Waiting for May [Hardcover]

Janet Morgan Stoeke (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

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

In this poignant and heartfelt book, a young boy anticipates the arrival of his new baby sister. She is coming from China to be adopted into his American family.The story describes, month by month, the boy’s participation in the long adoption process. Finally the waiting for May is over—she meets her new family, and it is the boy who makes her smile. The child narrator’s point of view distinguishes this book from others on this topic and makes it immediate and accessible. Beautifully rendered, sensitive paintings augment the text.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 4–Based on the author's personal experiences, this story portrays a family's long wait to travel to China to meet their new baby girl. A loving older-brother-to-be describes his anticipation and impatience as he yearns for his sister, emotions that are akin to the longing many families feel when awaiting an infant. However, the smoothly flowing text also imparts a surprising amount of information about requirements unique to international adoptions, mentioning the documents, interviews, and fingerprints necessary to "make sure that she is going to a good family" and even referring to China's one-child policy. Stoeke deftly handles a sensitive topic when Mom says, "I think it must be awfully hard for those mothers," and the boy thinks, "I think it must be hardest for the babies." When they finally meet May, he is dismayed that his new sister clings to her caretaker and cries continually despite his family's attempts to comfort her. In the satisfying ending, the child becomes intrigued by one of her new brother's turtle buttons and relaxes into a hug with him. The colorful paintings enhance the narrative and capture the various emotions of the characters. As charming as Eve Bunting's Jin Woo (Clarion, 2001) and Linda Walvoord Girard's We Adopted You, Benjamin Koo (Whitman, 1989), Waiting for May makes an excellent addition to all collections.– Deborah Vose, Highlands Elementary School, Braintree, MA
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Review

Charming . . . an excellent addition to all collections. -- School Library Journal --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Juvenile (April 21, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0525470980
• ISBN-13: 978-0525470984
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 8.8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,385,734 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Helpful for explaining adoption process to children., September 11, 2005

By 

Mae K. (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Waiting for May (Hardcover)

My husband and I are in the process of completing paper work to get on a list to adopt a child from China. I happened upon this book at a bookstore and loved it immediately. We have already read it to our almost-3-year-old biological child to help explain the process of filling out paperwork and then waiting to hear about our new child. It has been a good way to introduce the topic of adoption. Our daughter asks for it often and has requested that we name our new child "May." :-) The pictures and story are simple enough to interest a very young child but have enough depth to interest a child in the early elementary grades (or even older).

I highly recommend this book to anyone waiting to adopt a child internationally (especially from China).

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Charming and Helpful Book on International Adoption, March 28, 2008

By 

Sherry North "Author, Because You Are My Baby" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Waiting for May (Mass Market Paperback)

Review by Sherry North, Author, Because You Are My Baby

Waiting for May is an extremely well written look at the process of international adoption, from the point of view of a young boy who is getting a baby sister from China. I bought the book for my 4-year-old son, because we're in the process of adopting a child from Kazakhstan. Despite the difference in countries, so much of the process is the same.

The book discusses the social worker who comes for a home visit when the parents first apply to adopt, the mountains of paperwork, and the long wait to be matched with a child. It shows how the photo of the baby sister arrives on the computer, and just like my son, the main character gets shots for traveling to another country. Finally, the family travels to meet the little girl. The book doesn't shy away from the fact that she cries and cries before warming up to her new brother.

What I like best about the book is the brother's positive attitude. He is not fretting but instead is focused on how great it will be to have a sister. The illustration of the two hugging on the final page is just lovely.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful book for siblings of adoption!, March 8, 2006

By 

Mom of Two - See all my reviews

This review is from: Waiting for May (Hardcover)

This book is just wonderful. It is a great preparation for any child who is waiting for a sibling to be adopted. It is a heart-warming story that talks about the adoption process, the waiting, and the emotions that go along with it, from a child's perspective. I love that the little boy can't wait to go to China and get his sister- many other books I have found on this topic show the waiting sibling with a jealous attitude towards the adoption. Jealousy is an important emotion to address, but many kids ARE very excited about adopting a sibling. This book is uplifting, sweet, and really gives a waiting sibling an idea of what to expect throughout the process of adoption. I highly recommend it!