Mrs. Stein is eager to adopt a new baby girl to add to her family, consisting of herself and Mr. Stein, along with Jacob (age 8), and Gabe (age 4). As she tells her family, “There were so many babies and children in the world whose parents had loved them, but could not take care of them.” The story follows familiar territory — over a period of a year, Mrs. Stein gets ready for the big day; she needs to fill out documents, answer questions, and attend meetings until she is finally told there is a baby waiting for her in Vietnam. While in Vietnam, she patiently waits for permission to take the baby home and spends her time shopping and emailing her family who can’t wait to meet baby Rebecca. Back in the United States, the focus is on Rebecca’s Judaism; on Shabbat, a special blessing is made for her. When she is almost one; Rebecca is taken to the mikvah and given the Hebrew name, Rivka Shoshanah. As her mother proudly states, “She is now Vietnamese, American, and Jewish!”
This endearing picture book perfectly captures the growing trend of international adoption among the American Jewish community. Warm, stylized pastel doublespread illustrations complement the text and make this a great book for sharing aloud. The author, a mom with an adopted Vietnamese baby, draws on her own experiences, to realistically portray the excitement and joy of having a new family member. For all families, this title would be especially useful in a Jewish preschool or temple library. Ages 4 – 8.
