Just Add One Chinese Sister

by Patricia McMahon

Claire and her mother are working together on a scrapbook as they relive their first days and hours together following Claire's arrival from her birth home in China. Claire's big brother, Conor, had kept a journal as he anticipated the day his new sister would arrive, and these entries also become part of their book of memories. They remember how, at first, Claire was scared of her new parents and brother, who all spoke a different language than she was used to hearing. But these foreigners loved the adopted Claire, and little by little, they shared experience that brought them together and made them into a family.

Genres: Adoption, Picture Books, Childrens, Cultural, Realistic Fiction, Family

32 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2005

Reviews

[Dawn Wells · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story of an American Family adopting a Chinese toddler. Great story!

[Samantha · Rating 2 out of 5]

I do like the story about interracial adoption. I'm not sure I agree with the offhand comment about how Claire is losing her earlier language. I think that's a tricky subject.

[Josephine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple, accessible story about adoption. I think if I were working with a child preparing for a family adoption I would encourage the child to keep a journal like in the book.

[Reema · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is about how the mother and daughter which she adopted from china putting up a book or album together with all the pictures and stories of what was happening during the adoption process.. a brother who is expecting how his little sister will be that the family is getting from china. the brother was hoping for someone thatw ill leave him alone someone he could watch sports with. Even though it was nothing like the way he expected her to be he still loves her and he knows she loves him back.

Extension- Have the child meet a new person it can be a reader or someone from the community for the class or something like a pet. So the teacher can make the children anticipate in what they were feeling when they were waiting to meet the person or the animal.

[Kaavya · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet story about the events that led to a Chinese girl being adopted by her Caucasian-American family. The book is realistic fiction, based on the author's own experience. The story is not only told through a traditional method, but also utilizes letters that the brother wrote for the sister, Claire, throughout the adoption story. This book is perfect to read to children, because many kids nowadays are adopted. I would read this in large groups and use it for small group instruction, all through grade school. This falls under the nonfiction, biographical picture book category.

[Olivia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story tells of a little girl named Claire who helps her adoptive mother create a scrapbook about her arrival in America from China as a baby. The coauthor is Conor Clarke McCarthy.


Reading Practice


Book Level: 2.8

Interest Level: Lower Grades (LG K-3)

Fiction/Nonfiction: Nonfiction

Topic - Subtopic: Adventure-Life Changes; Countries/Regions-China; Family Life-Adoption; Family Life-Moving to a New Area; Family Life-Sisters

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very sweet story about an American family adopting a little girl from China. It is written as if the mother is talking to the little girl while they are going through photographs and making a scrapbook, and also includes journal-like entries from the girl's adopted big brother (he is given an author's credit). The sentimental drawings are meant to look like photographs in a scrapbook. This beautiful story made me cry.

[Kellee Hao · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book to use as you talk about adoption in your classroom. There may be some students in your classroom that are adopted, and if you read this book, it will inform the rest of the class on what adoption is all about. Also, it's a great book because it talks about how different the child who is being adopted is to the family and how much of a difference that child makes. The love for the child and the love of the child makes the family a whole.

[Brooke]

I really liked this book. It is about a family adopting a child from another country. I know a few families who have participated in adoption and some of them have adopted children from another country. This book reminded me of the many blessings of being a sibling and the challenges that all families face when adding a new child.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book about an American family that adopts a Chinese little girl. The books allows several family members to convey their feelings about this new addition.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great bool to read when talking about the joining of two cultures together and the joys and struggles of a family unit.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good story about a family that adopts a chinese girl. I like the way each family members writes about how they feel and what they expect from getting a new family member.

[Whittney · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book about adoption from China. Written about the author's experience adopting with her son's perspective as well. An adorable book with a great message about adoption.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet book about adopting a new family member and even what it takes to be a sibling. Absolutely loved!!

[Lam Nguyen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a sweet book about adoption. It shows that there are different types of families out there,and it celebrates cultural differences. In the end this book shows that we are connected by love.

[Tracy M · Rating 4 out of 5]

A mother relives the story of her daughters arrival to their family as the 2 of them work on a scrapbook of the early days. An endearing book.