As in most "message" books, this one tilts toward heavy-handedness but the message here is timely, important, and positive. ( )

Set in the San Francisco Bay area months before the passage of Proposition 8 banned gay marriage in California, this heartwarming picture book tells the humorous story of two stubborn kids who take matters into their own hands. When Alex loses her best friend in an argument over her family not being "traditional", she and her younger brother set out to convince their two mothers to have a real wedding. Though their parents are content with the commitment ceremony they had years earlier, their children's determination prevails and couple is able to become legally married before the proposition takes effect. Their love for each other proves contagious as their neighbors begin to see past their prejudice and accept them for who they have always been: a normal, affectionate family. Based on a true story, this is a touching tale about those who face real challenges in their struggle for equality.