Book excerpt: Whether you want to kick-start your toddlers color and shape recognition or just tell a good story with a heart-warming lesson, Families Come In Many Different Shapes, Sizes, & Colors fits the bill. The vibrant and playful illustrations offer new discoveries in every read. With a message that love makes a family and that true friendships can be built through acceptance and understanding - any child would be lucky to experience this book.Ryan LaLonde has been drawing and telling stories from the age of three. In a family journal kept from an early age, Ryan stated yearly that he wanted to be a teacher or an artist. This, his first book, is a harmonious fusion of his childhood dreams - not only is it an expression of art and creativity but also a story that teaches many lessons. Whether learning an array of colors or the gambit of shapes, the book brings them to life with a story of families, friends and love.