Pearl was excited that a new girl was starting at her school. She saw Matilda, the new girl, on her first day saying goodbye to her dad and she knew they would be friends. The next day Pearl was confused as she saw Matilda saying goodbye to her dad again, but this time it was a different person.

She asked Matilda where her mum was and she explained that she didn’t have a mum but two dads instead. Pearl was excited as her dad was lots of fun and gave her sweet treats, so two dads must be double the fun. However, a trip to Matilda’s for dinner made her realise that having two dads was no different from having a mum and a dad.

The Girl with Two Dads is a lovely book about different family dynamics and an introduction for children to learn that not every family has the same setup. I like the way the story has been written from Pearl’s point of view of her new friend’s family.

The full-page colourful illustrations are beautiful and are fun to look at. They really capture the heart of the story.

The Girl with Two Dads would be the perfect book to show young children that in this world families come in all shapes and sizes.

Mel Elliott is a UK based artist and writer. She graduated from the Royal College of Art in 2007. She began designing fun, printed products and has grown her I Love Mel signature into a successful brand which has been featured in several media outlets. She is best known for her contemporary colouring books. Mel lives and works on the south coast of England and her book,The Girl with Two Dads is inspired by her daughter, Pearl.