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Motherbridge of Love
This beautiful poem celebrates the bond between parent and child in a special way. Through the exchanges between a little Chinese girl and her mother, Motherbridge of Love offers a poignant and inspiring message to parents and children all over the world.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
May 19, 2021
An absolutely beautiful and timeless picture book about adoption.
September 25, 2014
When I first started reading the Motherbridge of Love (realistic fiction), I wondered why there were two women and one child. I thought that the book might have been about same sex marriage and adoption. However, the book turned out to be the sweetest. I rated this book as a four because there was no rich plot, but the illustrations and rhyming words were understandable and clever. I also gave this rating because I didn't know if this book was an appropriate read to read aloud in class. I would not know how to explain the situation to the children, and I wouldn't want any of the kids getting a negative vibe or emotion from it.
September 26, 2019
Motherbridge of Love is a sensational picture book and poem, linking the love both a birth mother and an adoptive mother has for a little girl. The beautifully soft yet colourful images, that flow across both pages, enhance the words of the poem which highlight the importance of both women in the book. The pictures and words work well together to convey how the women have both played a role in creating and continuing to support the little girl’s happiness, health, and wellbeing. The book ends with a significant message that both women love the child equally, and both women’s roles are equally as important. Unlike other stories that portray a birth mother and an adoptive mother to be opposing characters, one good and one bad, I adore the way the author has shown the women working together at different stages of the child’s life to reinforce the amount of love provided to the child. I’d read this book to children in the classroom to help them understand different family backgrounds, this could coincide with PSHE. In addition, if I had a child in my class who had gone through the adoption process (and the parents were happy for the child to read the book) I’d show the book to the child to help them understand the journey they had gone through.
February 13, 2026
This lovely poem was first submitted to the Mother Bridge of Love foundation anonymously by an adoptive mother in China whose daughter was adopted out by a family in the West. First received in Chinese, it has been translated into a rhyming poem celebrating all that two mothers of a adoptive child receives from both mothers. Juxtaposing the many gifts from the biological mother (e.g., life, a body, emotions, features) with actions that her adoptive mother brings (dries tears, calm fears, etc.) was well balanced and honors important gifts that birth mothers provide.
While the text is brief and simple, the illustrations add depth of color, much emotions to features, face, and gestures with warm blended tones to match text.
While the text is brief and simple, the illustrations add depth of color, much emotions to features, face, and gestures with warm blended tones to match text.
October 23, 2018
This book's purpose is to help explain to an adoptive child the concept of birth parents and adoptive parents through the use of a poem staring a young Chinese girl. The book also is teaching the adopted child that both her mothers love her and care about her, just in different ways. The story does a good job in using language that a young child could understand while still being a metaphorical poem. The story does not necessarily include a problem and a resolution, but instead teaches the young girl about where she comes from and where she is now. I also love that the cover page is a translation of the poem in Chinese. This embraces the culture even more and may even allow for an adoptive parent and child to learn the poem in Chinese themselves.
The illustrations are a part of this book that I really enjoy. The pictures are culturally appropriate because they portray the young Chinese girl and her birth mother with realistic features to the region they come from. I also like how the illustrations are quite whimsical to go along with it being a poem but still correspond to the text. Also one page's illustration shows the adoptive mother celebrating the young girl's Chinese Culture by wearing traditional Chinese clothes. I think this illustration shows that the adoptive mother is not trying to strip her adopted daughter of her culture and instead is embracing it. The drawing are also very bright and colorful, which will keep a child's interest.
My only critique of this book is that it is only talking about the adoptive mother and birth mother, not the fathers. It would be hard for a child that was adopted by a single dad or two dads, for example, to relate to this story because it only portrays women. I think it would have reached a wider audience if both a mother and father were involved. Also this book does not represent a wide variety of cultural groups but I do not think that is necessarily a bad thing in this case because the book is published by a foundation thats mission is "to reach out to Chinese children all over the world and develop a connection between the East and West" (MBL). So in this case it is clearly stated who this book is intended for. Also text royalties from the sale of this book are donated to the foundation that published it, The Mother's Bridge of Love.
