My Mei Mei

We are adopting from China. My young daughter likes to read this book and say Mei Mei and wants to learn other family names in Chinese. This book helps stimulate conversation about our family adopting and children from other countries. It is a nice read.

Ed Young is a Caldecott Medalist who has written and illustrated approximately 80 children's books. In his book, My Mei Mei (younger sister), Young shares his interracial family's story of adopting two girls from China. The story is extremely well written, and the illustrations, which consist of pastels and torn paper collages, are rich and colorful. My wife and I are also an interracial couple who have adopted two girls from China so the story is very meaningful to us. Additionally, we live in the city Mr. Young was born in (Tianjin). Even without those connections, this account of Antonia narrating her adoption story and her desire for a younger sister is quite enjoyable. When the Youngs fly to China to pick up their second child, Antonia figures out that her younger sister is not exactly what she imagined. Parts of the book are very amusing and to see the sisterly bond grow is sweet. If you have any interest in adoption, China or interracial families, I highly recommend it.

I really enjoy Ed Young's artwork -- especially the picture where the older daughter is jealous of her new Mei Mei (younger sister).

My daughters are also sisters through adoption, and this book doesn't miss a beat showing how families formed though adoption are every bit as natural and connected as those formed through birth. And the illustrations are gorgeous! I highly recommend this book for children ages 3 and up and their families.

My daughter loves this book. We bought it to help prepare her as we are going to China to adopt a mei mei (little sister). Ed Young's pictures are always great. I highly recommend this book.