Lamb-a-roo, The. Diana Kimpton. Illustrated by Rosalind Beardshaw. 2006. 32p. (gr ps-3). Gingham Dog Press. Humorous, endearing story celebrates family and sense of belonging! Lamb is alone and sad and wants a mother. And in spite of having lots of relatives, Kangaroo is sad, too, because she has no baby of her own. When these two gentle, endearing animals happen to find each other, they immediately become a happy family “until Lamb realizes that he is different from all the other kangaroo children and attempts to fit in,” with hilarious results. This sweet story, with its delightfully humorous illustrations, truly celebrates the meaning of “family” and is sure to become a favorite among all families. About the Authors: Diana Kimpton has written over 30 children’s books, including The Bear Santa Claus Forgot, which the Children’s Book Council selected as a “Children’s Choice” title for 1996. In addition to writing, she runs a children’s book review site, builds Web sites for other authors, and is an adoptive parent. Rosalind Beardshaw has illustrated numerous children’s books since her early years in graphic design. She became fascinated by the friendly gentleness of kangaroos after staying in a remote settlement in Outback Australia two years ago.

Lately’s Home. LN Cronk. Illustrated by SN Whitfield. 2009. 40p. (gr ps-3). Rivulet Publishing. When a child is adopted, the joy of finding a “forever family” can be overshadowed by the trauma of leaving the only home they’ve ever known... Red-billed firefinches live in the African Savannah, in the Great Karroo. They commonly build their nests inside of people’s houses. The people of Africa like having the firefinches around and have made up many stories about them over the years. Village indigobirds always lay their eggs in the nests of the red-billed firefinches. The red-billed firefinches raise their babies and the village indigobird babies together. Told by award-winning author L.N. Cronk and illustrated by S.N. Whitfield, Lately’s Home is the story of one such village indigobird, raised in a family of red-billed firefinches. Lately fits in well with her new “foster family” ... almost too well. Can she find the strength and courage she needs to leave the only home she’s ever known—and discover the wonderful life she was meant to live?

Legend of the Twenty-First North Pole Santa, The. Denise Graham Zahn. 2002. 116p. (gr 4-7). Authorhouse. This is the Christmas story that all believers have been waiting for, because it answers the question all believing children inevitably ask: “How does Santa deliver presents all over the world in one night?” Now, for the first time, there’s an answer children can believe. Just as the believing world expanded, so did the Santa Claus family. Each year, just before Christmas, new Santas are initiated to run the sleighs and every generation a new North Pole Santa receives his birthright to be the next North Pole Santa. But, now there’s a problem. For the first time in the Santa Claus family, the next in line for the birthright is an adopted Athabascan girl, and the Twentieth North Pole Santa’s brothers have conspired to prevent her from running a sleigh or becoming the Twenty-First North Pole Santa. This is a story of diversity, gender bias and the relationship of adopted children with their families. It is the evolution of a legend to be shared with believers of all ages. About the Author: Denise Graham Zahn, of Chicago, earned a master’s degree in Media Communications from Governors State University, completing a thesis titled, American Indians–Taking Technology Road to the Twenty-First Century. She has written freelance features for regional newspapers; wrote and produced a one-act play at Prairie State College; has a poem published in The American Poetry Anthology; was editor of the Governors State University student newspaper, and worked as Coordinator of Public Information for Governors State University, writing stories and press releases for print publications. She is married and has two children and two granddaughters, along with two dogs (rescued greyhound and Italian greyhound), a cat and two parakeets. The Legend of the Twenty-First North Pole Santa is her first published book.

Let Me Explain: A Story About Donor Insemination. Jane T Schnitter. Illustrated by Joanne Bowring. 1995. 32p. (gr 1-5). Perspectives Press. The main character of this book, a young girl, explains the basics of being conceived via donor insemination. Her tone is completely matter-of-fact. She shows her strong attachment to her dad and her lack of confusion about her donor father. Let Me Explain creates the warm and reassuring message that this alternative form of family building produces a normal, loving father/child relationship.

Libby’s Step-Family. Shirley Simon. Illustrated by Reisie Lonette. 1966. 191p. Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Co. An illustrated juvenile tale of a girl who’s mother is getting remarried and the trouble she has with her two unwelcome new stepsisters. Created to help ease the adjustments created by modern living and modern love. Covers most step-parenting and step-children’s tramatic issues and eve nts, not a always smiles happiness tale but one of adjustment, sacrifice for everyone’s good, and a demonstration that love will see you through.

Life Apart, A. Shirlee Evans. 1990. 176p. (gr 4-7). Herald Press. Gail’s marriage is shaken when the daughter she gave up for adoption fifteen years ago reenters her life. [Sequel to A Life in Her Hands].

Life on a Cool Plastic Ice Floe. Karyn Follis Cheatham. 1978. 180p. (gr 3-7). Westminster Press. Danny Raynor is sick of foster homes and he’s frustrated by do-gooders who—quite legally—are breaking up his family. Against a backdrop of the 1970s Indian activism, Danny struggles through his feelings of inadequacy and anger, and begins to learn how to remain true to himself.
     “The story Life on a Cool Plastic Ice Floe, developed from my involvement in American Indian rights efforts of the 1970s. I escorted a young man from a juvenile detention center to an American Indian function one fall. There, while listening to his native language and hearing about the old ways, the boy (we’ll call him Jeff) cut out on me on the pretext of going to the john. I was miserable until three A.M. when they called from the center and told me he had hitchhiked back there.
     “The counselor didn’t believe me when I related how distraught Jeff had become when hearing his own language and talk about his home rez. The man said that was nonesense—that Jeff never talked about home and all the counselors were certain he didn’t want to return to the large, poverty-ridden family he was from. I couldn’t help but remember the difficulty Jeff had in telling about his family when I asked, and the discomfort of being the kid from the detention center.
     “After two weeks I was told he had been sent to a foster home 200 miles away. A lawyer friend who worked with social services tried to keep track of him. Jeff kept running away and was placed in five different homes before he vanished ten months later.
     “I’ve never forgotten him. I’ve always wished I could tell him I was sorry that I didn’t do more. In some ways, this book was to make amends.” — Karyn Follis Cheatham

Little Dog Lost. Renee Guillot. Translated from the French by Joan Selby-Lowndes. Illustrated by Wallace Tripp. 1970. 64p. Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Co (UK). A little Welsh Corgi puppy wanders from it’s cosy home on a farm and gets lost in the woods. He is adopted by a mother fox who has just lost her litter of kits. The little pup learns all the ways of being a fox only to get lost from his new mother and becomes a little girl’s pet. Charming story of how the little pup shares it’s loyalties between his mother and his new little girl.

Little Friend Lydia. Ethel Calvert Phillips. Illustrated by Edith F Butler. 1920. Houghton Miffflin. Charming story of a little orphan girl who whispers into Santa’s ear that what she really wants is a real mother and father all her own—and who shortly afterwards receives her wish.

Little Green Goose, The. Adele Sansone. Illustrated by Alan Marks. Translated by J Alison James. 1999. 32p. (gr ps-3). North South Books. This touching story centers on Mr. Goose and his ardent desire to become a daddy. The hens in the farmyard are appalled when he asks them for an egg so that he could raise a baby chick. When Daisy the dog finds a big egg in the woods, she shows it to Mr. Goose, who promptly builds a nest. The little green goose, a large dinosaur-type creature that emerges, is the proud son of Mr. Goose. The baby is happy and secure until the other animals make fun of his appearance. They convince him that he cannot be Mr. Goose’s son because the two do not look alike. After much soul searching, the little green goose discovers that the one who feeds him when he is hungry and loves him when he is lonely is his real daddy. This book is reminiscent of The Surprise Family by Lynn Reiser. — Jeanne K. Pettenati, Children’s Literature

Little Miss Perfect. Jean Ure. 2000. 160p. (gr 4-7). (Foster Family #6). Hodder Children’s Books. Abi never dreamed that Sam would approve of ballet. Then Anna arrives. She’s a budding ballerina and so tiny and graceful, everyone thinks she’s just wonderful, including Sam. Abi tries hard not to be jealous, but she can’t help feeling left out. Is Anna really that perfect?

Little Miss Spider. David Kirk. 1999. 32p. (gr ps-2). Scholastic, Inc. David Kirk’s vibrant new picture book takes us back in time to the very first day of Miss Spider’s life. With brothers and sisters scooting all around, she pops out of her egg. But where is Miss Spider’s mother? Kind and caring Betty the Beetle gladly takes on the role. Written in simple rhyming verse, this heartwarming adoption story is sure to please Miss Spider’s many fans. Related books by the same author: Miss Spider’s Tea Party (1994); Miss Spider’s Wedding (1995); Miss Spider’s New Car (1997); and Miss Spider’s ABC (1998).