The illustrations are a part of this book that I really enjoy. The pictures are culturally appropriate because they portray the young Chinese girl and her birth mother with realistic features to the region they come from. I also like how the illustrations are quite whimsical to go along with it being a poem but still correspond to the text. Also one page's illustration shows the adoptive mother celebrating the young girl's Chinese Culture by wearing traditional Chinese clothes. I think this illustration shows that the adoptive mother is not trying to strip her adopted daughter of her culture and instead is embracing it. The drawing are also very bright and colorful, which will keep a child's interest.
My only critique of this book is that it is only talking about the adoptive mother and birth mother, not the fathers. It would be hard for a child that was adopted by a single dad or two dads, for example, to relate to this story because it only portrays women. I think it would have reached a wider audience if both a mother and father were involved. Also this book does not represent a wide variety of cultural groups but I do not think that is necessarily a bad thing in this case because the book is published by a foundation thats mission is "to reach out to Chinese children all over the world and develop a connection between the East and West" (MBL). So in this case it is clearly stated who this book is intended for. Also text royalties from the sale of this book are donated to the foundation that published it, The Mother's Bridge of Love.
September 21, 2019
This is a heart-warming children's story that illustrates and shows the sides of adoption. It is easy to visualize the messages this story portrays about the bond between child and parent. I think that this book could be special both to those who have gone through adoption and those who haven't. I would have a story like this one in my classroom library. This story could be used to inform students about all the different types of relationships and the special bonds with our parents. This story would be great for all primary grades.
November 21, 2019
Was so happy to find this book! My oldest child has expressed that she feels called to adoption when she grows up and I cried to read this story of the connection between birth moms in China and adoptive moms. It has a beautiful rhyming theme and tells the meaningful actions of both mothers. I think this would be a very special read aloud.
February 16, 2021
“Motherbridge of Love” by Anonymous (Illustrator)
“One became your guiding star; the other became your sun.”
Beautifully written and gorgeously illustrated book, primarily addressing the identity of Chinese babies adopted out to Westerners, but applicable in much more general circumstances. Delightful. ****
“One became your guiding star; the other became your sun.”
Beautifully written and gorgeously illustrated book, primarily addressing the identity of Chinese babies adopted out to Westerners, but applicable in much more general circumstances. Delightful. ****
April 6, 2024
This book celebrates an adopted child's life through her two mothers: one who gave her life and one who gave her a loving home.
The illustrations, created with acrylics on Strathmore paper are colorful and joyous, with an Asian theme.
The illustrations, created with acrylics on Strathmore paper are colorful and joyous, with an Asian theme.
January 28, 2022
Saw this on my library shelves and wanted to see what it was about. Good book for mothers and children who want to discuss adoption.
July 20, 2010
The story of this book is very simple. It is told in verses, each line showing the connection between the child’s birth mother and adopted mother:
“Two different lives shaped to make you one.
One became your guiding star;
the other became your sun.”
The story shows a happy child growing up in an adopted family, but reminds the readers that her connection to her birth mother is ever present even if it is the adopted mother who calms her fears and teaches her to live.
The illustrations by Josee Masse are amazing and really elevate this story. Done in acrylics and strathmore paper, the pictures have varied textures in rich earth tones. He also uses a lot of symbolism especially with the color red connecting the Chinese girl with her birth culture. The pictures of the birth mother often flow into the events with the adopted mother and close readers can find the birth mother’s face worked into the wind or in the moon. The white mother is also shown embracing Chinese culture, dressed in Chinese outfits and dancing with Chinese umbrellas and flying a Chinese kite with her daughter.
