Title: Wonderful You, an Adoption Story
Author: Lauren McLaughlin
Illustrator: Meilo So
Publisher: Random House, 2017
Ages: 3-7
Themes: adoption, families
Opening:
In a faraway land lived a lady in blue
with a babe in her tummy named Wonderful You
Synopsis:
This rhyming picture book illuminates the role of an adopted child’s birth mother, respecting her choice to give her child to a loving family. We follow a mother’s journey as she carries her child, searches for deserving parents, and ultimately creates a new family.
Why I like this Book:
I really like the focus on the birth mother. What a wonderful tribute to moms of all ages who have for so many reasons given their children up for adoption. The story offers a version of the adoption process that is full of warmth, care, and choice.
The choice of calling the adopted child Wonderful You throughout the poem works very well and helps focus the choice of birth mother and adopting parents on the child.
Above all, the illustrations are bright, whimsical and stunning watercolors.
Resources/Activities:
This would make a great gift for adoptive parents for sure, but also, it is important to share stories in classrooms of all types of families from a very early age to create acceptance for the rich mosaic of family structures in our world.
I would pair this with The Wish by Matthew Cordell, an adoption tale with a different focus.
Do check out the illustrator’s website here.
Find more “Perfect Picture Book Friday” reviews at Susanna Leonard Hill’s blog HERE.
Definitely will be on the look-out for this one! In my day, the adoption book of choice was The Chosen Baby. I can’t recall anything about the birth mother in that one. It did, however, focus on the child and the love shared by the new family. I always wondered about the birth mother, especially as I wasn’t adopted until I was 7 months old.
The cover and pages you shared are absolutely lovely. I appreciate this story’s focus on the birth mother. I don’t think I’ve seen a PB like this before.
What a great direction to take with an adoption story. I don’t recall any other book on this topic telling it from the perspective of the birth mom. I’m going to see if my library has a copy.
Joanna, thank you for featuring this book. What a wonderful addition to the adoption books. This is a rare and beautifully done POV. Can’t wait to read it.
Wow! What a beautiful, important book!
Oh, thanks for sharing this book. A friend was just asking about adoption stories. And what a different angle to show the story!
A very touching story and unique point of view. Wonderful find Joanna. I loved the illustrations.
Oh, what a beautiful story! I wish I had this story when we adopted our daughter. Love the different perspective. Thanks for sharing.