Most people today seem to know better than to ask me if I’m Meg’s “real mother”. However, I do still get people asking (in front of the kids, no less) if they are “really” brother and sister. The book William is My Brother, by Jane Schnitter, is a good one for adoptive families, especially those with birth and adopted children. I have read this book to my kids before, but recently dug it out again. Seven-year-old Meg now says it’s her favorite book. I’m planning to read it to her first-grade class when I am the “guest reader”.
This story is about one brother who was born to his parents and one who was adopted. Narrated by the birth son, it is very matter of fact. Here is the beginning of the story:
“My name is Tony. William is my brother. We both have the same parents, but I was born to them and William was adopted. I grew inside of our mother, and, when it was time, she gave birth to me. William grew inside of another woman, and she gave birth to him. So when William was born, he had a different set of parents. They are called his birth parents.”
The illustrations in the book are thoughtfully done. The above quote is accompanied by a drawing of William and his dog in the backyard. At a little distance are shadowy lines depicting a couple, presumably the birthparents. It’s left open to interpretation whether this is supposed to mean that William is thinking about them, or that they are “no longer in the picture”, or some other interpretation.
The story briefly describes William’s sadness that he didn’t grow inside his mother, his mother’s telling of his adoption story, and the role of an adoption agency. Narrator Tony describes the talents and preferences that make the brothers different and those they have in common.
The story has some moments of humor. William and his dad share a secret grin when people say he must have gotten his hair from his dad. The comment “William is not special because he was adopted. William is special because he is William” is accompanied by a drawing of the brothers each holding a sign reading “I’m special” accompanied by their dog holding a sign reading, “I’m special too!”
At the end of the story we learn that the brothers have a secret: they are helping their parents prepare a nursery for their soon-to-be-adopted sister!
This book, published by Perspectives Press, is a suitable read-aloud for young children. It is written at about a second-grade reading level and printed in large type. The illustrations are sepia-toned drawings which leave the characters’ ethnicity rather ambiguous so children can more easily imagine themselves and their family in the story.
Please see these related blogs:
Positive Sibling Relationships in Adoption
Promoting a Positive Sibling Adjustment
Kids’ Books on Domestic Adoption and General Adoption Themes