Motherbridge of Love is a lovely adoption book that is primarily about Chinese adoptions, but is a beautiful work with a text that speaks about the love within any adoptive parent and child relationship. The text is the words of an anonymous poem written by an adoptive mother for the charity, Mother Bridge of Love (MBL).
The poem speaks of the gifts the adopted child receives from each of her two mothers - birth mother and adoptive mother. It tells of the two different types of love the birth mother and adoptive mother have for the child, and how the child doesn't have to choose between the two mothers or cultures, they both make up a piece of who she is becoming as a person.
The artwork, by Josée Masse, brings a bright, happy, fun feeling to the book, yet it is still very heartfelt in its nature. The art depicts a Caucasian adoptive mother with her Chinese daughter playing and interacting in daily life, while the birth mother is depicted in some way in almost every picture. The birth mother's image can be seen in the moon, or as part of the hillside, or within the falling leaves. This sends the quite message that the birth mother may be on the other side of the world, she is still very much a daily part of the adoptive family's life - without her there may not have been a family.
My favorite illustration in Motherbridge of Love is that of both mothers sitting back to back, flowing together in a yellow dress. The pregnant Chinese birth mother is seen on one side cradling her belly with the adoptive mother on the other side cradling the child. Symbolizing again the forever connection between mothers who love the same child.
I recommend reading Motherbridge of Love aloud as it flows beautifully.
Motherbridge of Love features the poem in simplified Chinese at the front of the book and a copy of the poem in Chinese can be printed in pdf form from the website, www.barefootbooks.com
Mother Bridge of Love Charity
Mother Bridge of Love was founded in 2004, by Xinran, a Chinese author, broadcaster, and journalist. The goal of this organization was to help build a connection between adoptive and birth cultures for not only the adoptees, but for the adoptive parents. Travel incentives are also available for adopted, Chinese children to travel back to China to further their connection to their birth heritage and helps adoptive parents to learn more about their children's birth culture. Xinran also wanted the charity to help support the poor children living in rural China.
According to the publisher's website, text royalties from this book are donated to Mother Bridge of Love.
About the Illustrator
Josée Masse grew up in Montreal and has experience working as a graphic designer before becoming a full-time illustrator. She lives in Quebec with her partner and their daughter.
Final Thoughts and More Information
Motherbridge of Love celebrates the love between an adoptive mother, adoptee, and birth mother. I definitely recommend Motherbridge of Love and may become one of my favorite adoption themed children's books. Motherbridge of Love is a perfect selection for pre-adoptive families and adoptive families, especially mothers and daughters. It would also make a wonderful adoption gift for a family that is adopting a little girl.
A great way to introduce the concept of adoption and to open up a line of communication with a child.
The book also features the text of the book, which is a poem in Mandarin, and can be freely printed from the publishers website as a keepsake.
Motherbridge of Love is recommended for children ages four and up. Grade level is Preschool and up.(Published by Barefoot Books, Ltd. (2007)
ISBN: 978-1846860478
