By Marianne Richmond Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, 2008, ISBN: 978-1934082065, 40 pages, $34.99 personalized hardcover 
It’s a common occurrence in most homes: snuggling up for story time when the questions begin. For children who come to their families through adoption, there are many questions about their early beginnings and how they came to their adoptive family. “I Wished for You” is a book that helps families have that discussion. It’s the story of a young bear who wants to know from her mama how she came to their family and why her first mom chose adoption. Through her loving responses to little bear’s questions, Mama shares the story of her special wish for a child. Their discussion covers the moment Mama first saw little bear and how families formed through adoption don’t always look the same. “I Wished for You” is a nice bedtime book for young children and will help adoptive families navigate the discussion around adoption. Touching on topics like the loss of a birth parent and the challenge or growing up in a transracial family (or just one that doesn’t look exactly alike), “I Wished for You” can easily be used to move discussion into more challenging conversations around adoption. In the book Mama is responsive to her little bear’s questions and responds in a loving, relation-building manner. This helps families to be able to mirror some of Mama’s words and remember to focus on the importance of the relationship between parent and child. “I Wished for You” can now also be personalized through the publisher Put Me In The Story at http://www.putmeinthestory.com. This personal touch can make the message more real for adopted children and help them better understand their early story. — Reviewed by Kim Phagan-Hansel
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