Little Red Fox. Alison Uttley. Illustrated by Katherine Wigglesworth. 1954. 92p. Heinemann (UK). The baby fox is adopted by the badger family, but trying to be good all the time is a difficult business. Pictured: Puffin Paperback Reprint Editions.

Living With a New Family: Nadia & Rashid’s Story. Sheila Byrne & Leigh Chambers. Illustrated by Sarah Rawlings. 1998. 28p. British Agencies for Adoption & Fostering (UK). When children are separated from their birth families, part of their very self is in jeopardy. They need help to make sense of their experiences and individual history. This book is part of a unique series for use with separated children. As a whole the series will cover a broad range of scenarios and backgrounds. The four individual titles already published each have their own unique story. Each book can be used flexibly and creatively with children to help them explore feelings, come to terms with their pasts, and prepare for the future. This particular title is about a brother and sister being adopted. Other Books in the Series: Living With a New Family: Nadia & Rashid’s Story (1998); Hoping for the Best: Jack’s Story (1998); Belonging Doesn’t Mean Forgetting: Nathan’s Story (1998); Feeling Safe: Tina’s Story (1998); Joining Together: Jo’s Story (1999); and Waiting for the Right Home: Daniel’s Story (2001).

Locomotion. Jacqueline Woodson. 1993. 112p. (gr 4-7). Penguin Group. When Lonnie Collins Motion—a/k/a “Locomotion”—was seven years old, his life changed forever. Now he’s eleven, and his life is about to change again. His teacher, Ms. Marcus, is showing him ways to put his jumbled feelings on paper. And suddenly, Lonnie has a whole new way to tell the world about his life, his friends, his little sister Lili, and even his foster mom, Miss Edna, who started out crabby but isn’t so bad after all. Jacqueline Woodson’s novel-in-poems is humorous, heartbreaking...a triumph. About the Author: Jacqueline Woodson has received numerous awards for her middle-grade and young adult books, which include the National Book Award Finalist Hush and the Coretta Scott King Award and Los Angeles Times Book Prize winner, Miracle’s Boys. By the Same Author: Peace, Locomotion.

Logan’s Journey. Kathy Heath & Karla Martin. Illustrated by Theresa Ornoff. 2007. 32p. (gr 4-7). bPlus Books, A Divison of Bumble Bee Productions, Inc. All families are special. God just makes them in different ways. That is the gentle wisdom underlying Logan’s Journey, the story of how a young couple and a child came to be a family. Written with engaging simplicity and reassuring tones, this eloquent narrative introduces adoption as one way of belonging in a family. It is a story of longing and fulfillment, seeking and finding. Beautiful illustrations enhance its timeless message of love and acceptance. A valuable teaching tool for parents and educators, Logan’s Journey will help children understand that families come in all shapes and sizes and are created in many different ways. This lovely story will bring reassurance and a sense of belonging to all children. Because Logan’s Journey is a journey of the heart.

Looking For Home. Jean Ferris. 1989. 167p. (YA). Farrar Straus & Giroux. From School Library Journal: With an abusive father, a cowed mother, and nervous and unhappy younger brothers, 17-year-old Daphne dreams of a loving family, a happy home. When the passions of a prom-night drive with wonderful Scott, who’s going off to college, leave her pregnant and unwilling to have an abortion, her fear of her father’s reaction pushes her into packing a few essentials, leaving high school, and hopping a bus to a new city. Resenting the new life growing inside her and anxious for the time when she can put it up for adoption, Daphne finds a job waitressing in a new restaurant. The owner, a former surgeon, and the cook, a young black student, have affection enough for everyone—the customers, each other, and especially Daphne. Surrounded by their caring, Daphne’s life begins to take shape with a growing independence and the security that the job and new friends have afforded. Gradually, friends become her new family and when the baby is born, Daphne decides to keep it. Because the story is told by Daphne, it has a youthful sweetness about it. Through Daphne’s eyes, readers see her “real” family and the complexities of her new “family” relationships. The difficult decisions, to break with Scott without telling of her pregnancy, and to carry her unborn child to term, are handled reasonably and appropriately, and there is depth in the measure of Daphne’s mutually caring relationship with her mother, with whom she keeps in touch. It may all be too good to be true, but when the last pages connect Daphne with both of her families, it’s a conclusion that will please readers. —Marjorie Lewis, Scarsdale Junior High School, NY; Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Losing Louisa. Judith Caseley. 1999. 240p. (YA). Farrar Straus & Giroux. Lacey Levine’s family has changed since her parents’ divorce. Her mother has turned into a health-food fanatic who wears tight clothes and goes out on dates with a guy named Vinnie. Her father is remarried, and his new wife has just had a baby. Lacey is struggling with the changes and trying to sort out her own crush on a jerk named David when she finds out her older sister, Rosie—smart Rosie, cheerleader Rosie, Rosie with the angelic singing voice—is pregnant. At first, it is Lacey alone who supports Rosie as she tries to decide what to do, but soon it becomes a family affair. Abortion seems the right choice until Rosie spends time with her new half sister and starts to think about the baby growing inside her, and even gives her a name—Louisa. As the family draws together in helping Rosie sort out her options, Lacey discovers that, no matter how it may be configured, family is family. Judith Caseley has written a tender novel about sisters, decisions, and love in its many forms.

Lots of Brothers & Sisters. Julie Bedier. Illustrated by Louise Trevisan. 1949. The MacMillan Co. Two bewildered waifs are left homeless and find there way into the hearts of Mr.& Mrs. Bodkin.

Lovebug. Elizabeth Elias. 2007. 28p. (gr ps-3). Luu.com. Jasmine the ladybug asks her momma frog why she is red and not green. This gentle and heartfelt book introduces the concept of adoption to young children.

Lucy Forever, Miss Rosetree, & the Stolen Baby. Susan Shreve. Illustrated by Eric Jon Nones. 1994. 143p. Tambourine Books. Twelve-year-old Lucy’s family has adopted a baby, but things change quickly when the baby is kidnapped.

Lucy’s Family Tree. Karen Halvorsen Schreck. Illustrated by Stephen Gassler. 2001. 40p. (gr 4-7). Harpswell Press. When Lucy comes home from school with a family tree assignment, she asks her parents to write her a note to excuse her from the task. Lucy’s adoption from Mexico makes her feel as though her family is too “different,” but her parents gently and wisely challenge Lucy to think some more about it and to find three families that are the “same.” As Lucy ponders her list of school and family friends who are “normal,” she comes to realize that there are many different kinds of families. Her best friend Lucinda has a stay-at-home dad and a working mom. The twins next door look alike and their family matches perfectly, but she discovers that they feel different in their neighborhood because they are Jewish. Her friend Robert has two “moms” who both cheer him on at soccer games, and the parent who attends all of Dora’s and Seth’s school events is their stepfather. Although her friends, the Malones, certainly look like an “all-American family,” Lucy knows they’ve suffered a loss that doesn’t always show on the outside. Lucy wins her bet with her parents in a surprising way and ends up creating a family tree that celebrates both her past and present. This is a wonderful book for exploring family diversity and what constitutes a family. Two pages at the back of the book offer further suggestions for parents and teachers. About the Authors: Karen Halvorsen Schreck received her Ph.D. in English and Creative Writing from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She is the recipient of an American Fiction Award, a Pushcart Prize in Fiction, and an Illinois State Arts Council Grant. She lives with her husband and daughter in Oak Park, Illinois. Illustrator Stephen Gassler is a graduate of the University of the Arts in Philadelphia and lives in Hazlet, New Jersey.

Lucy’s Feet. Stephanie Stein. Illustrated by Kathryn A Imler. 1992. 32p. (gr ps-3). Perspectives Press. Eight-year-old Lucy is confused. Why did her baby brother come from inside her mother but she didn’t? Does her family love her brother more than they love her? They certainly seem to pay more attention to him. When relatives come, they’re always saying how much her brother looks like his parents. But who does Lucy look like? Whose feet do Lucy’s feet look like? This book shows both her anger and her pain, plus her resolution of difficult issues. It is the perfect book to share with children so that they realize that it is all right to have mixed feelings about adoption and their siblings.

Lying Game, The. Jennifer Baker. 1996. 192p. (Class Secrets #4). (gr 6-9). Simon Pulse. Deb has decided to look for her birth parents on-line with Ian’s help. Is Ian falling for Deb? Nikki is spreading the rumor that Suzanne’s mother doesn’t even know who Suzanne’s father is. Now, Suzanne plans to get even by stealing Luke away from Nikki. And Luke is having trouble making rent and worries what’s going to happen when his boss catches him stealing from the till.

Lyle Finds His Mother. Barbara Weber. 1974. 48p. (gr k-3). Houghton Mifflin. Lyle the crocodile leaves his home with the Primms on East 88th Street in New York City to search for his long-lost mother when Hector P. Valenti, star of stage and screen, lures him into performing on stage with him by promising that he will take him to meet his mother.

