell, the story has been updated for a modern audiences. Heather's mothers are now maried and the scene where Heather cries over the absense of a father in her life has been altered and shortened to better reflect the experiences of children of same-sex couples.
Newman originally got the idea for the story while speaking with lesbian friends in Northhampton, Massachusetts, who had recently adopted their daughter and were concerned about the lack of stories depicting their type of families. She is hoping that there will be more celebration and less contraversy over the book this time around.
“Heather Has Two Mommies” is available now and is sold at all major bookstores. For more information on Newman and her other work, visit lesleanewman.com .