Children’s literature often portrays tidy nuclear families, yet the animal kingdom presents a vastly different picture of family structures. This contrast raises questions about representation and inclusivity in children’s stories. A recent article by researcher Louise Gentle, published on November 7, 2025, in The Conversation, explores how animal parenting diverges from the conventional family model depicted in popular children’s books.
In numerous children’s narratives, animals are frequently illustrated in neat family units consisting of a mother, father, and their offspring. Stories like Fantastic Mr. Fox, 101 Dalmatians, and contemporary favorites like Peppa Pig and Bluey reinforce this norm. Such portrayals may alienate children who come from non-traditional family setups, making them feel like outsiders. Gentle argues that the animal kingdom exhibits a rich tapestry of family forms that challenge these simplistic narratives.
Exploring Diverse Animal Families
One of the most recognized forms of animal family structure is biparental care, where both a male and female raise their young. This behavior is primarily observed in birds, such as mute swans, which share responsibilities like incubating eggs and nurturing cygnets. In stark contrast, single-parenting is the most common family arrangement among animals. Typically, males compete for access to females, as females invest more in reproduction. For instance, in many mammals, females like leopards independently rear their young, representing approximately 90% of mammalian species.
Children’s literature reflects this reality to a degree, with stories like The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter, where the mother is the sole caregiver. However, the prevalence of single mothers in the animal kingdom is seldom mirrored in fictional narratives.
The male role in parenting is less frequently depicted in children’s books, though notable exceptions exist, such as The Gruffalo’s Child by Julia Donaldson. In certain species, like fish and amphibians, males take on significant parenting duties. For example, the male midwife toad carries fertilized eggs on his back until they hatch, while Darwin’s frog carries tadpoles in his vocal sac for weeks.
Same-Sex Parenting and Cooperative Breeding
Interestingly, same-sex relationships are documented in over 500 species, including dolphins and bonobos. While lifelong homosexual partnerships are rare, instances of male-male couplings have been observed in sheep, and some female albatrosses choose to raise offspring within female-female relationships. A well-known case is that of Roy and Silo, two chinstrap penguins at Central Park Zoo, whose bond inspired the children’s book And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson.
In addition to same-sex parenting, communal living is prevalent among certain species, such as elephants. These family units typically consist of related females and their calves, led by a matriarch. In these groups, sisters and grandmothers engage in allomothering, teaching the young essential survival skills.
Cooperative breeding is another fascinating aspect of animal family dynamics. Many species, including meerkats and naked mole rats, exhibit this behavior, where young animals stay behind to help raise their siblings rather than reproducing themselves. Some naked mole rats even become permanent helpers, foregoing their own chance to breed.
Fostering, Adoption, and Non-parenting Strategies
Fostering and adoption are not uncommon in the animal world. A prime example is the common cuckoo, which lays its eggs in the nests of other birds, compelling them to raise the cuckoo chick. This behavior is also observed among starlings, where females may deposit their eggs in the nests of others of their species.
Deliberate adoption can even cross species lines, as seen in a 2004 incident where a wild capuchin monkey cared for a common marmoset. In children’s literature, this theme is illustrated in The Odd Egg by Emily Gravett, where a mallard adopts an alligator egg.
Moreover, young animals often form friendships and social bonds that mirror human relationships. For example, bachelor herds of red deer stay together until they reach maturity, much like human adolescents who seek companionship and learning from peers.
Conversely, some species employ a parenting strategy characterized by minimal parental involvement. This is typical in many fish and reptiles, where young are born in large numbers to ensure some survive independently. Certain solitary wasps, for instance, may trap prey in their nests and abandon them, ensuring a food source for the young upon hatching.
The diversity of parental care in the animal kingdom starkly contrasts with the conventional nuclear family model prevalent in children’s literature. As highlighted by Louise Gentle, understanding these varied family structures can foster a more inclusive narrative for children, reflecting the rich complexities of life beyond the simplistic portrayals in popular stories.
