JUST ADD ONE CHINESE SISTER

Telling about her adoption of Claire Guan Yu, McMahon successfully puts together personal true inter-country adoption experiences with cozy fictional dialogue between her and her daughter: “Hey, big girl, would you like to help me? I’m putting all these pictures in a book.” Her nurturing mother’s voice is an engaging invitation to focus on the rich, lively watercolor imitations of family photographs, congratulatory cards, airline tickets, even a white sock, each moving her unique experience to a level that melds well with side-by-side journal entries from her son, McCarthy. These reflect his perspective, communicated in smaller italicized text. The family relationships grow to more complex levels, yet are held to a comfortable distance by representational watercolors that keep the McMahon-McCarthy’s intimate experiences private. The real photographs and mementos in the family scrapbook would have brought definitive focus, but the playfully warm watercolors and text create images that capture the growing bond of parents and children, brother and sister. Delightful. (Picture book. 4-9)