Ma & Pa Dracula. Ann M Martin. Illustrated by Dirk Zimmer. 1989. 122p. (gr 4-7). Holiday House. From Publishers Weekly: One night, as Jonathan Primave wakes up to have breakfast as usual, he is struck by how odd his life is. His parents work nocturnally at the local blood bank, and while the family moves often, Mother and Dad assure Jonathan that this is how ordinary people live. But when he disobeys his parents one day and ventures outdoors in the sunshine, Jonathan discovers that things are not as they seem. His adoptive parents are vampires, and they don’t actually work at the blood bank. The boy insists on starting school, and wants his parents to seem more normal. Numerous complications ensue—How can Jonathan invite friends home?—with many droll touches: Dad swears on Dracula’s honor, Jonathan knows his parents are awake when he hears their coffin lids creak. Martin’s (best-known for her Baby-sitters Club series) latest novel is a wacky look at an unusual set of domestic troubles and Zimmer’s amusingly scary drawings provide zany comment on this less than flesh-and-blood family. Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Maggie Can’t Wait. Frieda Wishinsky. Illustrated by Dean Griffiths. 2009. 86p. (gr ps-3). Simon & Schuster. Maggie is so excited to show her friends the picture of her soon-to-be-adopted sister. She can’t wait to show the new baby off. Everyone will love her! But when Maggie brings a picture of the baby to show-and-tell, she doesn’t get the reaction she expected. Kimberly says the baby is ugly. Even Maggie’s best friend, Sam, admits that the baby has a squished nose, a wrinkly face, and big ears. Maggie is mortified. And now she can imagine how awful it’s going to be to have such an ugly sister. She doesn’t want to have anything to do with a baby sister with ears like a donkey, a nose like a squished bug and a face wrinkled like an old shoe. When her parents pick the baby up at the adoption agency, Maggie’s worst fears are realized. The baby is just like her picture. Maggie wants nothing to do with her. Not even when everyone else is making such a fuss over her. Not even when she is all alone in her crib and crying. Not even when she smiles up at Maggie for the first time? A delightful sequel to Give Maggie a Chance, Maggie Can’t Wait again features the little girl with the big imagination as she dreads the arrival of a new adopted sister and learns how easy it is to make up her own mind. About the Authors: Frieda Wishinsky is the author of many books for children including Give Maggie a Chance, So Long Stinky Queen, No Frogs for Dinner, Please Louise, “The Canadian Flyer” series, and the Governor General’s Award finalist, Each One Special. She lives with her husband in Toronto, Ontario. A nominee for the Mr. Christie’s Book Award for Ballerinas Don’t Wear Glasses, Dean Griffiths has illustrated a number of books, including The Patchwork House, The Lighthouse Dog, Loon Lake Fishing Derby and Fairy. Dean lives on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, with his wife and three cats.

Magic Comes in Its Time. Berniece Rabe. Illustrated by Doron Ben-Ami. 1993. 86p. (gr 2-5). Simon & Schuster. Returning to the Germany of his birth with his adoptive parents (Dad’s a U.S. Army doctor), Jonathan makes the mistake of confiding a beloved family story to his new class. It’s true that his father brought him home as an orphan the day that storks settled on their roof, a lucky conjunction reported in the local papers at the time, but Jonathan’s abbreviated version (“I was brought by the storks”) elicits only derision—especially from Robert. He and Jonathan are both fascinated by storks; each hopes to attract a pair back to a town whose rising population and ubiquitous TV antennas have made them abandon it; Jonathan also secretly hopes that storks’ luck will bring him a sibling. At first, the boys trade information in unfriendly competition, but after Jonathan starts to build an inviting nest in a vacant field, the sparring becomes cooperation and, inevitably, friendship. It’s too good to be true that storks choose the prepared site, and newborn twins become available for adoption soon after (while portrayal of the twins’ birth mother’s feelings and circumstances is, at best, simplistic). Still, the interaction of the boys is healthy and believable, the outcome is heartwarming, and Ben-Ami’s sensitive black-and-white illustrations—whether of second-graders or of storks—are especially affecting. — From Kirkus Reviews; ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Mail-Order Kid. Joyce McDonald. 1988. 128p. Putnam Publishing Group. When Flip Doty’s parents adopt a six-year-old boy from Korea, Flip’s life changes dramatically. Suddenly, he’s no longer an only child. Flip has to contend with a little brother who eats fireflies and runs around making whooping sounds. Then Flip’s troubles double when he orders a red fox through the mail. Vickie the fox is untamed and wreaks havoc on the household. Will Flip’s life ever return to normal?

Maizon at Blue Hill. Jacqueline Woodson. 2002. 128p. (gr 4-7). GP Putnam. Maizon has been best friends with Margaret for as long as she can remember. But when Maizon leaves Brooklyn for Blue Hill, a boarding school in Connecticut, she’s nervous about the changes that come with it. Will Margaret forget her or find a new best friend? Will Maizon fit in being one of only five black girls on campus? As Maizon struggles to discover her niche at Blue Hill, she finds herself out of her element for the first time in her life, confronted with issues like racism and prejudice. Jacqueline Woodson continues Maizon and Margaret’s story, relating the ups and downs of their friendship with honesty and humor and tackling important issues in a straightforward manner as Maizon experiences what life outside Madison Street holds.

Make Four Million Dollars By Next Thursday!. Stephen Manes. Illustrated by George Ulrich. 1991. 87p. (gr 3-5). Bantam Doubleday Dell. From School Library Journal: Another light romp from the author of Be a Perfect Person in Just Three Days (Clarion, 1982). Jason Nozzle is looking for his lost pocket money when he happens onto a muddy book. Dr. K. Pinkerton Silverfish is at it again, this time attempting to teach his readers how to become exceedingly wealthy. Jason is drawn into the scheme and performs all the duties as assigned, fully expecting to be rolling in bills very soon. His assignments range from wearing 37 dollar signs all over his clothes to carefully planting and fertilizing money. The moral of the story is that there are more important things to worry about than the big bucks you don’t have, but Manes and Ulrich certainly prove that it makes for hearty laughs and a quick read. —Janie Schomberg, Leal Elementary School, Urbana, IL.

Mama: A True Story, in which a Baby Hippo Loses his Mama During a Tsunami, but Finds a New Home, & a New Mama. Jeanette Winter. Illustrated by the Author. 2006. 32p. (gr ps-3). Harcourt Children’s Books. Set during the devastating tsunami of 2004, Mama is the touching true story of a baby hippo that was separated from his mother when the wave hit. After struggling alone for several days, the baby was rescued by Kenyan wildlife officers and brought to live in an animal refuge. There, all by himself, he adopted a new “mother”—that just happened to be a 130-year-old giant male tortoise. And they’ve been inseparable ever since. Although Mama takes place against the backdrop of a terrible human tragedy, at the heart of this story is a moving and original tale of adoption—and of finding love and companionship in the least likely of circumstances. About the Author: Jeanette Winter has written and illustrated many books for children, including The Librarian of Basra: A True Story from Iraq, Calavera Abecedario: A Day of the Dead Alphabet Book, My Name Is Georgia, and Josefina. She lives in New York City.

Mama, If You Had a Wish. Jeanne Modesitt. Illustrated by Robin Spowart. 1993. 40p. (gr ps-1). Simon & Schuster. Tells the story of a little rabbit who asks his mother if she would wish for a better child, only to find out that her wish would be to keep Little Bunny unchanged. A truly delighful story to remind the young child that even if they have faults they are still loved.

Mama’s Babies. Gary Crew. 2002. 160p. (gr 4-7). Annick Press. By the time I was nine years old I had begun to doubt that Mama Pratchett, the woman with whom I had lived for as long as I could remember, was in fact my mother... So begins Gary Crew’s chilling fictionalized account of a “baby farmer” who, for profit, takes in unwanted children that later mysteriously disappear. Based on the facts revealed at the criminal trials of three women during the 1890s, Crew presents the story of young Sarah and her horrific realization. Sarah is the eldest child in the Pratchett family and finds herself treated more as a maid than as a daughter. She looks after her younger brothers and sisters—all under the age of five—cooking their meals, washing their diapers, and generally keeping them out of the way of Mama Pratchett. Mama is a stern woman and doesn’t like children who are “all full of beans.” She guards her family closely from the prying eyes of strangers, moving from town to town every few months. Her meager earnings as a seamstress do little to keep the children fed and clothed, and they often go to bed with rumbling tummies, their mattresses padded with old newspaper to keep out the drafts. Mama, however, always seems to have enough for her own little luxuries. Sarah is made suspicious by the sudden appearance of a new baby following one of Mama’s visits to the train station. Shortly afterwards, young Robbie, only a toddler himself, falls mysteriously ill and dies while Sarah and her siblings are away on a rare outing from the house. But Robbie is not the only child of Mama Pratchett’s to disappear. With the help of her friend Will, Sarah finds the courage to testify in court against Mama Pratchett on the charge of murder. In a simple and telling introduction, Gary Crew describes the social background of the late-nineteenth century that led unwed mothers to give up their babies to unscrupulous strangers. Tragically, Crew’s story is derived from real events: in the 1890s, Amelia Dyer in England, Minnie Dean in New Zealand, and Frances Knorr in Australia were sentenced to death for murder, following the testimony of teenage girls.

