Motherbridge of Love

Robin, with Barefoot Books, sent me a copy of the book Motherbridge of Love, a book about adoption. I loved this book and really wanted to review it and share it with you all.

Motherbridge of Love was a poem written anonymously for the charity Motherbridge of Love. It was then turned into a book and illustrated by Josee Masse. The illustrations depict the story of a Chinese adoption, but its message resonates with adoptions from any country.

Written in the voice of an adoptive mother, to her adopted child. The text beautifully and tenderly explains how two mothers have both made loving choices, and have both contributed in meaningful ways to the happiness and well being of one child.

Two different lives shaped to make you one.

One became your guiding star;

the other became your sun.

The first one gave you life;

the second taught you to live it...

I can't decide which is the real gem of this book, the text or the illustrations. They're both stunning. At first you'll be wrapped up in the poem as you turn the pages (if you're like me). And then you'll open your eyes to the clever beauty of the illustrations. They're as touching as the words of the poem.

Most illustrations feature both the birth mother and the adoptive mother with the child, though sometimes the birth mother is represented in some other object in the illustration: the moon, or the landscape. I think my favorite illustrations is one that shows the birth mother in a kind of kimono robe with flowers on it; the flowery kimono fades into the illustration of a flowery field that the child is running through, flying a kite.

This book is not completely relevant to my family's adoption situation. It's more the story of child that was adopted as an infant, and our children we're adopting are older. But it's still a great story to read with them and open up dialogue about adoption in general, and their feelings about it.

And actually, our son, Isaac loves this book. He'll see it sitting on the table and ask us (by pointing and speaking in his little gibberish language) to read it to him. He can't get enough of it. We usually read it a couple times per sitting (per his request).

I would recommend this book to any family. Especially if you're adopting, but also if you're not. There are all different kinds of families, as we all know, and it's nice to have stories that communicate that to our children and open up a discussion with them about it.

Add this gem to your home library. Go buy Motherbridge of Love here!