A Koala for Katie: An Adoption Story is about a little girl full of questions about babies. She pretends to be pregnant and is very inquisitive as to just why her birthmother did not want her. I am torn on this book. I do not like that the "real" mother language is used in an adoption book instead of the more sensitive birthmother term.What are adoptive parents then, if not real parents? Do they not care for the child, comfort the child, parent the child to the best of their ability just like biological parents? It is also very confusing to children who were adopted, if their adoptive parents are not real, then what is?
Before I get too off track, let me tell you about the story. In the story, her mother explains that her birthmother was too young and not able to take care of Katie. She also explains that although Katie was not in her "belly" that Katie is her daughter now. Then they go to the zoo where Katie asks what would happen if the mommy koala could not care for the baby any more. Her dad says the zoo would find another mother for it. As they are leaving the zoo, Katie gets a stuffed koala to take home with her. At home, she pretends with the koala saying " Mommy koala loved you but she couldn't take care of you. So I'm your mommy now." Then she pretend plays feeding him and caring for him, keeping the koala bear from danger just as a mommy koala bear would do. The story ends at bedtime when Katie says "I'm really her mommy now" to her parents. Daddy says to Katie that she is for real their little girl.
The pictures in the book are a cartoon family in bright colors, they almost look like paintings! Very pretty pictures. Many details in the pictures to catch the eye of little ones. I am on the fence about this book. A lot of good things along with some bad.
What is so good about THIS product?
It is an adoption book geared towards children who were adopted to explain adoption.
What is unique about this product?
A children's adoption book to explain adoption. Most adoption books do not explain it with animals like this one does.
Is it worth the price?
I might skip this one if I knew then what I know now.
What does this product look like?
A little girl cudding with a koala on the cover.
There has to be some bad to this product, right?
Not up to date adoption language.
Final verdict:
I would not buy this book again because of the adoption language style. It is a neat idea to explain to kids through animals but it makes me uncomfortable.
pablo the reader
"Reading furnishes the mind only with materials of knowledge; it is thinking that makes what we read ours.” John Locke
My entry into the Best Little Writeoff Contest: http://www.epinions.com/content_5141209220 A little koala bear gets adopted by a little girl
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