heisereads's review against another edition
3.0
The story seems lovely, but I can't speak to the authenticity and nothing indicates the author has personal experience with transracial adoption, which leaves me hesitant.
panda_incognito's review
4.0
In this story, a Black and white interracial couple is preparing to adopt a baby from Haiti. Their first child, Meili, who is adopted from China, feels like their family is just right the way that it is, and struggles to accept this coming transition. This picture book addresses her emotions in a realistic, gentle, and reassuring way.
The illustrations and text are both engaging and appealing, and the picture book honors diversity without being preachy or heavy-handed. One element that I especially appreciate is how the parents emphasize where their children came from, hanging up maps in their rooms. This provides a great image of how adoptive parents can emphasize a cohesive family identity while also encouraging their children to connect with their birth backgrounds and national identities.
This book is wonderful for adoptive families who are preparing to adopt another child, or for expectant parents who want to include diverse family types while reading new sibling books to their child or children. It could also be a great choice for a classroom emphasis on adoption, different family types, or countries that we come from.
The illustrations and text are both engaging and appealing, and the picture book honors diversity without being preachy or heavy-handed. One element that I especially appreciate is how the parents emphasize where their children came from, hanging up maps in their rooms. This provides a great image of how adoptive parents can emphasize a cohesive family identity while also encouraging their children to connect with their birth backgrounds and national identities.
This book is wonderful for adoptive families who are preparing to adopt another child, or for expectant parents who want to include diverse family types while reading new sibling books to their child or children. It could also be a great choice for a classroom emphasis on adoption, different family types, or countries that we come from.
mschley's review
Diverse Book
Published March 2018
Young Meila loves her family and thinks it’s just right. One of her favorite things is when her parents tell her her bedtime story, the story of how she was adopted from China. Then everything changes when they tell her she is going to be getting a new baby sister from Haiti. Meila would rather have a puppy and struggles with the idea of her family changing. Slowly she warms to the idea, and when her little sister Sophie arrives with her parents from Haiti, Meila is completely in love. She makes sure to tell Sophie her own bedtime story of how they all looked in their hearts and saw her and knew she would make their family just right so Mommy and Daddy brought her home from Haiti just like they had brought Meila from China. Short paragraphs create a complexity in sentence structure that will help expand the young reader’s understanding of English. It also fits into their increased attention span and helps them practice paying attention to a longer story. The illustrations are bright and captivating, adding texture and depth to the story. There are elements that repeat from the beginning of the story, but it is more than simple repetition and require them to hold details from the beginning and realize that the story is coming full circle by the end, an important reading comprehension skill.
This book celebrates diversity. The family is multiethnic, with a white mother, an African American father, Meila as a Chinese American, and little Sophie as a Haitian American. The fact that they are an adoptive family as well only adds to the diversity. It allows the book to explore the transition into being an older sibling from the perspective of an adopted child and through adoption. It also reinforces the fact that they are a family built around love. These elements combine into a beautiful, loving story of a diverse, growing family.
Published March 2018
Young Meila loves her family and thinks it’s just right. One of her favorite things is when her parents tell her her bedtime story, the story of how she was adopted from China. Then everything changes when they tell her she is going to be getting a new baby sister from Haiti. Meila would rather have a puppy and struggles with the idea of her family changing. Slowly she warms to the idea, and when her little sister Sophie arrives with her parents from Haiti, Meila is completely in love. She makes sure to tell Sophie her own bedtime story of how they all looked in their hearts and saw her and knew she would make their family just right so Mommy and Daddy brought her home from Haiti just like they had brought Meila from China. Short paragraphs create a complexity in sentence structure that will help expand the young reader’s understanding of English. It also fits into their increased attention span and helps them practice paying attention to a longer story. The illustrations are bright and captivating, adding texture and depth to the story. There are elements that repeat from the beginning of the story, but it is more than simple repetition and require them to hold details from the beginning and realize that the story is coming full circle by the end, an important reading comprehension skill.
This book celebrates diversity. The family is multiethnic, with a white mother, an African American father, Meila as a Chinese American, and little Sophie as a Haitian American. The fact that they are an adoptive family as well only adds to the diversity. It allows the book to explore the transition into being an older sibling from the perspective of an adopted child and through adoption. It also reinforces the fact that they are a family built around love. These elements combine into a beautiful, loving story of a diverse, growing family.
jennybeastie's review
4.0
Very sweet, well done story for young kids about adopting a younger sibling, esp. international adoptions. Lovely.
annsantori's review
4.0
First of all, the illustrations are lovely -- computer graphic style, but soft enough with enough color variation to be appealing. And the story is just so cute! Not 'message'-y at all but describes feelings around adoption and new siblings quite well.
maidmarianlib's review against another edition
4.0
Lovely direct story about interracial family and international adoption,
bookiecharm's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
themaddiest's review against another edition
4.0
a very serviceable, inclusive take on interracial adoption. this will help round out collections, and is perfect for very young readers.
More...