Maria’s Gift. LC Santiago. 2008. 100p. (gr 4-7). CreateSpace. For as long as Maria could remember she had lived with the sisters. Maria was happy there but as she got older she felt that there was something missing is her life. This Christmas Maria decided that she would leave the warmth and comfort of her home to search for her one true desire. She would leave the place she has always felt protected and go on a long journey that would bring her right back to the place she had always called home. Here in this very place her only Christmas wish would be fulfilled in a much unexpected way. Maria proves that if you believe anything is possible life has a way of proving that dreams can come true and you will find that the world is truly a small place.

Mary Scary. Andrew Cosby. Illustrated by Troy Nixey. 2007. 56p. (gr ps-3). Dark Horse Comics. Last year, Dark Horse Books introduced readers to Dreadful Ed—a very normal, very nice human boy who winds up as heir to the throne of the nightmare world called Nocturnia! In this stand-alone sequel to that fantastical story we meet Mary Scary—the weird baby girl who was swapped out for Ed when her parents, the Boogeyman and his wife, needed a male heir for their spooky kingdom! Mary has always been different from the rest of her peers. Maybe it’s the spider on her head, maybe it’s the snake around her neck... but something about her makes everything about her weird! And just when it really starts to bother her that everyone seems to notice how different she is, she meets someone who might be able to help her be less scary—a very normal boy named Ed.

Max & the Adoption Day Party. Adria F Klein. Illustrated by Mernie Gallagher-Cole. 2007. 24p. (gr ps-3). Picture Window Books.

Mandy. Julie Edwards. Illustrated by Judith Gwyn Brown. 1971. 188p. (gr 3-7). Harper & Row. For an orphan child whose life is filled with comfortable, predictable sameness, with no particular hardships, life is, well, all right. Really, what does Mandy have to worry about? So it comes as a surprise even to Mandy when a small restlessness begins to grow in her. This lonely ache sets her to wandering farther afield, and leads her to a startling and wonderful discovery over the orphanage wall—a very old, very small, seemingly abandoned cottage. Embarking on a clandestine domestic fantasy involving gardening tools and soap flakes, Mandy finds herself being less than honest about where and how she’s spending her days. Holding her secret closer and closer to her heart, this imaginative dreamer inadvertently endangers her reputation—and her life.

Mario’s Big Question: Where Do I Belong?: A Child’s Guide Through Adoption. Carolyn Nystrom. Illustrated by Ann Baum. 1987. 44p. (gr 4-7). Lion Pub Corp. Adopted Mario tries to understand who he is, how he should relate to his birth and adoptive parents, and how he fits into his family.

Marrow of the World, The. Ruth Nichols. 1972. 168p. (gr 5-10). MacMillan of Canada. Fantasy novel is about two young people in the Canadian wilderness who become involved in a life-and-death struggle between the forces of good and evil. Linda and her cousin, Philip, find themselves in a strange world at the instigation of Ygerna the witch, Linda’s evil half-sister. She hopes to use them to obtain the Marrow of the World, the first earth from which all life sprang. Their quest—which may not bring them freedom—takes them through eerie landscapes and dangerous encounters with mermen, hill bankits and dwarves.

Marshmallow. Clare Turlay Newberry. Illustrated by the author. 1942. 31p. (gr ps-3). Harper & Brothers. Charming, heart-warming tale of the adoption of a very young bunny rabbit, who misses his mother, by an apprehensive cat.

Marybell’s Story. Roselys Polanco. 2005. 64p. iUniverse, Inc. Fifteen-year-old Marybell holds a dark secret. Growing up in an abusive home, she suffers unspeakable crimes at the hands of her father, and she buries her hurt, anger, and confusion in a tiny corner of her heart. Adopted by two kind-hearted people, Marybell struggles to forget the past and settle in to her new life. When she begins to date Angel, things turn difficult at home. Her mother no longer trusts her, and it’s not long before the frightening memories return with a vengeance. She pours out her feelings in her journal, seeking solace in the written word. She breaks up with Angel and starts dating her best friend’s ex-boyfriend, a move that could cost her a valuable friend. The past starts to catch up with her, and she retreats under a façade. But in her quest to fit in with the rest of her friends, she loses her sense of identity. In the end, will Marybell be able to conquer her memories, or will she succumb to the darkness?

Mat the Little Monkey. Sylvia Sherry. Ilustrated by Grabianski. 1977. 44p. Crane Russak. When a little girl, Aminah, adopts an orphaned baby monkey and takes him home with her to live, he has to learn to get along with her other pets, a tabby cat and a white chicken.

Me & My Name. Mary Jane Miller. 1990. (gr 1-6). Viking. Does a new name make a new you? Which name? Which boyfriend? Which answer? Yes or no? Erin never had to make so many decisions before! Should she be adopted by her stepfather and change her name? If you have been Erin Mitchell all your life how can you turn into Erin Zanin? Mitchell has always sounded fine? Plus, it connects her to her dad. But Leo is a great stepdad and now that her mother is expecting, having the same last name would really make them all a family. Mitchell or Zanin? What do you do? Then there’s Richard and Ryan. How do you choose between two cute guys? Should it be Richard, the popular jock or smart and funny Ryan? Erin even has to choose between “Yes” and “No.” Can she say no to Kim Adams the most popular girl in sixth grade when Kim gives her a dare? How many choices should one kid have to make, anyway? And how do you make them?

Me, Mop, & the Moondance Kid. Walter Dean Myers. Illustrated by Rodney Pate. 1988. 154p. Delacorte Press. Although adoption has taken them out of the New Jersey institution where they grew up, eleven-year-old T.J. and his younger brother Moondance remain involved with their friend Mop’s relentless attempts to become adopted herself and to wreak revenge on their baseball rivals the obnoxious Eagles.

Meet the Austins. Madeleine L’Engle. 1960. 191p. Vanguard Press. Vicky Austin and her siblings must adjust to the presence of a new member of the household—Maggie Hamilton, who is orphaned when her father is killed in a plane crash. Maggie is at first petulant and spoiled, but gradually opens her heart to the Austins to become one of the family.

Meet the Radish. Jean Ure. 1999. 160p. (gr 4-7). (Foster Family #2). Hodder Children’s Books. Sam is happily installed with the Fosters and now they feel ready to take on another child. Abi and Sam prepare for what they’re sure will be a boisterous and annoying little brother, but when six year-old Radice arrives, he’s not at all what they expected.

Megan’s Birthday Tree: A Story About Open Adoption. Laurie Lears. Illustrated by Bill Farnsworth. 2005. 32p. (gr ps-3). Albert Whitman & Company. Megan is adopted, but she and her parents keep in touch with her birth mother, Kendra. Every year, Kendra decorates the tree she planted when Megan was born and takes a picture of it to send to Megan. Megan cherishes this Birthday Tree, for it ties her and Kendra together. But one day Kendra writes that she is getting married and moving to a different town. Will she forget Megan, without the tree to remind her? Open adoption, where the birth parents and adoptive family can stay connected, is now the prevalent form of adoption in this country. Laurie Lears’s warm and tender story shows how open adoption works and can benefit everyone involved. Bill Farnsworth’s rich paintings express Megan’s deep emotions. The story is accompanied by a note about open adoption written by the director of one agency’s adoption services.

