Ten Days and Nine Nights: An Adoption Story (Hardcover)

~ (Author, Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2—A child eagerly anticipates an event and uses simple sentences to express her excitement about what is going to happen. Heo relates two parallel stories here. One features the girl and her calendar countdown with text such as, "Daddy buys some new furniture. I have five days and four nights" and "I wash my old Teddy Bear. I have four days and three nights." Then readers learn what she is preparing for as the illustrations show the mother's journey to Korea to adopt a new baby and bring her home. Signs and labels in Korean appear throughout the book. The exquisite oil, pencil, and collage illustrations dovetail with the quiet, simple tone of the text. Heo's distinctive, uncluttered style is very effective as it reinforces the narrator's focus on the event. The pictures have fanciful angles and random details that will intrigue most children. For example, while Grandma "makes a little pink dress," spools of thread, a pincushion, buttons, and a tape measure, as well as a cat, seem to float about her. Most books about waiting for the arrival of an adoptive baby are aimed at older children and delve into negative feelings about a new sibling. This one is a worthwhile addition to most collections.—Deborah Vose, Highlands Elementary School, Braintree, MA
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From Booklist

“I mark a circle on the calendar. I have ten days and nine nights.” The opening of this adoption story shows a young Asian girl marking May 10 on a calendar. As she waits for her mom to return, she counts down each day by doing something that’s a clue: cutting a red paper heart, helping Grandpa redecorate her room, watching her dad buying new furniture, practicing holding a baby, and washing her old teddy bear. Then Grandma makes a little pink dress and Daddy closes his dry-cleaning store. Interspersed with the girl’s actions are wordless scenes of Mom signing papers and flying home with the new baby sister. Heo’s stylized artwork fills the pages with family warmth in this welcome and endearing addition to adoption books. The calendar device is exactly childlike, as is the girl’s first-person voice. An author’s note refers to personal acquaintances who have adopted Korean babies. Preschool-Grade 2. --Julie Cummins

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Schwartz & Wade (May 12, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375847189
• ISBN-13: 978-0375847189
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #507,918 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Good Korean adoption - illustrations could be so much better, August 25, 2009

By	KSL "emma-and-me" (Florida, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

There is a little girl who begins to count down on her calendar of how many days are left until her new sister who is coming home from Korea. She begins her countdown at 10 days and 9 nights. On day 9 her mother leaves for Korea and it's just her and her father. As she counts down the days and nights until she is a big sister she has lots to do, there is redecorating her room, practicing with her dolls, helping her dad and grandfather get ready for her sister. Finally the day arrives and then big sister meets her new little sister.

I like the story, but do not know how long it takes to formalize an adoption from Korea, but this is a cute story about counting down the day until you finally get to meet the newest family member! This would be perfect for a child who is awaiting a sibling to read while she is awaiting her mom or parents to come back home.

What I wish was better was the illustration of Asian faces, they are very stereotypical of Asian people who half moon eyes, just like on the cover. I was hoping that the girl on the cover was laughing and the eyes would be better, but her eyes an any other Asian are like that.