Finding Joy by: Marion Coste and illustrated by: Yong Chen

Ages: 6-8

A couple in China has no room for their new baby girl Shu-li. They leave her on the street wrapped in her red blanket. The young girl is brought to an orphanage. At the same time, an older couple in America wants to adopt a baby girl. The wife flies to China, excited and anxious. She goes to the orphanage to adopt Shu-li. Will her family be able to love a baby born to strangers? Find out in this beautiful book Finding Joy.

Finding Joy is a well-written story. The illustrations are beautiful, with realistic depictions of both the American and Asian races. They compliment the text well. The text is easy for children to understand. The reader will want to keep turning the pages to see what happens in the story. This is an excellent picture book that deals with the issue of adoption. Adoption is gaining popularity in the United States. Many people will adopt from China, because of the one child per household rule. Many Chinese families prefer a baby boy over a baby girl, so many girls are put up for adoption in China. This book may be hard for some children to understand. They may not understand why some parents would give up their newborn baby. This is a great book for children to read to learn about adoption, and the way that the people in China live. Finding Joy is a beautifully crafted book that the reader will enjoy!