Here's a timely picture book on gay marriage that adds to the ever-growing diversity in today's children's literature.

"Uncle Bobby's Wedding," by Sarah S. Brannen (Penguin Group, $15.99), is the tale of a girl and her favorite uncle.

Uncle Bobby takes Chloe for walks, for rowboat rides on the river and teaches her about the stars.

Life is good until the day Mama throws a family picnic and Uncle Bobby announces that he and his friend, Jamie, are getting married. Everyone is excited except Chloe.

She tells her mother, "Bobby is my special uncle. I don't want him to get married."

Her wise mother suggests she talk directly to her uncle.

Wisdom must run in the family. First Bobby explains to Chloe that he and Jamie are getting married because they want to live together and have children just like her.

Then he and Jamie begin an energetic campaign to show Chloe that they can be fun as a couple, too. They take her to the ballet, teach her to sail, and spend evenings playing board games and toasting marshmallows in the fireplace.

It works.

"I wish you were both my uncles," she tells them.

Bobby says: "You get your wish, sweetheart."

From that point, Chloe is assigned the job of flower girl and enthusiastically helps plan the wedding, which is a lovely garden affair.

Well-told and charmingly illustrated with guinea-pig characters, Brannen's story will resonate with children. Dealing with change, whether it is a new baby in the family, or a new in-law, is a sometimes-tough, sometimes-great part of growing up.

It's a true gem for youngsters who have a gay member of the family. Books for children younger than 8 rarely include same-sex couples in a natural, easy way.

"Uncle Bobby's Wedding" never specifically focuses on the same-sex aspect of the wedding. It's clear; the grooms wear tuxedos. But Chloe simply is worried about losing her uncle's attention, not about him marrying a guy.

When children pick up a book and see a family that reflects theirs, it has to be comforting. Especially when so many of the families around them don't seem to.

And when the book doesn't make a big deal about what can make them feel so different, it's even better.

As more of these everyday stories with different kinds of families and people make their way into friends' and classmates' hands, differences become less of a big deal to kids.

Let children's literature -- and children -- lead the way.

"My Bag and Me!" by Karen Farmer, illustrated by Gary Currant; Penton Kids Press ($10.95)

This 100 percent recyclable children's book is a fun way to teach little ones about going green.

"My Bag and Me!" follows a little boy who has learned from his mom that it's better for the Earth if you take your own reusable bag to the supermarket instead of using the paper or plastic sacks provided by the store. Colorful, clean and cute illustrations accompany the rhyming story as the boy and his mom take a trip to the store with their bags and do their part to save the planet.

The best part: The book comes with an adorable little reusable shopping bag, also 100 percent recyclable, that's the perfect size for a child to carry.

This book's important message isn't just told but is shown, and children are encouraged in an interactive way.