Time for a most huggable picture book!
“When Mia moved in, Mom and Dad had a room ready for her.
‘All yours,’ they said.'”
“Mia liked it, but it needed something.
‘Perfect,’ said Mia. ‘And all mine.'”
There you have it. This is a book that features an adopted child without the word “adoption” being mentioned anywhere within its pages. This book is not a “message” book about adoption.
It’s about siblings learning to share.
Mia gets a brother. We don’t know, specifically, whether the little brother is adopted or not, but that’s not the point. Mia now needs to share her space with a sibling. She discovers that while she has to share half of everything, life is twice as much fun.
Until it isn’t….and Mia decides to move out. I LOVE Mom and Dad’s reaction when Mia says she’s moving out forever:
“Hmm,” said Dad. “Forever’s a long time.”
“Better take a friend,” said Mom.
So understated. So perfect.
First Mia moves into the bathroom. It doesn’t work out. Then the basement. It, too, doesn’t work out. Mia searches and searches for the right place. But she runs out of ideas.
Then, when she hears that Brandon wants to move out “forever,” she says:
“Forever’s a long time. Better take a friend.”
With that, she slips his hand in hers and gets the best idea of all. You’ll have to read the book to find out just what that idea is.
Paige Keiser’s illustrations are sweet and expressive, perfectly suited for this funny and warm, ultimately huggable, story of siblings and how they learn to share.
Jilanne Hoffmann 
I checked this one out when Patricia Tilton wrote it up. It is a warm and wonderful book.
Yes, I love it, too. I had to write about it, too. And guess what, you’re on for PPBF on 11/30. I’m still chuckling about Snuggy….
Thank you! (11/30 is just a few days after my birthday! And what a lovely present your review will be!)
Birthdays. I love birthdays. So does Snuggy, I hear.
Such a fun picture book with a message for siblings. Never enough books for siblings.
And the subtleness of how the author introduces the fact that Mia is adopted, and we’re not certain whether her younger sibling who comes along after is adopted or not. It’s not the point of the book, so it helps normalize nontraditional families. A lovely, gentle touch.
This looks like a lovely book. I can’t wait to read it. We adopted two teenage girls, so adoption and siblings are close to my heart. Maybe this will be a book to read to my grandchildren when they are a little older than newborn. 🙂
Yes! I so love how adoption isn’t the focus. It’s on family relationships and dealing with those relationships no matter how they’re put together. Such a beautiful and sweet book. Thanks for stopping by!
That sounds perfect. It’s great that the author and illustrator don’t feel the need to state the obvious and allow us readers to guess instead. A lovely weekend to you, fellow Hoffmann! 🙂
With a double “nn” too!
Yes indeed! 🙂
This is a cute book. I love the image in the bathroom! Glad you reviewed it.
The illustrations complement the text beautifully. It’s very huggable.
Definitely have to read this one. It’s been on my list… time to just get it! I love books about moving out. Siblings. And families.
And the first place Mia decides to move is to the bathroom. Hilarious and sweet and do kid-like!