The most precious present in the world

Taking the form of a dialogue between a little girl and her adoptive mother, this illustrated book for young children explores questions that might preoccupy an adopted child. Mia wants to know why she looks different to her adoptive parents; why her birth parents didn’t want to keep her and whether her curly hair, dark eyes and dimple really are goodbye presents from her birth parents.

Although young children might sometimes worry about looking physically different to their family members, The most precious present in the world will help adopted children to understand that physical difference is not a barrier to finding love and security within an adoptive family.

The simply written, yet engaging story touches upon the profound themes of loss, separation and belonging, and gives children the reassuring messages that not only are they very special to their adoptive parents but that it is alright for them to have mixed  feelings about their adoption.

Who is this book for?

The book can be used by adoptive parents as well as child placement social workers especially those caring for children adopted from overseas, where striking physical differences may be a factor in the placement. And this delightful story will appeal to young adopted children as they begin to explore what it means to be adopted and how this makes them feel.

What you will find in this book

'It always takes my mum a very long time to brush my hair. That’s because it’s so curly. Sometimes I wish it wasn’t curly, sometimes I wish it was straight, just like my mum’s. But mum says my hair is beautiful. She says when she was little she always wanted curly hair just like mine. She says my beautiful, curly hair is a present…'

Mia’s eyes are dark brown and her dad’s are bright blue, she has masses of curly brown hair but her mum’s is straight and red. Why doesn’t Mia look like her parents? It’s because she is adopted. Her adoptive mum tells her that she looks different because her curly hair and dark eyes are presents from the birth parents who were unable to look after her.

Author

Becky Edwards is an award winning children’s author. She was inspired to write The most precious present in the world when two of her closest friends adopted young children.

Illustrator

Louise Comfort has illustrated many educational and activity books including a variety of picture books for top publications and now regularly illustrates pop up books for Macmillan.