The Day We Met You: Book Review

Do you have an adopted child? If so, have you wondered how you'll go about explaining adoption to your child? Learn why "The Day We Met You" by Phoebe Koehler is a great children's book for a parent to use to explain adoption to an adopted child.

Adoption is an important time for a family. From the moment the phone call comes to the day the new child comes home, each detail creates a story that a parent will want to share with the child. This book carries the reader through such an event. As a narrative, it also allows the parent to fill-in and personalize events surrounding his or her own child's adoption. The story allows for sharing excitement felt at each step in the adoption process, with each turning page of the book.

Story: The Day We Met You

The parents in the story tell their child about getting that special call and making preparations for bringing their child home. They describe the need for a car-seat, diapers, bottles, formula, clothing, and assorted baby accessories. The story tells of other friends and family members getting involved and excited too.

Sentence structure is simple, easy to understand, and uses imagery, similes and metaphors. Although the story is said in few words, it engages the listener and reader. Where English may be a second language for a child, the book also keeps grammar uncomplicated.

Illustrations: The Day We Met You

Charming pastel colors cover each page, and the pages are framed like a soft portrait. Illustrations are drawn with what appears to be a colored pencil/crayon medium, and blank spaces on each page are also softly colored in pastel. Text is written in a large font black ink, easy for a beginning reader to read along with or read later on his or her own.

Recommendation: The Day We Met You

This book is a classic when it comes to adoption books for young children. My husband and I purchased "The Day We Met You" to read with our adopted child and were able to interject our own adoption story particulars. If you're looking for a picture book to tell the story of adoption to your preschooler or early reader, you can't go wrong with this one. "The Day We Met You" by Phoebe Koehler is a must have book for those who adopt a young child.

Source:
Phoebe Koehler, The Day We Met You, Bradbury Press New York, 1990.