Just Right Family

February 1, 2018
Meili thinks her multiracial, adoptive family is just right as it is, and she doesn't want her parents to adopt a new baby sister.Meili's parents--Mama, who appears white with light skin and blonde hair, and Papa, depicted as a man of color with medium-brown skin and curly dark hair--adopted her from China. She's secure in their love and likes to hear them tell her, "We looked in our hearts and saw you there," when they share her adoption story. But when they tell her they've seen another baby girl in their hearts and they need to go to Haiti to adopt her, Meili is distressed. Her parents involve her in preparations for the baby, and her teacher (who has light-brown skin) offers encouragement, too. But it's Meili's grandmother, depicted as a white woman, who provides the most comfort while caring for Meili when her parents travel to Haiti. When they return with baby Sophie (who has dark-brown skin and curly, short-cropped, dark hair) Meili welcomes her as a sister. She tells her what they'll do together, naming activities she'd previously enjoyed alone with her parents. Although there's sadly no mention of birth families in this story (only vague references to the girls' "need[ing] new homes") the affirming vision of adoptive sibling bonding is welcome. A book to broaden collections about families. (Picture book. 3-6)

COPYRIGHT(2018) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

March 1, 2018
Preschool-G Young Meili never tires of hearing her own special story in which Mama and Papa fly across the ocean to adopt her in China. Now her family is just right: Mama pushes her on the swings, she feeds the ducks with Papa, and they all read library books together. Then she learns that their forever family will soon grow with the addition of a new baby sister from Haiti. Meili is upset at first (wouldn't a puppy be better?) but quickly becomes smitten once her new sibling arrives, eager to tell Sophie her own special story. Lopez's succinct text approaches adoption from a young child's perspective, emphasizing several reassuring themes: a child needs a new home, parents envision their life with this child, and the new family is permanent. Chen's colorful, cartoon-style art effectively conveys Meili's various emotions; unfortunately, her mixed-race parents smile blandly throughout. Though lacking in adoption-process specifics, this succeeds as a new-sibling story and will be welcomed by interracial adoptive families.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)