Michelangelo. Diane Stanley. 2000. 48p. (gr 4-7). Harpercollins Juvenile Books. When he was born, Michelangelo Buonarroti was put into the care of a stonecutter’s family. He often said it was from them that he got his love of sculpture. It certainly didn’t come from his own father, a respectable magistrate who beat his son when he asked to become an artists apprentice. But Michelangelo persevered. His early sculptures caught the attention of Florence’s great ruler, Lorenzo de’ Medici, who invited the boy to be educated with his own sons. Soon after, Michelangelo was astonishing people with the lifelike creations he wrested from marble—from the heartbreaking Pieta he sculpted when he was only twenty-five to the majestic David that brought him acclaim as the greatest sculptor in Italy. Michelangelo had a turbulent, quarrelsome life. He was obsessed with perfection and felt that everyone—from family members to his demanding patrons—took advantage and let him down. His long and difficult association with Pope Julius II yielded his greatest masterpiece, the radiant paintings in the Sistine Chapel, and his most disastrous undertaking, the monumental tomb that caused the artist frustration and heartache for forty years. With her thoroughly researched, lively narrative and superbly detailed illustrations, Diane Stanley has captured the life of an artist who towered above the late Renaissance—and whose brilliance in architecture, painting, and sculpture amazes and moves us to this day. About the Author: Diane Stanley is the recipient of the Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children, and the 2000 Washington Post/Children’s Book Guild Nonfiction Award for the body of her work. “There is no one like Diane Stanley...for picture-book biography—she brings to the genre an uncanny ability to clarify and compress dense and tricky historical matter, scrupulous attention to visual and verbal nuances, and a self-fulfilling faith in her readers’ intelligence” (Publishers Weekly). Diane Stanley and her husband, Peter Vennema, have worked together on other books in Diane’s award-winning biography series, including Shaka: King Of The Zulus, Bard Of Avon: The Story Of William Shakespeare, and Charles Dickens: The Man Who Had Great Expectations. Diane has also illustrated The Last Princess: The Story Of Princess Ka’iulani of Hawaii, by Fay Stanley, and she has written and illustrated Michelangelo, Peter the Great, Joan of Arc, Leonardo Da Vinci, Cleopatra and Rumpelstiltskin’s Daughter. Her first novel, A Time Apart, was selected as one of 1999’s Top 10 First Novels by ALA Booklist. Diane Stanley and Peter Vennema live in Houston, Texas.

Midnight Diary of Zoya Blume, The. Laura Shaine Cunningham. 2005. 176p. (gr 4-7). Laura Geringer. “Your first memory is your point of view,” says Zoya’s mother. But what is Zoya’s first memory? When her mother must leave home, promising to return in seven days, Zoya Blume begins a midnight diary to keep the dark forces at bay. She writes of secrets and of nightmares—most frightening of all the Buka, a monstrous witch, composed of shadows, who seized her once long ago and now, in her mother’s absence, threatens to reclaim her forever. Can Zoya conquer her fear by facing her past? Memories come like a chill blast from the country of her birth. Yet Zoya finds a guardian in Leon, her mother’s magician friend, an ally in her Gypsy neighbor Flynn, and a beacon of hope in the Stone Girl—a hauntingly beautiful statue in the courtyard. Only love and truth can save Zoya Blume. On the chance she will lose everything and everyone she loves, Zoya takes the ultimate journey alone one midnight and crosses the border out of childhood and into the adult world, in which joy must coexist with the knowledge that those you love are not immortal. A heartfelt mystery tour that sheds light on every young girl’s deepest feelings.

Mira, Mirror. Mette Ivie Harrison. 2004. 314p. (gr 5 up). Penguin Group. From School Library Journal: “Magic is born in life but it must be taken by death.” This is the lesson that Mira learns after she’s sold to a witch in this imaginative retelling of “Snow White.” Mira blindly trusts the beautiful, older apprentice who becomes her adopted sister until the day she turns Mira into a magic mirror. Mira’s power enables her sister to become the most beautiful woman in the land and one who will become queen. As she hangs on the wall, forgotten, but still able to speak aloud, Mira draws her life force from killing insects and strangers who discover her. Years later a pretty peasant girl named Ivana, running from an abusive father, finds the cottage. Mira promises to give her a new appearance if Ivana will take her away with her. During their journey, an affluent merchant and his plain, outspoken daughter pick them up. While they are sleeping, Mira switches the physical appearance of both girls. This exciting, dark fantasy that examines the bonds of sisterly love will keep readers engrossed from beginning to end. Harrison portrays the traditionally evil Queen as someone to be pitied because she can’t love or give, only take. Mira is redeemed by her realization that she has the obligation to try to save her sister from herself, even if she’s destroyed in the process. This is a moving and at times graphic retelling of the traditional Brothers Grimm tale that puts a fresh spin on a classic story. — Sharon Rawlins, Piscataway Public Library, NJ; Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information

Miracle of Marcelino, The. Jose M Sanchez-Silva. Illustrated by Goni. Translated by Angela Britton. 1954. 109p. Browne & Nolan Ltd (Dublin). This is a simple story of a young boy, abandoned after birth, who is adopted and reared by Franciscan monks in a small Friary. Pictured: 1963 U.S. Vintage Paperback Edition.

Misadventures of Benjamin Bartholomew Piff, The. Jason Lethcoe. 2007. 224p. (Benjamin Bartholomew Piff Series #1). (gr 4-7). Grosset & Dunlap. On his eleventh birthday, sad, orphaned Benjamin Bartholomew Piff accidentally adheres to all of the wishing rules—and, in wishing for the mother lode of limitless wishes, he unknowingly sets into a motion a chain of events that threatens to disrupt the balance between the magical realm of wishes and curses. Before long, Benjamin has been recruited by the Wishworks Factory director himself to fight the evil henchmen of the Curseworks Factory. In the process, Benjamin will reclaim his original wish—giving new credence to the old adage: “Be careful what you wish for.” About the Author: Jason Lethcoe is the author and illustrator of several books, including the Zoom’s Academy series. Lethcoe also worked for 17 years in the Hollywood animation industry as a storyboard artist for several studios. He does most of his writing on his 30-foot sailboat called The Moon and lives in California with his wife, Nancy, and his three kids, Emily, Alex, and Olivia Rose. By the Same Author: Wishful Thinking and Wishing Well.

Miserable Mill, The. Lemony Snicket. Illustrated by Brett Helquist. 2000. 208p. (A Series of Unfortunate Events #4). (gr 4-7). HarperCollins. “The Baudelaire orphans looked out the grimy window of the train and gazed at the gloomy blackness of the Finite Forest, wondering if their lives would ever get better,” begins The Miserable Mill. If you have been introduced to the three Baudelaire orphans in any of Lemony Snicket’s previous novels, you know that not only will their lives not get better, they will get much worse. In the fourth installment in the Series of Unfortunate Events, the sorrowful siblings, having once again narrowly escaped the clutches of the evil Count Olaf, are escorted by the kindly but ineffectual Mr. Poe to their newest “home“ at the Lucky Smells Lumbermill. Much to their horror (if not surprise), their dormitory at the mill is crowded and damp, they are forced to work with spinning saw blades, they are fed only one meal a day (not counting the chewing gum they get for lunch), and worst of all, Count Olaf lurks in a dreadful disguise as Shirley the receptionist just down the street. Not even the clever wordplay and ludicrous plot twists could keep this story buoyant—reading about the mean-spirited foreman, the deadly blades, poor Klaus (hypnotized and “reprogrammed”), and the relentless hopelessness of the children’s situation only made us feel gloomy. Fans of these wickedly funny, suspenseful adventures won’t want to miss out on a single one, but we’re hoping the next tales have the delicate balance of delight and disaster we’ve come to expect from this exciting series.

Missing Sisters. Gregory Maguire. 1994. 152p. (gr 5-9). MK McElderry Books. Twelve-year-old Alice Colossus lives in a Catholic orphanage run by nuns. She is part deaf and her speech is not all it should be, either. Her life is thrown into disarray when her favorite companion, an ancient nun named Sister Vincent de Paul, is burned in a kitchen fire and removed from the convent. But further complications abound. It turns out that Alice Colossus may have been one of a pair of twins. Her sister, who is not afflicted with Alice’s disabilities, was adopted long ago. Can Alice find her missing sister? Will the adoptive family make room for Alice? When it comes to loving the abandoned, how much capacity does any one heart have? About the Author: Gregory Maguire received his Ph.D. in English and American Literature from Tufts University. His work as a consultant in creative writing for children has taken him to speaking engagements across the United States and abroad. He is a founder and codirector of Children’s Literature New England, Incorporated, a non-profit educational charity established in 1987. The author of numerous books for children, Mr. Maguire is also a contributor to Am I Blue?: Coming Out From the Silence, a collection of short stories for gay and lesbian teenagers, as well as the book Wicked, the basis for the musical of the same name.

Mommy Did You Know... (An Adoption Story). Constance H Giroir. Illustrated by J Longo. 2005. 24p. (gr k-5). Xlibris Corp. This is based on a true story, only the names have been changed. That doesn’t take away from the story of Sarah’s “coming home day” and the years that followed. Every adopted child will enjoy reading this book.

