Miles Comes Home

by Sarah S. Brannen, Forrest Burdett (Illustrator)

In this much anticipated follow-up to the award-winning Uncle Bobby's Wedding , Bobby and Jamie welcome a wonderful addition to their lives--Ryan! This joyful and heartwarming celebration of LGBTQ families, adoption, kindness, and love is perfect for any home.

Ryan wakes up on his adoption day feeling excited, nervous, and even a little sad. But when his supportive new dads, Bobby and Jamie, pick him up from his foster home they bring warmth and understanding.

Waiting at home is Ryan's new cousin, Chloe. She can't wait to show Ryan his room, take him ice skating, and share all the amazing things that make their family great. Love takes time, but as they get to know each other better, the kindness of his cousin and dedication of his dads help their bond grow.

Uncle Bobby's Wedding was selected as one of Kirkus Reviews' best picture books, named to the American Library Association's Rainbow Book List, and called, "valiant, valid, validating, valuable," by Gregory Maguire, author of Wicked. Published in partnership with GLAAD, this adorable continuation of this beloved series shows the joy of LGBTQ parents and families.

Published in partnership with media advocacy organization GLAAD, this empowering book positively represents LGBTQ families.

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

32 pages, Hardcover

Published November 5, 2024

Reviews

[clara ☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I like it here,” said Miles. “I like our dads.”
“They're the best,” agreed Michelle.

Books about same-sex parents always make me tear up a little. I'm so glad kids nowadays have these books to teach them that a future and a family are possible when you're queer. Beautiful story and illustrations.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Miles is about to get adopted. His new parents are Teddy & David and he will get a new sister, Michelle, as well. He is excited, nervous, and scared about having a new family. His new parents show Miles that they care about him and treats him out on all the things they like. Miles soon realizes that his new family wants him and loves him very much.

A sequel to Uncle Bobby's Wedding, which focuses on a niece's anxiety of losing out on her favorite Uncle as he's ready to marry the love of his life. Miles Comes Home focuses on a child's perspective on what it would be like to be adopted into a new family. And uses the same technique in the original story, where the adults show their love & inclusiveness to the child. It is heartwarming and a very sweet. The illustrations are vibrant and similar to the original book, despite the different artist. It is a story that shows the meaning of a loving family every child deserves.

[Aolund · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet, glowingly positive story of Miles' adoption from a foster home into family with Daddy, Papa, and sister Michelle (dads are an interracial, Black and white couple, Michelle is white, and Miles is Black). Keeps it all very light, definitely not digging into any harder feelings that might come from such a situation, but with that caveat this is a warm and affirming, if simplistic/idealistic, story.

Themes: Adoption, Home, Family
Age range: Preschool-Kindergarten

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Miles is adopted into a family of two dads and a new sister. He's nervous at first but Michelle, his sister, makes him feel right at home.

I love the premise of this book, however I have two key problems. One, Michelle appears to be about 6-8 years old and it appears that she was left home alone while the parents went to pick up Miles at the foster home. Second, why must we continue the gay stereotypes of musicals, ballet and ice skating?

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you ask me, there can never be enough picture books or chapter books depicting the infinite variety of families in the world. Youngsters need to see themselves in some of the books they read or that are read to them. This picture book features two men, Teddy and David, as they add another member to their family. The gently told story and digital artwork describe perfectly the feelings of Miles, who has mixed emotions about his adoption day. After all, he's leaving everything that was familiar to him in his foster home. Thank goodness for Michelle, his new sister, who helps ease the transition by sharing her paints and crafts with him. His two dads also prepare special meals, take him ice skating and to a musical, and even hang out at a park. The drawings show that time is passing, and that it does take time for Miles to feel at home with Papa and Daddy. But they have a special birthday surprise for Miles, thanks to Michelle's nudge. If the story is sweet and hopeful, the artwork is even sweeter, filled with tender moments shared by Papa and Daddy, who are quite different from one another but are both blessed with loving hearts. Add this one to a collection devoted to families and their various compositions.

[Heather Lang · Rating 5 out of 5]

MILES COMES HOME is a beautiful story about a little boy’s adoption into a loving family. Brannen effectively captures Miles’s conflicting feelings of excitement, fear, and sadness about this big change, as his two dads pick him up from his foster home. He is enthusiastically greeted by his new sister, whose joy over having Miles as her new brother is palpable and powerful. I love how they all support and participate in each other’s passions--from painting to skating to Miles’s love for music. Burdett’s art perfectly complements Brannen’s heartwarming, lively text. A lovely wordless spread showing the family relaxing together after a busy day gives us a chance to reflect on their growing bonds. This is a truly uplifting story filled with love and kindness.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this sequel to the award-winning, Uncle Bobby's Wedding, Teddy and David adopt Miles and bring him home.
Miles isn't sure what to expect or if he'll click with his new sister, Michelle, or his dads. Between a day at the skating rink and opening up to Michelle about his love of piano/music, may just bring love, trust, and if Michelle's lucky (a unicorn), when Miles comes home.

Sarah S. Brannen and illustrator Forrest Burdett give us one of the cutest and most wholesome stories of diversity in families and showcasing love.

A great big picture book hug!

[Rachel Wynia · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book really glossed over a lot of nuance and trauma surrounding interracial adoption of an older child. It was incredibly unrealistic -- Miles meets his new sister and parents for the first time the day he's adopted. And there's no courtroom scenes; the dads just pick him up and take him home, like he's a puppy. Miles never really expresses anything but curiosity and gratitude for his new family. I would definitely not recommend this book.

[Aleesa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the beautiful story and colourful artwork! It made me so happy to see how Miles’s adoptive family prepared for his arrival and eased him into the family with fun activities and interest in his interests!

I read through this book slowly, often rereading and turning back to previous pages. I ADORED the illustrations. Hoping to find more books by the illustrator and the author!

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Sarah Brannen writes a sweet and timely story of adoption. The main character, Miles, shares realistic feelings of excitement, confusion, and sadness about his adoption. The fathers and sister show the patience needed when welcoming someone new into the family. A great family story about love, acceptance, and understanding.

[Syntha Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the sweetest story

[Rosemary Mosco · Rating 5 out of 5]

This sweet, heartwarming book paints a beautiful picture of a family. It's charmingly illustrated, too!

[Damien · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this with my lovey last year but retread it yesterday. It is such a powerful story about family and adoption. I highly recommend it

[Angela De Groot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet adoption story about a little boy in foster care adopted into a loving family. Love the diversity and inclusion in the art.

[Milagros Ledford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute story about adoption and the child's perspective and being nervous. I love that it promotes inclusiveness.

[wildct2003 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok story