Presents a collection of ten stories about families and what they mean, describing both traditional and non-traditional families.

"Joanna Cotler books." Reprint. Originally published: c2003.

Hardware / Joan Bauer -- Siskiyou Sloan and the eye of the giraffe / Norma Howe -- Necessary noise / Emma Donoghue -- The throwaway, a suite / Nikki Grimes -- Visit / Walter Dean Myers -- A family illness, a mom-son conversation / Joyce Carol Thomas -- A woman's touch / Rita Williams-Garcia -- Sailing away / Michael Cart -- Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde / Sonya Sones -- Snowbound / Lois Lowry.