Louie's Search: 07/03/15

Louie's Search by Ezra Jack Keats is the third of the Louie books. Louie lives with his mother and he desperately wants a father. So this is the tale of how he finds one.

Like Louie, I have a step-father, so blended families aren't a new concept. In fact, given the publication date, Louie and I have been in the same situation for nearly the same amount of time. Divorce stories were the big subject that children's books were covering back them.

Louie's step father, though, isn't really my ideal of a good or trustworthy father. He struck me as too distant, too rough, and potentially dangerous. Louie does get his happy ending, but the ending left me feeling rather squicked.

Beyond not liking Louie's choice of step father, is the problem that a mother and son can't be a happy family without a man to somehow complete them. Keats's books are normally more progressive and more inclusive than this. I'm really disappointed that he had to take this cheap shot.

Three stars

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