Customer Reviews

Two Birthdays for Beth

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This whimsical book leads the reader from a discussion of how an adopted child has two birthdays to the more serious topic of what it means to be adopted. Beth waits and waits for her "real" birthday, the day she was adopted, but her mother explains that everyone has only one birthday, and that birthdays aren't really that important. What matters is how people feel about one another. Beth's mother says, "I don't love you because you're adopted. I love you because you're Beth." Beth responds by creating a heart-shaped card for her mother. Her picture is on one half, her mother's on the other. Beth says, "Together we make a heart. Together we make a family. Every day. That's what being adopted means." The light verse and simple vocabulary will engage young pre-readers and older readers will enjoy and identify with the story. The open exchanges between Beth and her mother can be a starting point to encourage dialogue between children, parents and members of the extended family.

From an Illinois Parent -- The author's poetic style and the illustrator's pink-toned pictures portray a wonderful affection between parent and child. I highly recommend this lovely adoption story.