The beginning of the book has the text written in “simple Chinese.” Readers can download a keepsake of the Chinese poem at www.barefootbooks.com
This book is an interesting collaboration. The author is listed as The Motherbridge of Love which is a charity because the text of the story was anonymously donated by an adopted mother. An acclaimed Chinese author named Xinran founded Motherbridge of Love (MBL) in 2004 to “reach out to Chinese children all over the world who have been adopted, creating a bridge of understanding between China and the West and between adoptive culture and birth culture.” In addition to these goals, MBL also hopes to help adopted children, ”find their cultural roots,” as well as providing “educational and other forms of support to children living in poor rural areas of China.” The back of the book says to find out about more about MBL’s travel initiative and other resources, visit their website at www.motherbridge.org but I had trouble with the link. I did find a website with contact information, at http://motherbridge.smartchange.org/
“Two different lives shaped to make you one.
One became your guiding star;
the other became your sun.”
The story shows a happy child growing up in an adopted family, but reminds the readers that her connection to her birth mother is ever present even if it is the adopted mother who calms her fears and teaches her to live.
The illustrations by Josee Masse are amazing and really elevate this story. Done in acrylics and strathmore paper, the pictures have varied textures in rich earth tones. He also uses a lot of symbolism especially with the color red connecting the Chinese girl with her birth culture. The pictures of the birth mother often flow into the events with the adopted mother and close readers can find the birth mother’s face worked into the wind or in the moon. The white mother is also shown embracing Chinese culture, dressed in Chinese outfits and dancing with Chinese umbrellas and flying a Chinese kite with her daughter.
The beginning of the book has the text written in “simple Chinese.” Readers can download a keepsake of the Chinese poem at www.barefootbooks.com
This book is an interesting collaboration. The author is listed as The Motherbridge of Love which is a charity because the text of the story was anonymously donated by an adopted mother. An acclaimed Chinese author named Xinran founded Motherbridge of Love (MBL) in 2004 to “reach out to Chinese children all over the world who have been adopted, creating a bridge of understanding between China and the West and between adoptive culture and birth culture.” In addition to these goals, MBL also hopes to help adopted children, ”find their cultural roots,” as well as providing “educational and other forms of support to children living in poor rural areas of China.” The back of the book says to find out about more about MBL’s travel initiative and other resources, visit their website at www.motherbridge.org but I had trouble with the link. I did find a website with contact information, at http://motherbridge.smartchange.org/
Read
April 2, 2013Motherbridge of Love is a stunning book — both visually and in concept. Told in poetic verse, it depicts a young Chinese girl who has been adopted by a mother in North America and celebrates the role of both birth mother and adoptive mother in shaping who she is to become. As the young girl and her adoptive mother enjoy frolicking in the park, relaxing in fields of flowers, boating, and cuddling at home, the poem urges the reader to not overlook the important contributions of the birth mother — life itself, inherited talents, deep-rooted emotions. It is the love from both mothers that gives the child the sense of security, identity and independence to explore and develop. The poem was submitted anonymously by an adoptive mother to the charity Mother Bridge of Love, which promotes a connection between adoptive and birth families in China and theWest. Josée Masse’s tremendous skill with acrylic paint renders this poem with warmth, joy and energy. Her striking illustrations highlight the natural world, seamlessly blending the countryside of China with the setting of the young girl’s new home thousands of miles away. Not only does this book add to the growing body of work that represents our expanding notion of what constitutes a family; it also thoughtfully addresses the essence of who we are and how we came to be that way.
Reviewed by Catherine Salo in Canadian Children's Book News
Spring 2008 VOL.31 NO.2
Reviewed by Catherine Salo in Canadian Children's Book News
Spring 2008 VOL.31 NO.2
August 31, 2011
I started reading this book without any idea that Mother Bridge of Love - the organization behind this book - works to bring Chinese children in need of a family into Western homes. So, I was quite annoyed at the fact that here was another adoption book that involved a child of Asian decent with white parents. I thought to myself that, just once... just ONCE... can we get an illustrated adoption picture book with a little bit of variety here? A white child with black parents? A black child with Asian parents? A Latino child with a transracial couple? I'm not an illustrator or else I'd go there myself. Anyway, none of this is directed at this nice book, which does exactly what it sets out to do - present a lovely poem written with obvious affection by an adoptive mother for her child in collaboration with some of Masse's supercool illustrations.
