It takes a village. Or maybe a newsletter?
Each month, we'll bring the best stories from parents on raising their CBC Kids. | | | BY DANNY NEVILLE | The sanctity of the bedtime story is supreme in our household. Don’t you dare even think of skipping it. No way, not today, not ever.
My husband and I take turns putting our three- and five-year-olds to bed and the book choices range from traditional classics, to modern titles and everything in between.
Some have become family favourites, destined for the golden seal of approval by parent and child alike. Others that don’t quite make the cut have been subtly nudged to the back of the bookshelf, collecting dust and condemned to life in the land of misfit books until a yard sale or donation bin saves the day. | | | As a primary educator, former teacher-librarian and kidlit writer, it’s not hard to imagine my children have a robust bookshelf. I have a strong penchant for picture books, so many of the titles featured in our home are personal favourites of mine that I’ve read with students and shared with my girls over the years.
One of my most cherished videos of my oldest daughter is when I "caught" her reading one of her favourite board books in her crib when she was two years old. Although she was nowhere near using complete sentences on her own, she could "read" every page of that silly book about a potato riding a bike from memory. | | | "Our typically tranquil bedtime routine had been interrupted by an outraged child activist, ready to strike homophobia from the very pages of her picture book." | | | Fast forward a couple of years and we discovered a picture book featuring two anthropomorphic male characters planning to get married. We were happily reading along when the antagonist of the story suddenly appeared, refusing to allow the union.
That’s when I saw a side of my daughter that I’d never seen before.
Normally a shy and somewhat reserved kid, she sat bolt upright in bed and forcefully exclaimed, “He’s wrong, Daddy! Boy bunnies can marry boy bunnies if they want to!”
Our typically tranquil bedtime routine had been interrupted by an outraged child activist, ready to strike homophobia from the very pages of her picture book. She proceeded to inform me, in case I didn’t already know, that girl bunnies can marry girl bunnies and boy bunnies can marry boy bunnies and girl bunnies can marry boy bunnies. Thank you very much. | | | The moment quickly turned to silliness thanks to the canine compatriot in the story sniffing his own behind, returning us to those giddy pre-bedtime giggles many parents will be all-too familiar with.
For my daughter, the moment had passed. But the experience stayed with me long after she fell asleep. As a gay dad (not a bunny), married to my wonderful husband (also not a bunny), I’m so proud of her.
I’m also thankful to the people who write, illustrate, publish, promote, purchase and read books like this one that give her the opportunity to experience diversity, in all its beautiful forms, when she cracks open a new one. | | |  | | Danny Neville is a primary educator, children’s author and editor-in-chief of The Teaching Librarian magazine. He lives in Ottawa with his husband and daughters. Watch for the release of his first chapter book series in early 2026 with Annick Press. | | | | Share this newsletter | | or subscribe if this was
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