BOOKS: A Mother for Choco

Congratulations, Derek!  You were selected to receive a copy of this book!

At SixSeeds, we believe in the power of a good story.  The books our children are hearing and reading will move, inspire, and sometimes even shape their lives... even young lives. This week, we take a popular kids' book and examine it. Hopefully, the next time you're browsing though a crowded bookstore, our reviews will help you sort through the thousands of titles…  and you can choose wisely!

Title: A Mother for Choco

Author & Illustrator: Keiko Kasza

Publisher:  Puffin Books

Age:  2-6 (but my 8 year old liked it.)

Cost: $5.99

Buy it: Here

Rating:  5 seeds out of 6

As SixSeeds focuses on adoption this month, we are learning so much from you and your stories. They are filled with blessings, trials, hurts, and joys beyond comprehension.

Cathy Troyer, of Show Hope, has adopted four children. One is from a domestic adoption, one is from Korea, one is from Ethiopia, and one is of  Native American descent. She recently relayed a conversation to SixSeeds.

“Do you have children of your own?” a stranger asked her at a store, in front of her children. 

“These four are mine.”  She replied.

“No, do you have any of your own?” she said again.

“These are my children,” Cathy said again, more slowly.

The circumstances left her no choice.  She was going to be insensitive to someone in this conversation.

Finally, after the lady repeatedly asked her the same question, Cathy replied, “If you are asking if they are adopted… yes, they are adopted.” Then, she added, “And they are my own children.”

She decided that day not to wound her own children, no matter how well-intentioned her inquisitor was.

This little glimpse into life with children adopted from four different countries is instructive.   Preparing for Adoption Month, even we at SixSeeds made mistakes in the way we talked about adoption issues.  (Thanks for gently pointing them out, guys.)  And we figure we’re not alone. 

Since most of our readers aren’t adopting, Adoption Month allows us to talk about these issues, in honest conversations which we hope will “trickle down” into our families and into the culture..

A Mother for Choco is a highly recommended children’s book which can be used as a catalyst for these types of conversations. 

It tells of a journey of a little yellow bird looking for his mother.  He approaches many animals who don’t look like him. As he asks each of them if they are his mother, each time he’s rejected.

“I’m sorry,” sighed Mrs. Giraffe. “But I don’t have wings like you.”

“I’m sorry,” sighed Mrs. Penguin. “But I don’t have big, round cheeks like you.”

“Now look,” grumped Mrs. Walrus. “I don’t have striped feet like you, so don’t bother me!”

Then a very dejected Choco meets Mrs. Bear who compassionately sees Choco’s tears and hears his plea for a mommy.

“Oh dear. If you had a mommy, what would she do?”

As they explore the answer together, Mrs. Bear heeds the call.  It’s surprising how much poignancy is packed into this short picture book.

The Bottom Line:

The picture of the Mama holding her babies at the end of the book will give families who have children who look different from them a reminder of the sweetness of their plight.  It will also remind people everywhere what really makes a family a family.

For Parents To Consider (by adoptive momma Rebekah Wright:)

After reading this book, consider what you think it means to be a mother or a father.  Does it have to do with biology, with love, with the way we care for another person? All three of my children were meant to be my children even though each of their "coming home" stories looks different.  It has been good for us to talk with our children about not only the physical differences that we all bear, but also our different personalities and different interests and how each person was made in a special and unique way.  I like to think through creative ways to talk to our children about differences and celebrate them rather than trying to pretend that everyone is just the same--the world would be so boring if we were all just alike with the same life story!

To Talk to Your Kids About (again by adoptive momma Rebekah Wright:)

Use this story to talk to our kids about the differences in our own family and then in the world around us.  We like to look at our skin and all five of us have different shades of skin--we like to talk about how one of us has a lot of melanin {the stuff in our skin that gives our skin a little or a lot of color} and one has just a little bit of melanin, one gets freckles, etc.  Our kids love to talk about that and they each love hearing about how they came into our family and each of their stories looks completely different even though two of our children came to our family through birth and one through adoption.  We talk openly with our children about differences around us {not just physical differences} and celebrate the differences rather than trying to make differences something to be ashamed of. We talk about how no two snowflakes are alike and no two people are alike and how each person has their own special story of their life to tell!

We would love your feedback.  What are some ways you have broached this subject with your own kids?  Share your thoughts with us and you will have a chance to win this book!