Mommy Orphanage, The. Cheryl Wilder Krass & Emily Krass. Illustrated by Lauren Francis. 2008. 32p. (gr ps-3). Alexemi Publishing. The Mommy Orphanage is a charming children’s book told through a conversation between a young girl and her adoptive mother. When the little girl poses the question, “What if instead of an orphanage where kids without families live, there was an orphanage where all the moms who want kids live?” the mother asks, “If you went to the Mommy Orphanage today, would you still pick me to be your mom?” At times funny, and at times touching, this book reinforces the bond between a parent and an adopted child, in an unique tale told from the child’s point of view. About the Authors: The Mommy Orphanage was written by the mother-and-daughter team of Cheryl and Emily Krass. Emily was born in the Guangdong Province of China and spent the first nine months of her life in an orphanage there. In 2002, her parents and big brother (who was ten at the time) traveled to China to adopt Emily and bring her home. When she was five years old, she created the original concept for The Mommy Orphanage. Cheryl loved the idea so much she expanded it into a book. The book was then brought to life by the wonderful illustrations created by talented artist Lauren Francis, and then published by Alexemi Publishing.

Monsoon Summer. Mitali Perkins. 2004. 272p. (gr 4-7). Delacorte Books for Young Readers. From School Library Journal: Jazz, 15, and her best friend (and secret love), Steve, own a successful small business in Berkeley, taking photos of tourists in hippie costumes. When her mother wins a grant to spend the summer in India to establish a clinic at the orphanage from which she was adopted as a child, Jazz is reluctant to go but understands that the family must stick together. The girls she meets in Pune help her see herself with new eyes: more than a solidly built shot-putter, she is a beautiful young woman who might be worthy of Steve’s affection. Once burned for following a do-gooder impulse, Jazz is initially afraid to befriend Danita, a talented 15-year-old orphan who dreams about starting her own business but feels compelled to accept a marriage proposal from an older man who will care for her sisters. Influenced by the magic of the monsoon season, the girls push one another to take chances rather than play it safe. Jazz reaches out to Steve and finds a way to make a difference in Danita’s life. This realistic and romantic novel unobtrusively incorporates details of Indian life and culture. Jazz is a believable character, curious about her new surroundings but most engaged by her own family and friendship issues. She is appropriately upset by the poverty that surrounds her and increasingly aware of the Indians’ different perceptions, including subtle indications of race and caste. Readers with an interest in faraway places will enjoy this story of friendship and first love. — Kathleen Isaacs, Edmund Burke School, Washington, DC; © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. About the Author: Mitali Perkins is the author of several novels for young readers, including the “First Daughter” books (First Daughter: Extreme American Makeover [2007] and First Daughter: White House Rules [2008]) and Rickshaw Girl. She studied political science at Stanford University and public policy at U.C. Berkeley, and blogs regularly at mitaliblog.com.

Monster Baby. Dian Curtis Regan. Illustrated by Doug Cushman. 2009. 32p. (gr ps-3). Clarion Books. A very different kind of baby is left on the doorstep of a kindly country couple. Mrs. Oliver’s dreams have come true when her husband finds a tiny baby on the doorstep of their farmhouse. He looks like any other newborn—well, except for the fur, the tail, the pointy teeth, and the horns. But to Mrs. Oliver, he is beautiful. Olly begins to grow at an alarming rate, and in just three days he’s big enough for kindergarten. He makes friends with the children at school, but his size keeps getting him in trouble...until he realizes all the things it allows him to do. After graduating from college two weeks after coming to live with the Olivers, Olly is adopted by his new parents. Even better, someone new—and equally unusual—moves into the farm down the road. About the Authors: Dian Curtis Regan is the author of many books for young readers. In 1993, she was named “Member of the Year” by the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. She has been inducted into the Oklahoma Professional Writers’ Hall of Fame, and has received a “Distinguished Medal of Service in Children’s Literature” from the Oklahoma Center for Poets and Writers. Dian was born in Colorado Springs and lived in Colorado for many years. After graduating from the University of Colorado in Boulder, she taught school in Denver until deciding to “take one year off to write.” More than a year has passed and she is still writing full time. Dian has lived in Texas, Oklahoma, and Venezuela. Presently, she lives in Wichita, KS. Visit the Author’s website. Doug Cushman was born in Springfield, OH, and moved to Connecticut with his family when he was 15 years old. While in high school he created comic books lampooning his teachers, selling them to his classmates for a nickel a piece. Since 1978, he has illustrated and/or written over 100 books for children and collected a number of honors including a Reuben Award for Book Illustration from the National Cartoonists Society, New York Times Children’s Books Best Sellers, and the New York Public Library’s Best 100 Books of 2000. He enjoys hiking, kayaking and cooking (and eating!) as he splits his time between Northern California and Paris, France.

Moominvalley in November. Tove Jansson. Illustrated by the Author. Translated by Kingsley Hart. 1971. 175p. Ernst Benn Ltd. Autumn had come to Moominvalley, and with it the restless feeling that often goes with the change of season. Snufkin knew it was time to break camp and he padded off through the rain dripping forest. The Fillyjonk left her cleaning to visit Moominmamma, and the Mymble wanted to see her sister, Little My, whom the Moomins had adopted. The over-anxious Humulen, forlorn Little Toft and Grandpa-Grumble (who gave himself this name because he was so old he had forgotten his real one) all set off for Moominvalley, a place they dimly remembered but where they felt sure everything would turn out all right. One by one these six arrived at the Moomins’ house. None of the found what they had been expecting, but their visit was full of surprises and excitement.

Mop, Moondance, & the Nagasaki Knights. Walter Dean Myers. 1992. 150p. (gr 4-7). Delacorte Press. After T.J. and his younger brother are adopted, the biggest problems they face are winning an international baseball tournament, held in their New Jersey hometown, and helping a homeless teammate.

Moses & the Angels. Ileene Smith Sobel. Illusrated by Mark H Podwal. Preface by Elie Wiesel. 1999. 80p. (gr 3-7). Delacorte Press. In a collection that shows religion brushed with mystery, Sobel retells the stories of Moses, who is always surrounded by angels, his life washed in magic, miracles, and exaggerations. Derived, according to an introduction by Elie Wiesel, from biblical commentaries, the tales cover familiar ground (Moses’s adoption by the pharaoh’s daughter, the plagues, the freeing of Israel, and the years in the desert) and more fantastic realms, with tours through the seven heavens, visions of the future, and battles among the angels, who guide and protect Moses at every stage of his life. By turns serious and delightfully eccentric, these unusual renderings of the old stories are matched by Podwal’s iconic, vibrant paintings. It’s an entertaining volume, surely destined for applications beyond the obvious religious ones. — From Kirkus Reviews. Copyright © 1998, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Moses the Kitten. James Herriot. 1984. 32p. St Martin’s Press. A bedraggled young kitten is adopted by a Yorkshire family and nursed back to health. They find that Moses the Kitten has a very unusual idea of who his mother is.

Most Wanted. Jordan Cray. 1998. 208p. (gr 4-7). Aladdin Paperbacks. When Andy discovers at the age of 16 that he’s adopted, he decides to use the Internet to find his biological parents. But the Net should come with a warning—be careful what you wish for. It might come true.

Mother For Choco, A. Keiko Kasza. 1992. 32p. (gr ps-3). Putnam Pub Group. The talented creator of The Wolf’s Chicken Stew (1987 ALA Notable) provides a warmhearted contemporary surprise ending for the time-honored formula of a little creature searching the animal kingdom for its appropriate mother. Choco, a small yellow bird with a big blue bill, tries a giraffe (she has no wings, she says), a penguin (no “big round cheeks”), and a walrus, but no one seems to look just like him. Comfortable Mrs. Bear is wiser: “If you had a mommy, what would she do?” And since she’s quite able to hold him and kiss him, regardless of appearances, he’s soon the new member of her happy family—joining the little pig, hippo, and alligator already in her affectionate brood. The timely point is hardly subtle, but it’s made with notable good humor, especially in Kasza’s marvelous animal caricatures of comically human states of mind. Just right for the preschool group or beginning reader. — ©1992 Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Mother, Help Me Live. Lurlene McDaniel. 1992. 144p. (One Last Wish #3). (gr 6 up). Bantam. When Sarah MacGreggor finds out that she needs a bone marrow transplant to live, she also learns that she is adopted. Granted one last hope when she receives a large check from an anonymous benefactor, Sarah plans to search for her birthmother who gave her away 15 years ago—and who may be her only chance for life.

Mother’s Day in March: A Story of Adoption. Antonella Valeri. 2006. 28p. Authorhouse. This color-illustrated book helps young children, between the ages of 3 and 7, understand the concept of “adoption” through the eyes of Dina and her curious friends. Mother’s Day in March explores a family’s loving preparation for a “special” day. This book will certainly encourage other adoptive families to celebrate personal events as holidays based on their own adoption stories. About the Author: Antonella Valeri lives in Pickering, Ontario, with her husband and four-year-old son. With her adopted son, Johnny, as her inspiration, Antonella wanted to write a book that introduced the concept of “adoption” in simple terms. She believes this book will inspire other adoptive families to celebrate their “special” experiences based on their own personal adoption stories.

