Local author Aisling De Barra has released a must-read children’s picture book, Loved Just the Same, celebrating the beauty of all kinds of families.
With gentle rhyming text and reassuring messages, the book reminds young readers that love, not family structure, is what makes a family whole.
“Loved Just the Same is about family diversity, empathy, and showing kindness to all family structures that we see in an increasingly diverse world,” Aisling explains. “My motivation is my daughter, who has two mums. There are books about family diversity, but they’re harder to come by than other stories. I just wanted to create something for her that reflected her family in its pages.”
The story addresses a wide range of family structures, from one-parent households to same-sex parents, step-parents, grandparents, and siblings near and far. Through simple, comforting language and engaging rhythm, children are invited to explore questions and find reassurance: All families are different, but all families are the same.
Aisling adds, “I would love for the book to be in bookshops, that would be a personal achievement for me. I want to reach for the stars with it and go as far as I can. Doing events, readings, and visiting schools, I’d love to have community involvement and see children feel seen, heard, and represented.”
The book is perfect for children aged 3–7, families with diverse structures, and educators, librarians, or counsellors looking to bring inclusive stories into classrooms. Ideal for bedtime reading, classroom discussions, or gift-giving, Loved Just the Same celebrates love, belonging, and the many ways families show they care.
“Loved Just the Same is about showing children that no matter the family structure, it’s okay. It’s love that binds us together, not who’s in it. If a child feels loved, that’s a family,” Aisling says.
With its heartwarming rhymes and gentle reassurance, Loved Just the Same celebrates love, belonging, and the many ways families care for one another. The book is available to purchase on Amazon here.
