Albert Whitman & Co; 2000

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Mommy Far, Mommy Near-An Adoption Story, by Carol Antoinette Peacock, is exceptional. I really loved the fact that the story is told by a child to other children-the book’s readers. “This is my story,” she seems to be saying. “And this is how I came to understand it.”

Mommy Far, Mommy Near is the story of how Elizabeth, adopted from China, comes to realize what adoption really means for her, her sister, and both sets of her parents. More importantly, it is the story of how she internalizes her story both intellectually and emotionally.

Together mother and daughter create loving adoption games. In one especially important sequence, they relate Elizabeth’s adoption to that of their dog. While this might make adult readers wince, it is a perfect illustration of how children relate highly complex adult events to their own experiences. Far from trivializing what to many of us is a sacred act, it results in Elizabeth reaffirming her adoption as she plays with her dolls, adopting each in turn using the ritual she and her mother created. The message that adoption is warm and loving and good is inescapable.

Elizabeth’s continuing child’s play using pretend telephone calls from Mommy Far illustrates her growing understanding of two mommies and her ultimate conclusion that they each have their time and place and can both fit into her life.

The book contains sensitive discussions of the birth country, why a child is available for adoption, and, most importantly, what adoption might have meant to the birth mother. Interestingly, many adoption books, while stating there is a birth mother, often ignore her otherwise.

Mommy Far, Mommy Near is one of the few exceptions. The birth mother is portrayed in very sensitive and understanding terms both in the text and illustrations. The author is clearly at peace and secure with the fact that there are two sets of parents.

Perhaps the best part of this book is how it touches on transracial adoption. Mother and child highlight both their differences and similarities in a loving bedtime game. But more importantly, the story includes an incident in which Elizabeth sees an Asian mother and daughter and wonders if that is what her birth mother looks like. She realizes for the first time that her birth mother is lost to her. The discussion that ensues is priceless and a lesson for all whose children will ultimately address these issues.

While this would be a wonderful addition to any library, it is especially significant for those touched by international and trans-racial adoptions. For those whose children are from China, it is an absolute must.

The book is wonderfully illustrated by Shawn Costello Brownell. I applaud both author and illustrator and hope they will be deluged with orders.

Reviewed by Kathyrn Creedy, adoptive mom of two in Washington, D.C.

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This book is wonderful. I like it a lot because it talks about the mommy near and mommy far. I think a lot about my birth mother too. I like the picture where it looks like Elizabeth is growing up, because it helps me imagine me growing up. I like where her mommy hugs her and says, “You are my child. You are my own. I love you forever. I adopt you now.” I like it that her mommy says that to her.

I like when she is adopting her dolls, like her mommy adopted her. I thought it was funny when Elizabeth and her little sister were playing with their toy phones and her sister said, “Hello, China Mommy! What are you doing?” I like the part when Elizabeth told the China mommy about stringing shiny beads onto necklaces.

I know how Elizabeth feels about her birth mother. She feels sad and she misses her. When Elizabeth sees a Chinese girl with her Chinese mother, Elizabeth feels she wants her Chinese mother.

Elizabeth’s mom tells her that her China mother couldn’t keep her because China had too many babies, and her China mommy already had a baby. I don’t think one baby is a good idea for China. I think that China should allow more babies, because then I could be with my Chinese mother when I want to. She should have made room for one more baby like me. Just like our family has two children.

I like the picture where Elizabeth is lying on her dog because she said her dog makes a good dog pillow. My mom says that adopting a dog is not the same as adopting children. Moms and dads make really serious promises to always take care of the children they adopt. That’s what it means to be a forever family. Sometimes people sell or give away their pets, but that can never happen with children, whether they are adopted or born into their family. I know this, too, because I am an expert on adoption!

Reviewed by Lianne Allison Fuju Remen, age 6, Sacramento, California