Heart of Mine

by Dan Höjer

An inspiring story of the creation of a family.

Once a mommy and daddy were longing for a child to take care of and love. Then one day their phone rang, and they were told that a little girl had been born in a land far away. Her name was Tu Thi. Then her picture arrived in the mail. She had spiky hair, round cheeks, and a tiny little mouth. The mommy and daddy thought of nothing but Tu Thi, and soon they embarked on a wondrous journey to bring her home.

This gentle, heartwarming story promises to become a classic.

Genres: Adoption, Family, Picture Books

28 pages, Hardcover

First published April 19, 2001

Reviews

[Arin Brutlag · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s a cute book, but one that should be shelved after one or two readings. It would most likely be helpful when the adopted child first finds out that they are adopted, as a way to normalize that experience. However, the book is extremely parent-focused, to the point where there is even a line indicating how lucky the child is to be adopted. Tread carefully with this one, and follow up with books that show the value of the adopted child themselves, not just the parents who chose to adopt.

[Michaela Kadavy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Appealingly Asian adoption. Focusing on parents story.

[Kathryn Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very loving book and shows how a mommy and a daddy waited and waited for the phone to ring. It explains how the parents flew to the baby's home land and met her for the first time. This book also explains how they recognize the child's culture into their own.

[Lisa · Rating 1 out of 5]

A very idealized adoption story that focuses on the longing and preparations of the adoptive parents. If it resonates with your family, it's fine, but it doesn't deal with most of the tough questions about adoption. My big objection to the book is that it's all about the parents, not the child.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love that this book portrays adoption as a positive experience, one that can be filled with just as much love and even more than "traditional" biological families. I would love to share this book with my students and teach them that adoption is such a blessing.

[Liuba · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very romantic book on parental happiness. The reader is willing to find here a loving couple's ideal view on the adoption matter.

[Danielle Mootz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story and opportunity to talk about adoption with my daughter.