The Coffee Can Kid. This item is unavailable.The Coffee Can Kid

Six-year-old Annie asks the father who adopted her to once more tell the story of how she came to America from Korea.

PreSchool-Grade 2-Another in a growing collection of books on overseas adoptions, this one takes a slightly different angle than most, concentrating on a child's brief history before leaving Korea. A small and winsome six-year-old knocks down a coffee can from the hall closet while trying to reach it, and with it in hand asks her dad to revisit the familiar story of how she came to live with her adoptive parents. The container holds two precious items: a baby picture of Dong Hee (Annie) and a letter to her from her birth mother. The text is reassuring and well written. The illustrations, on a light-yellow background, portray this early history with grace, blending the Asian scenes with the beginning and closing scenes of life in the U.S. The whole is an engaging production for adoptive parents to use with their young international children, and would be a fine addition to library shelves.
Judith Constantinides, formerly at East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

PreS-Gr.2. When six-year-old Annie reaches for the coffee can, she asks her adoptive Caucasian father to retell the story of her birth in a "faraway land on the other side of the world." Annie prompts him at the right places for particular details, and he lovingly recounts her birth to a poor, young Asian woman who placed Annie up for adoption because she wanted her to have enough to eat and to be happy. At the close of the story, they open the coffee can, examine Annie's baby picture and her birthmother's letter, and then replace them to prevent fading. The two stories are deftly woven together, and the result is an adoption tale that radiates warmth and respect for both birth and adoptive parents. Sunny yellows dominate the watercolor art, reflecting the tender, cheerful narrative. Yellow, alas, is also the prevalent skin tone for the Asian faces. This affirmative adoption story has obvious value for kids adopted from other cultures. It will also enlighten their siblings, friends, and classmates. Linda Perkins
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