Finding Joy [Hardcover]

Marion Coste (Author), Yong Chen (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

When Shu-li is born, her parents wrap her in a blanket and take her to town. The government says that a family is allowed to have only one child. So they lay Shu-li on the ground beneath a bridge. On her blanket they pin a note that reads THIS IS OUR SHU-LI. PLEASE TAKE CARE OF HER. NO ROOM FOR GIRLS. Fortunately, Shu-li is found and taken to an orphanage. Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, a husband and wife in North America hope to adopt a baby from China.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3–This well-written story features a Chinese baby whose birth parents feel that they have no room for girls and sadly arrange for her to be found; she is then placed in an orphanage. Coste relates this heartbreaking event in gentle, nonjudgmental terms. A white American couple with grown children, who missed the sight of little hands and chubby legs, feel that their family's not complete and decide to adopt a daughter from China. Shu-li is renamed Joy. Chen's painterly watercolor spreads are appealing, with realistic depictions of both races. They complement the simple elegance of the text. The author's note offers an explanation of China's policies and traditions that cause parents to prefer boy babies. It is both comprehensive and easy for even young children to understand. A number of excellent picture books that explore many types of adoption have been published in the past decade. This one would be a good choice for collections with a need for a variety of titles. Its handling of the harsh reality of the abandonment of baby girls in China is both accurate and sensitive.–Deborah Vose, Highlands Elementary School, Braintree, MA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

... [Tells] the international adoption story in words and pictures that confront adoption issues with sympathy and love, including the painful facts of biological parents forced to abandon their children.

Finding Joy begins with a heartbreaking double-page spread of parents in China leaving their baby girl. The next page shows the child safe with smiling caregivers in an orphanage. Then the viewpoint switches to an American family longing for a baby girl. The mother flies across the ocean, excited, but also anxious: "Could her family love a baby born to strangers?" The answer is there in the beautiful double-page watercolor paintings of the happy child in the embrace of new brothers and parents--first in the airport, and then as a toddler at home, with her new name, Joy. A final note fills in some facts about China's one-child policy. [...] Hazel Rochman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Boyds Mills Press (October 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590781929
• ISBN-13: 978-1590781920
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,623,751 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Marion Coste was born in New Jersey and spent her childhood on the beaches near Asbury Park. She lived in many different parts of the country during her 26 years as a Coast Guard wife before she moved to Hawaii in 1982. Marion has always loved learning about animals and natural history and draws on her background as an elementary teacher and museum educator to convey this love to a new generation. Her third book, "Kolea," won Ka Po'okela Palapala (literally, "the best book") award for excellence in children's literature.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Chinese Adoption story... but check it out 1st, November 9, 2006

By 

KSL "emma-and-me" (Florida, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Finding Joy (Hardcover)

I too have lots of Chinese and adoption book for my daugther as well, but depending on your daughter you really should see if this book is right for you child by seeing if your local library has it or by ordering it at a book store that won't make you buy the book if you don't like it or think your child is ready for this book. You know your child best, is she emotionally ready and if they are so, to also know about not being born in your tummy, but of someone elses who chose not to keep her.

The 1st page shows a mother & father getting ready to leave their child beside a bridge. It talks about the parents being sad about leaving her and the only mention on this page of the " One- Child policy" rule is the last sentence which says No Room for Girls. There is more information on the very last page in the Author's Note which does speak more of the One Child Policy and Old Chinese belief on why boys are more important that girls.

In the book the baby is found with a note and a red blanket and both are returned on Metcha / Gotcha day. Most children are not found with a note and if they had a blanket I have never heard of a child being given the blanket back to keep.... it would be a wonderful item to have for your adopted child to have the blanket or clothes they where found in. I don't know why they aren't kept......

The book talks of the little girl named Shu-li being found and going to an orphanage with loving caretakers who had " room for girls". The story then goes on to a couple who has older children who are no longer at home but want a daughter to love. The mom excitely travels to China wondering....." yet a thread of fear wrapped around her chest and pulled tight. What would she find in this distant place? Could her family love a baby born to strangers?" Again, think of your child and how they would process this........and in the next page the last sentence reads " The mother smiled. The thread of fear unwrapped and fell away' when she finally sees her daughter. After metcha or gotcha day happens the next page is of mother and daughter flying home with the abandonment note and blanket. Everyone is happy at the airport and Shu-li has a new country, family and name Joy. The story ends with" In a chest in the attic, the red blanket lies neatly folded. When the time seems right, the mother will take it out and tell her daughter about flying far way to the land that had no room for girls, and finding joy"

The illustrations are done in watercolor by Yong Chen and are beautiful. I hope this review helps.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful entry into a difficult topic, October 19, 2006

By 

K. Pollinger (San Ramon, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Finding Joy (Hardcover)

I purchased this book on recommendation from a fellow adoptive parent. We hav all of the other popular picture books on this topic. I have been introducing my daughter's story to her slowly, without much interest on her behalf until we saw the opening pages of this book. She was totally facinated by the story and while the details from then on are different, she is able to comprehend how they apply to her own start in this life. In turn, it has started to unlock some of her questions and early conversations about our familyh. This book brings it front and center and has opened up a lot of great dialog and interest in the other pieces in our library.

It is beautifully and sensitively written and the illustrations are gorgeous watercolor drawing.

0 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Joyous Joy, January 21, 2007

By 

Andy Brooks "sub reader" (Aiken, SC USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Finding Joy (Hardcover)

Finding Joy is a happy tale about the early life of a girl in China who is placed in an orphanage. The happiness comes when the girl is adopted by American parents and brought to the USA.

This is a good read for children to learn about the way other people live.