God Found Us You (HarperBlessings Series) Book

There is a growing corpus of books for children about adoption, and many are boring, sentimental, or oppressively serious. This one is a refreshing change. In a mood similar to Sam McBratney's Guess How Much I Love You, the author presents a goodnight scene between a mother fox and her child. As his mood winds down, Little Fox yawns, "Mama, tell me again about the day I came home." His mother tells a simple story about the longing she experienced as she waited for him. He then asks about his birth mother, and she sensitively gives him answers, appropriate to his age, which acknowledge the tragedy that accompanies adoption and emphasizes that God was at work in those circumstances, planning to bring Little Fox home to her and make her "the happiest mama in the world." Finally, Little Fox asks "Mama, will you be my forever mama?" and she answers eloquently and at some length that he has come to where he belongs, as "the best gift in the whole wide world."

This gentle conversation is very carefully crafted, including both joy and pain for both of its speakers, yet contextualizing the pain within the warm security of a stable, loving home which operates by faith in God's providence for their lives. The story is exceptionally well paced, with each word chosen for maximum effect. Laura Bryant's comforting illustrations support the overall mood of security, acceptance and gratitude. It's appropriate for preschool and elementary ages.