Gaston
By Kelly DiPucchio
The Story
A bulldog puppy raised among poodle sisters works hard to sip, yip, and walk with grace — until a park meeting with a bulldog family reveals a baby mix-up, and everyone must decide what makes a family.
Why It's Special
For families built in all kinds of ways, this is a gentle, funny nudge that belonging isn't about matching.
- Big idea: Family is made by love and choice, not by looking alike or fitting a mold.
- Vibes: Sweet, funny, and quietly tender, with a happy warmth underneath the humor.
Perfect For Kids Who
- enjoy funny animal stories with heart
- are working on understanding what makes a family
- like to talk about looking different from siblings or parents
- respond well to stories that reassure them they belong
Ask Your Little Reader
- Story & problem-solving: What happened when Gaston and Antoinette met each other's real families in the park?
- Feelings & empathy: How do you think Gaston felt learning to sip, yip, and walk with grace instead of doing things his own way?
- Real-life connection: What makes your family feel like home, even if everyone looks a little different?
- Imagination: If you found out you'd grown up with the wrong family, what would you miss most about the one you know?
- Big idea: Do you think looking alike is what makes a family — or something else?