Mother’s Gift, A. Britney & Lynne Spears. 2001. 240p. Delacorte Books for Young Readers. Holly Faye Lovell sure can sing. Everyone in Biscay, Mississippi, knows that. And when at fourteen she becomes the youngest student ever to win a scholarship to the prestigious Haverty School of Music, her dream of pursuing a singing career is on its way. But for the first time in her life, Holly must leave behind her mother, Wanda. Although they don’t have much in the way of money, there’s always been plenty of love . . . and there’s always been Wanda’s birthmark, an ugly red scar on the side of her face that makes people who don’t know her turn away. Now that Holly’s off with her posh new friends and new life, she’s ashamed to find herself embarrassed by her mom and their humble background. And Wanda finds herself wanting to reveal a long-hidden secret ... a secret that could destroy their bond forever.

Mrs Hen’s Big Surprise. Christel Desmoinaux. 2000. 32p. (gr ps-3). Margaret McElderry. Mrs. Hen has found a very strange-looking egg in her garden: It’s yellow with blue polka dots and it’s three times her size! But an egg is an egg, so Mrs. Hen sits on it. She’s sure it will hatch into the baby chick of her dreams. Is Mrs. Hen in for a Big Surprise!

Mulberry Bird, The: Story of an Adoption. Anne Braff Brodzinsky. Illustrated by Diana L Stanley. 1986. 48p. (gr k-5). Perspectives Press. In the face of insurmountable problems, a young bird mother finds the strength to make an adoption plan for her much-loved baby, giving him a stable home and two loving parents.

Murder in Montauk. Judy Soloway Kay. 2005. 54p. (Michigan Reading Plus Series). University of Michigan Press. Charlie Anderson, a reporter on leave from the Boston Globe, becomes entangled in an unusual mystery when he stumbles upon a news article about his own death. Confused and still very much alive, Charlie travels to Montauk, Long Island, to learn more about the deceased man and learns more about himself in the process.

Murmel Murmel Murmel. Robert Munsch. Illustrated by Michael Martchenka. 1982. 32p. (gr ps-3). Annick Press. Robin pulls a baby out of a hole in sandbox and tries to find an adult who will care for it. About the Author: Robert Munsch is the author of more than 25 books for children including The Paper Bag Princes and Stephanie’s Ponytail. He was born in Pittsburgh, PA, and studied to be a Jesuit priest before deciding to work with children instead. He taught in a variety of nursery schools and daycare centers while he earned an MA in Early Childhood Education. In 1975, Munsch and his wife, Ann, moved to Guelph, Ontario. The Munschs have three children: Julie, Andrew, and Tyya (see them all in Something Good!). Michael Martchenko has illustrated over 30 books for children and has exhibited his work throughout North America. He has won numerous awards for design and illustration. He lives with his wife, Patricia, in Toronto. Author’s Description: Murmel Murmel Murmel was very strange because it started up with the words “Murmel Murmel Murmel,” which I thought of while I was washing my face one morning. It was a really funny word and I thought it would work well in a story, so I started searching around for the right story. Well, what I came up with was the book. Murmel is actually about adoption. I made it up just as we were adopting our first son, Andrew. The little girl in the book, Robin, was a next door neighbor who was also adopted. That’s why I used her in the story. And the truck driver at the end who gets the baby is actually me, because just then I was adopting a baby. I liked the idea of a man getting a baby, because just after we adopted Andrew I was staying home with him, but nobody would believe that I was actually staying at home and taking care of a baby. They would say, “Oh no, you are actually working on your writing. We know men don’t stay home and take care of babies.” That’s why I wanted the truck driver to get the baby at the end of the book.

My Abnormal Life. Lee McClain. 2005. 181p. (YA). Smooch. Fifteen-year-old Rose Graham has never been to school. She’s never had a date. She certainly never knew she was gorgeous. She’s been too busy shoplifting food, keeping Social Services off her family’s case, and taking care of her little sister. Now, plunged into a foster family in affluent Linden Falls, she’s supposed to act normal. But high school parties, first kisses, and writing for the school newspaper just seem trivial when all Rose wants is to get her family back together. At least she has the Altlives computer game to help her cope. And Brian Johnson’s broad shoulders to drive her crazy. By the same author: My Alternate Life and My Loco Life.

My Alternate Life. Lee McClain. 2004. 177p. (YA). Smooch. This fast-paced teen novel tells the story of Trinity B. Jones, a tough foster teen trying to survive life in a snobbish suburb and find a way to reunite with her birth mom. “Trinity stands up and lives on the page: gutsy, vulnerable, street-smart, people-smart—okay, just plain smart, a survivor with a heart,” says award-winning author Nancy Springer. By the same author: My Loco Life and My Abnormal Life.

My Friend, My Brother. David Warren Swartley. Illustrated by James Converse. 1980. 102p. Herald Press. Twelve-year-old Eric Miller, a Mennonite, and Jon Simon become friends and then, through adoption, brothers.

My Friend... the Angel. Daniela Calvo. 2008. 28p. (gr ps-3). Xlibris Corp.

My Loco Life. Lee McClain. 2006. 178p. (YA). Dorchester Publishing Company. THE RULES OF FASHION: DO design a sexy, one-of-a-kind dress to win a scholarship to the fashion institute in Madrid so you can get out of the foster-care system once and for all. Bonus points if that dress helps attract the attention of your hunky new neighbor. DON’T let on you don’t know Spanish, even though everyone assumes you’re a native speaker. DO enlist the help of hunky neighbor to bring over his sister’s Spanish Cosmos for a little private tutoring. You might learn a lot more than a new language. DON’T let jealous girlfriends, pushy parents, or a quirky computer game get in the way of making your dreams come true. — From the back cover. By the same author: My Alternate Life and My Abnormal Life.

My New Town. Kirsten Hall. Illustrated by Suzan Gerardo. 2005. 32p. (My First Reader Series). (gr ps-3). Children’s Press. While giving a tour of his new town, a young boy introduces the reader to his teacher, dentist, barber, and police officer, as well as to his newly adopted baby sister.

My Real Family. Emily Arnold McCully. 1994. 28p. (gr ps-3). Browndeer Press/HBJ. Sarah, the youngest member of the theatrical Bear Family, is pleased with herself for doing such a good job as props manager and costume mistress in the latest Farm Theater production, but no one in her family pays much attention to her. Instead, they praise Blanche, an orphaned lamb who is visiting. And, worst of all, instead of sending Blanche home, Sarah’s parents invite her to stay with them. They even announce that they would like to adopt her. Sarah seems close to losing everything-her parents’ love, her room, her place in the universe. She decides that she was adopted, and runs away into the woods to find her birth parents. Of course, the heartsick Bruno and Sophie pursue her. In the end, Sarah gains a greater understanding of the unshakable place she holds in her family. The enormously appealing, almost impressionistic illustrations are done in pen and ink, watercolor, and pastels. With economy of line and marvelous use of accent and shadow, they capture, in turn, the friendly and fearsome ambiance of the forest, and explore the full range of ursine emotions. These charming and expressive creatures draw readers into Sarah’s world. A book that will be of comfort to all youngsters, especially those who think they deserve more attention than they get.— Anna Biagioni Hart, Sherwood Regional Library, Alexandria, VA (School Library Journal)

My Road Trip to the Pretty Girl Capital of the World. Brian Yansky. 2003. 178p. (YA). Cricket Books. It’s 1979, and Simon’s life is unraveling before his very eyes. He doesn’t get along with his father, his girlfriend has just dumped him, he’s in trouble with the school authorities, and he’s been arrested for underage drinking and smoking pot—not to mention selling the stuff. And to top it off, he’s adopted, and his parents act like it’s something shameful. He wrestles open his parents’ lockbox, finds the names and last known location of his birth parents, and decides to leave Mansfield, Iowa, and head to Texas in search of his origins. His encounters with an Elvis impersonator (who may just be the missing man himself) along with a young woman on the lam and two hapless drifters add up to a picaresque road-trip tale that is not only very funny but honest in the telling. My Road Trip to the Pretty Girl Capital of the World is a debut novel that perfectly captures the flavor of the post-hippie grit, post-slacker cool, and weird-techno wealth of Austin.

My Sister Sam. Jean Ure. 1999. 176p. (gr 4-7). (Foster Family #5). Hodder Children’s Books. When Abi Foster’s mum asks if she’d like a brother or sister, Abi expected a baby, not a tough extrovert called Sam. But Abi is thrilled, and although Sam seems a bit headstrong Abi gives her a chance. But Sam keeps buying expensive gifts for Abi and her parents, where did she get the money from?