November 20, 2019
This book brought me to tears. This book is amazing and the illustrations are amazing. I would recommend this book for any grade level.
February 22, 2008
I was really excited when I saw this at the library, because I could tell from the cover that the illustrations would be gorgeous, and because my daughter craves adoption books that feature birth-mothers. I was greatly disappointed, however, because the "poem" is poorly-written and abstract enough that my 5-year-old really didn't get anything from it. We absolutely loved the illustrations, though.
Then I noticed that there was no author given credit. Ah, that explains it. Someone recognized the talent of the illustrator, and either hired a hack to put words to it, or found a poem written by an amateur to accompany the artwork. What an utter waste.
Then I noticed that there was no author given credit. Ah, that explains it. Someone recognized the talent of the illustrator, and either hired a hack to put words to it, or found a poem written by an amateur to accompany the artwork. What an utter waste.
October 11, 2010
Motherbridge of Love by Xinran is a lovely poem with beautiful illustrations. The poem is about one little girl. She is adopted. She is loved by a biological mother far away and an adoped mom she lives with everyday. The book is special because it shows that each mother give something wonderful to the little girl. For example, her biological mother gave her life. Her adopted mom gives her ways to live life. In the beginning of the book the poem is written in the Chinese language which I think is so delicate and art like.
mothersbridge
mothersbridge
December 23, 2013
Motherbridge of Love by The Mother’s Bridge of Love, illustrated by Josee Masse – beautiful poem accompanied by gorgeous pictures. Touching celebration of adoption. Connect this book with another beautiful picture book about adoption called The Red Thread an Adoption Fairy Tale written and illustrated by Grace Lin. I hear adoption stories from parents and siblings frequently that are quite inspiring. Thought it would be good to be knowledgeable about another adoption book and am thrilled to discover this beautiful treasure.
July 29, 2009
Grace has taken an interest in this book, perhaps because of the beautiful illustrations. The poem was written by an adoptive mother. It is based on a Chinese adoption where the birthmom is never known and is missing any mention of fathers, but it is beautiful in its appreciation for the role both moms have played.
September 29, 2008
The pictures in this book are so beautiful! The text is rhyming verse. It is touching, although there are couple lines I'm not as fond of as the others. The pictures are of an Asian looking daughter and birth mother and a white adoptive mother so it is fitting for international adoptions or transcultural adoptions. The verse could be applicable to any adoption.
July 25, 2009
Beautifully written book about international adoption, though it is appropriate as well for all adoptions. Two mothers who both love the child--"One became your guiding star; the other became your sun." Perfect explanation of adoption for a child.
April 15, 2010
Beautiful pictures and poem to share with adopted children that answers the question: where did I come from?
"Once there were two women
Who never knew each other.
One you do not know.
The other you call mother."
"Once there were two women
Who never knew each other.
One you do not know.
The other you call mother."
October 7, 2014
This is a lovely, lovely story, with heartbreakingly beautiful illustrations.
My five-year-old son is not adopted, so I'm not sure he fully understood the concept, but I do think he wanted two moms after we finished reading this book.
My five-year-old son is not adopted, so I'm not sure he fully understood the concept, but I do think he wanted two moms after we finished reading this book.
July 26, 2008
This is a wonderful book on the subject of adoption. Simple, colorful, beautifully done. It gave me goosebumps when I read it. A great way to explain adoption to children.
September 19, 2008
Nice book about adoption.
December 1, 2008
Topic of adoption, very simple text, nice illustrations
December 3, 2008
adoption
August 21, 2009
I loved this book. It does a great job of tying together the birth & adoption stories, and showing that they're really two parts of the same story.
December 12, 2012
This book is a great way to talk to kids about being adopted. It's beautifully written and illustrated.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews