by Joanna Ho (Author) Dung Ho (Illustrator)
"Ho now creates a beautiful book about family: what makes individuals and what connects us to one another. This book is a perfect addition to any children's shelf, whether aimed at families, adoption, multicultural stories, or topics of love and -acceptance." --School Library Journal (starred review)
From New York Times bestselling Joanna Ho, of Eyes that Kiss in the Corners, and award-winning educator Liz Kleinrock comes a powerful companion picture book about adoption and family. A young girl who is a transracial adoptee learns to love her Asian eyes and finds familial connection and meaning through them, even though they look different from her parents'.
Her family bond is deep and their connection is filled with love. She wonders about her birth mom and comes to appreciate both her birth culture and her adopted family's culture, for even though they may seem very different, they are both a part of her, and that is what makes her beautiful. She learns to appreciate the differences in her family and celebrate them.
An Amazon Best Book of the Month for January 2024!
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PreS-Gr 3—Having soothed and liberated, separately, sons and daughters from "othering," Ho now creates a beautiful book about family: what makes individuals and what connects us to one another. The story begins with a narrator's family together taking pictures in their ]matching clothes and matching shoes [with] matching laughter. Everything matching in every way. Except me." At a very young age, she was adopted by this American family. Throughout the book, her American facets are juxtaposed with the parts of her that her family does not share but clearly supports and nurtures. The illustrations are vibrant and detailed. Young people will enjoy trying to find all of the hidden elements within the pictures. Similar to her previous books (Eyes that Kiss at the Corners, Eyes that Speak to the Stars), there is particular attention given to providing a glimpse of the young girl's Asian culture through objects she brought with her in infancy, her memories, and her dreams. The use of alliteration is particularly charming, creating a thread that gives the story flow. VERDICT This book is a perfect addition to any children's shelf, whether aimed at families, adoption, multicultural stories, or topics of love and acceptance.—Peggy Henderson Murphy
Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.