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The Most Precious Present in the World ISBN: 9781905664733
Comfort, Louise and Edwards, Becky
Published by British Association for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF), 2010
Mia tells us from the beginning of this story that she is adopted. Her mum takes a long time brushing her hair because it is very curly, unlike her mum's or dad's. This is because, says mum, her hair is a gift from her birth mum. Similarly, her dark eyes are a gift from her birth dad. And her dimple is 'where my birth mum and dad kissed me goodbye'. She has lots of questions to ask mum, who is patient and loving in answering them all, and being a bright little girl, she comes up with some difficult ones. It is obvious that some aspects of being adopted are bothering her: ' Sometimes being adopted is very hard. Sometimes it makes me feel confused. Sometimes it makes me feel sad. And sometimes it makes me feel very cross.' Mum says that is okay, and mum and dad both make her feel that she is the 'most precious present in the world. Beautifully written with great sensitivity and delicacy, this story, unusually, admits that there can be problems in a child accepting being adopted and that coming to terms with birth parents having 'presented' her to someone else is often difficult. The pictures reflect Mia's growing understanding that both sets of her parents will always be part of her. Available from Amazon or from the BAAF, Saffron House, 6-10 Kirby Street, London EC1N 8TS.
Age: 4+