And Tango Makes Three
And Tango Makes Three is a heartwarming non-fiction picture book for children, inspired by the true story of two male chinstrap penguins, Roy and Silo, at New York's Central Park Zoo. The story depicts Roy and Silo forming a pair bond, building a nest, and with the help of a kind zookeeper, Mr. Gramsay, successfully hatching and raising a baby penguin named Tango. The book's central theme celebrates diverse family structures, focusing on the love and devotion that define a family. Targeted at children aged 3 to 8, it aims to introduce young readers to the concept of non-traditional families and promote inclusivity. While widely praised for its positive message and gentle narrative, the book has also been a subject of considerable controversy and frequent challenges due to its portrayal of a same-sex couple raising a child.
Concerns
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
HighThe book explicitly features a same-sex male penguin couple, Roy and Silo, who form a pair bond, build a nest, and raise a chick named Tango, thus depicting a non-traditional family structure. This representation is central to the book's narrative and has been the primary reason for frequent challenges and bans, often sparking discussions about same-sex parenting and LGBTQ+ inclusivity. The story is a fictionalized account based on real penguins.
The book illustrates Roy and Silo, two male chinstrap penguins, who "fell in love" and "did everything together," including bowing and swimming, just like the other male and female penguin couples. When they observe other penguins hatching eggs, Roy and Silo show a desire for a family by attempting to hatch a rock. The zookeeper, Mr. Gramsay, then provides them with a fertile egg, which they successfully hatch, and their daughter is named Tango, becoming "the very first penguin in the zoo to have two daddies".
Romance and Sexual Content
MediumThe book depicts a romantic pair-bond relationship between two male penguins, Roy and Silo, characterized by affection, companionship, and a shared desire to form a family. This is presented in a non-sexualized, age-appropriate manner suitable for young children. While some parental reviews note that phrases hinting at reproduction might implicitly raise questions, no explicit sexual content, nudity, or suggestive language is present.
Roy and Silo are described as engaging in courtship behaviors such as bowing to each other, walking together, and swimming together, mirroring the behaviors of other male-female penguin couples in the zoo. They are also shown to "sleep there together" every night and "wake up together" every morning, indicating their committed bond, which leads to their desire to parent an egg.
Anti-Christian Themes
MediumWhile the book itself does not directly mock or criticize Christian beliefs, its central theme of a same-sex couple raising a child is contrary to the traditional interpretations of family and marriage held by some Christian parents. This thematic conflict has led to the book being frequently challenged and categorized as 'anti-family' or objectionable from a religious viewpoint by various Christian groups and individuals, despite the book not explicitly promoting or criticizing any religion.
The book has been challenged repeatedly for its 'religious viewpoint' and for 'appearing anti-family' by those who oppose its depiction of same-sex parenting. Authors Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell have noted that 'many of the homophobic attacks on literary works are based on the objectors' Christian faith,' highlighting the religious objections to the book's core message of accepting 'sexual' difference.
Violence
LowThe book contains no instances of physical violence, conflict, gore, or death. The narrative maintains a consistently gentle and peaceful tone, focusing on the affectionate bond between the penguins and the caring environment of the zoo. There are no elements that would be considered frightening or intense due to violence.
The story depicts the daily routines of penguins in the Central Park Zoo, such as swimming, bowing, and building nests, without any form of aggression or harm. The most action-oriented scene involves Roy and Silo taking turns sitting on and keeping an egg warm, which is portrayed as a tender and nurturing act, not violent.
Profanity
LowThe book contains no instances of profanity, curse words, or strong language. The text uses simple, clear, and age-appropriate vocabulary suitable for its young audience, maintaining a gentle and wholesome tone throughout the narrative.
The language used in the story is consistently mild and descriptive, focusing on the actions and emotions of the penguins and zookeeper (e.g., 'bowed to each other,' 'slept there together,' 'knew just what to do'). There are no explicit or implied offensive terms in any part of the text.
Witchcraft & Occult
LowThe book contains no elements related to witchcraft, sorcery, the occult, magic rituals, demons, spells, or supernatural themes. It is a realistic, non-fiction-based story about animals in a zoo, grounded entirely in the natural world and human intervention.
The narrative strictly adheres to the observable behaviors of penguins and the actions of a zookeeper, Mr. Gramsay, within the real-world setting of the Central Park Zoo. There are no fantastical or magical elements introduced into the plot.
Substance Use
LowThere is no depiction or mention of alcohol, drugs, smoking, or any form of substance use in the book. The story's context, involving animals and a zookeeper in a children's picture book, does not lend itself to such content.
The narrative focuses on the natural behaviors of penguins and the simple, caring actions of a zookeeper. No characters, human or animal, are shown consuming or discussing any substances.
Scary & Intense Content
LowThe book does not feature any scary, frightening, horror, intense scenes, suspense, or nightmare-inducing elements. The story maintains a consistently warm, tender, and reassuring atmosphere, focusing on love, family, and nurturing. The illustrations are gentle and friendly.
The illustrations and text convey a comforting narrative about two penguins forming a family and caring for their chick. There are no sudden shocks, loud noises, disturbing imagery, or situations of danger or distress for any characters.
Disrespect & Rebellion
LowThe book contains no instances of disrespect, snarky behavior, backtalk, attitude, rebellion, or defiance. All characters are portrayed positively; the penguins are devoted to each other and their chick, and the zookeeper is helpful and caring. The story emphasizes cooperation and nurturing.
Roy and Silo demonstrate unwavering devotion and care for each other and for their egg, meticulously taking turns to keep it warm. Mr. Gramsay, the zookeeper, is presented as a kind and observant figure who compassionately assists Roy and Silo in achieving their desire to be parents.
Other Notes
Target Demographic
Ages 4-8. This recommendation aligns with the publisher's suggested age range, and the simple narrative and illustrations are suitable for preschoolers and early elementary school children. The book's themes of family and acceptance are presented in an easy-to-understand manner for this age group, though parental guidance is often advised due to its controversial nature.
Additional Notes
This book has been historically one of the most challenged and banned books in U.S. libraries and schools since its publication, primarily due to its LGBTQ+ themes and depiction of a same-sex couple raising a child. While presented as a simple story about family, it often becomes a focal point in broader cultural debates about LGBTQ+ representation and parental rights in education. Parents should be aware of its potential to initiate discussions about diverse family structures. There are no known sequels or direct adaptations that intensify or change the content, as it remains a standalone picture book.
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