Danziger presents real issues and real problems in It's an Aardvark-EatTurtie-World. It may be a commentary on today's society that many people ignore the dangers of sleeping around and moving in together, cohabitating.

The insecurity for children is the real possibility of this arrangement splitting up, too, when problems crop up and it gets tough. It is probably safe to say that everyone wants to be secure in and certain of the love of parents.

Another issue for Rosie is her biracial heritage. Most classrooms are racially mixed and biracial children have to learn to deal with their "uniqueness," perhaps work to fit in, struggling with not being all black or all white and the problems that may cause in friendships and extended family relationships. Young people tend to be idealists, even as Rosie is, looking for the "perfect" family and must learn that families and...