Just Add One Chinese Sister

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 4-This story of an American family's adoption of a Chinese toddler is storytelling at its finest. The narration in two voices begins as the mother shares a scrapbook she compiled with Claire. Big brother Conor reveals his thoughts through journal entries printed in italics in the wide right margins. The omnipresent dog is a humorous and appealing fourth presence. The composition mimics a scrapbook, with multiple images on a page (sometimes designed as photographs) and other travel paraphernalia, e.g., ticket stubs, receipts, and postcards. Jerome's imaginative approach to color and style attracts and sustains interest. A snowy scene in China is impressionistic, bathed in purple. Family scenes are highly saturated with vivid color blends and dramatic contrasts between light and dark areas. The generous white space and lean text allow readers to pace themselves through the moving emotional content. Author and artist are equally adept at creating multidimensional portraits of the children. Conor is, by turn, curious (about how to become a brother), worried, patient, frustrated, and annoyed, but ultimately elated. It is his antics playing "Hotel Ball" with a sock that elicit his sister's first laugh. Claire registers the anxiety of a toddler leaving familiar territory, the giggly countenance of play, shyness in the face of the second round of relatives, and naughtiness when she's comfortable in her new role. All children will recognize and empathize with these delightful people.-Wendy Lukehart, Washington DC Public Library Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

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)