Emma's Story
Emma's Story is a touching tale about a little girl from China named Emma, and her story about how she was adopted by an American family.
This story about international adoptions is written in a way that helps parents/teachers feel comfortable discussing the oft-sensitive topic of adoption. It also allows them to feel that they do not have to hide it from children.
Honesty is the best policy!
The story starts off by Emma noticing that she looks different than the rest of her family, while she is making cookies, each representing members of her family. This flows nicely into a re-tell by Emma's grandmother about how she became part of their family. This is not the first time that Emma has heard the story.
The gentle message that is relayed is if parents are honest with children from the time they young, they can count on a positive and comfortable outcome for both parents and children.
The story is mostly focused on the re-tell by her grandmother about how Emma came from China to America. The author takes you through the beautiful journey of Emma how she is taught "it is not how we look that makes us family, but how we love each other."
As a teacher, books like this are critical for touching upon topics that come up in daily discussion in the classroom and in homes. This book has helped me guide discussions about adoption in my classroom, and help teach that families can be biologically linked or created though love and choice.