My So-Called Family. Courtney Sheinmel. 2008. 208p. (gr 4-7). Simon & Schuster. Leah Hoffman-Ross just moved to New York and she wants her new friends to think she’s a typical thirteen-year-old. But Leah has a secret: she doesn’t have a father, she has a donor. Before Leah was born, her mother went to Lyon’s Reproductive Services and picked Donor 730. Now her mother is married and Leah has a stepfather and a little brother. Her mom thinks that they should be all the family Leah needs. Despite her attempts to fit in and be normal, Leah can’t help but feel like something is missing. When she finds the link on the Internet to the Lyon’s Sibling Registry, Leah knows she has to see if she has any half-siblings. And when she discovers that one of the other kids from Donor 730 is a girl her age, Leah will do anything to meet her—even if she has to hide it from everybody else. Visit the Author’s website.

My Special Family: A Child’s Book About Open Adoption. Kathleen Silber & Debra M Parelskin. Illustrated by Andrew Denman. 1994. 28p. (gr ps-4). Open Adoption.

My Wish, Our Little Oat. Tamra Martin. Illustrated by Jason Tinker. 2007. 36p. (gr ps-3). Lifevest Publishing, Inc. One night two frogs wish on a falling star for a baby, only to have a small froglet wish on the same falling star for a Mommy and Daddy. Destined to be a family, both Suzette (Mommy) and Kristoff (Daddy) share a dream seeing the froglet make his wish. Thus begins their journey to find their new son. They solicit the help of four dragonflies and discover that he lives in a pond very far away. The story continues with their trip to find him and the three frogs discovering the love that brings a family together. Inspired by a family who went all the way to Thailand to find their son, this book highlights the love behind adoption within a fun story for children.

Mysterious Benedict Society, The. Trenton Lee Stewart. Illustrated by Carson Ellis. 2007. 485p. (Mysterious Benedict Scoiety Series #1). (gr 4-7). Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. From Booklist: “Are you a gifted child looking for Special Opportunities?” This curious newspaper ad catches the eye of orphan Reynie Muldoon. After taking exams that test both mind and spirit, Reynie is selected along with four other contestants—Sticky Washington, a nervous child with a photographic memory; irrepressible Kate Weatherhill; and a tiny child who lives up to her name, Constance Contraire. The children soon learn they’ve been chosen by mysterious Mr. Benedict for an important mission: they are to infiltrate the isolated Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened, from which messages of distrust and compliance are being broadcast into the minds of the world’s citizens. Debut novelist Stewart takes some familiar conventions—among them, an orphan struggling against evil forces (Harry Potter, anyone?)—and makes them his own. But like the Potter books, his story goes beyond mere adventures, delving into serious issues, such as the way sloganeering can undermine society—or control it. Through its interesting characters, the book also tackles personal concerns: abandonment, family, loyalty, and facing one’s fears. The novel could have been shortened, but Stewart writes with such attention to the intricacies of plot and personality, his story rarely feels slow; only a significant disclosure about Constance seems forced. Smart kids who like Blue Balliet’s books are the natural audience for this; but, read aloud, the novel will attract many others as well. — Ilene Cooper; © American Library Association. All rights reserved. About the Author: Trenton Lee Stewart, graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and author of the adult novel Flood Summer, lives in Arkansas with his wife and two sons. This is his debut children’s novel. By the Same Author: The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey (2008); The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner’s Dilemma (2009).

Mysterious Benedict Society & the Perilous Journey, The. Trenton Lee Stewart. Illustrated by Diana Sudyka. 2008. 464p. (Mysterious Benedict Scoiety Series #2). (gr 4-7). Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. From School Library Journal: What was supposed to have been a reunion with Mr. Benedict turns into trouble for the four young heroes of The Mysterious Benedict Society (Little, Brown, 2007). Mr. Benedict and his assistant Number 2 have been kidnapped by the evil Mr. Curtain while abroad, so Reynie, Kate, Sticky, and Constance set off to rescue him, aided by a set of clues Mr. Benedict left before his abduction. Adventure and danger await the four onboard an unusual ship, at a castle in Portugal, in the Netherlands, and finally on a mysterious island, where they fall into the hands of Mr. Curtain and his henchmen. It is a combination of courage and their amazing talents that allows the youngsters to squeak out of every predicament. The action takes a while to get going in earnest as more attention is given to the worries and thoughts of the children and to their interactions with the various helpful, eccentric, or nasty adults they meet in their travels. They also learn to understand themselves and one another a little better by the end of their harrowing journey. As a result, this is not just a rip-roaring adventure with plenty of clever twists and hair’s-breadth escapes, but also a warm and satisfying tale about friendship. — Eva Mitnick, Los Angeles Public Library. About the Authors: Trenton Lee Stewart, graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and author of the adult novel Flood Summer, lives in Arkansas with his wife and two sons. Diana Sudyka received a Masters of Fine Art from Northwestern University. She lives and works in Chicago as an artist. This is the first book she has illustrated. By the Same Author: The Mysterious Benedict Society (2007); The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner’s Dilemma (2009).

Mysterious Benedict Society & the Prisoner’s Dilemma, The. Trenton Lee Stewart. Illustrated by Diana Sudyka. 2009. 400p. (Mysterious Benedict Scoiety Series #3). (gr 4-7). Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. From School Library Journal: .Reynie, Kate, Constance, and Sticky return for a third adventure. This time, the megalomaniac Ledroptha Curtain schemes to regain his deadly Whisperer machine. As Constance develops her powers of mental telepathy, Reynie and the others use their gifted minds to puzzle through Curtain’s master plan even as they fall prey to his kidnapping attempt. Imprisoned by well-meaning and sinister characters alike, the Society members face choices that test their loyalty as well as their intellect. Sequels sometimes lack the intensity of the original works, and Prisoner’s Dilemma struggles with this syndrome at times. The children’s unique talents, long since revealed, are past the startling sparkle of their introduction. As character development yields to a dominant plot, the story lacks the facile agility of its predecessors. On the other hand, the opening gambit is fresh and frightfully funny, as is Constance Contraire always and forever. The writing is replete with rollicking metaphors. Finally, as in the best of E. L. Konigsburg’s novels, Stewart’s introspective characters examine the significance of their experiences. Unlike most adventurers, these special children see the world surrounding their story and share it with readers. If this is the last Society installment, readers had better, as Reynie says, “acquire a taste for the bittersweet.” — Caitlin Augusta, Stratford Library Association, CT. About the Authors: Trenton Lee Stewart, graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and author of the adult novel Flood Summer, lives in Arkansas with his wife and two sons. Diana Sudyka received a Masters of Fine Art from Northwestern University. She lives and works in Chicago as an artist. By the Same Author: The Mysterious Benedict Society (2007); The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey (2008).

Mysterious Love. Shirley Brinkerhoff. 1996. 184p. (Nikki Sheridan Series #2). (gr 4-7). Focus on the Family Publications. Involvement with a charming, but troubled new boy at school distracts Nikki from her sadness over giving up her baby, but it is the loving support of her grandparents and a close friend that help her resolve her feelings of anger and guilt. About the Author: Shirley Brinkerhoff is the author of the Nikki Sheridan Series, as well as Missionary at Home. She holds a master’s degree from Western Michigan University, a bachelor’s from Grand Rapids Baptist Seminary, and received the Alpha Award at the 1994 Sandy Cove Writer’s Conference. She has three children and lives in Maryland. By the Same Author: Choice Summer (1996); Narrow Walk (1997); Balancing Act (1998); Tangled Web (2000); and Second Choices (2000).

Mystery at Witch Creek. Mary Crawford. 1996. 91p. (gr 3-6). Royal Fireworks Press. After living in foster homes since he was two, following his mother’s death from drug abuse, Finn’s life changes when he turns twelve. An unmarried woman, Lea Madden, adopts him. But one worry plagues him. What if he gets into trouble? Will she give him back? He has experienced the give-back and heartache of foster kids. When Lea takes him to visit the family-owned cattle ranch at Witch Creek, Finn is sorely tested by two new cousins. Cindy, ten, is wacky, and makes him laugh. Jeff, thirteen, is okay but is always tagging after his friend, Nate Bell, who works on the ranch and dislikes Finn on sight. During Finn’s first night in the hundred-year-old ranch house, Cindy wakes Finn at midnight to help turn off a windmill in an upper pasture. Finn spots a mysterious light. Other bizarre events follow, challenging his curiosity. When cattle disappear from local ranches and are later found on Madden property, the local ranchers blame Truman, Lea’s brother. Finn doesn’t buy that and fears for Truman’s reputation and the ranch. He deter- mines to solve the mystery and earn the respect of the whole Madden family. Finn must also swallow Nate’s baiting to stay out of a fist fight which, he believes, would separate him from Lea. Finn’s a city boy—sharp as a tack, experienced in fighting, and just plain smart. But just when he’s sure he’s got everything figured out, he learns that things are not always what they seem. About the Author: Mary Crawford is a resident of Texas; she is the author of Racehorse Caper and The Hundred Dollar Mystery.