A Mother for Choco

by Keiko Kasza

Family is about love no matter how different parents and children may be, adopted or not.

Choco wishes he had a mother, but who could she be? He sets off to find her, asking all kinds of animals, but he doesn't meet anyone who looks just like him. He doesn't even think of asking Mrs. Bear if she's his mother-but then she starts to do just the things a mommy might do. And when she brings him home, he meets her other children-a piglet, a hippo, and an alligator-and learns that families can come in all shapes and sizes and still fit together.

Keiko Kasza's twist on the "Are you my mother?" theme has become one of the most highly recommended stories about adoption for children.

Genres: Adoption, Picture Books, Animals, Family, Childrens, Fiction, Storytime

32 pages, Paperback

First published March 25, 1992

About the author

Keiko was born on a small island in the Inland Sea of Japan. She grew up in a typical Japanese extended family with her parents, two brothers, and grandparents. Uncles, aunts, and cousins also lived nearby. She came to the United States in 1973 to continue her education, and in 1976 she graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in graphic arts from California State University at Northridge.
While working as a graphic designer, Keiko read Leo Lionni’s masterful work, Frederick, and she became interested in picture books. She began experimenting with picture books in her free time. Her first book was published in 1981 in Japan and thereafter she continued to publish in her native language. The Wolf’s Chicken Stew, a 1987 ALA notable book and the winner of the 1989 Kentucky Bluegrass Award, was her first work to be published in the United States. She has now published 22 books and her work is translated into 16 languages.

Keiko compares the process of creating a book to acting on stage under the lights: “I become the character that I’m working on at that moment. I pretend that I’m a bird looking for a mother, or a pig trying to impress his girlfriend. When I’m acting, I’m a child myself.” Her ambition is not to create a hundred books but to create one really good book that will be kept on the bookshelves for generations (although a hundred good books would be even better, of course!)

Keiko Kasza lives in Bloomington, Indiana with her husband, a professor of Japanese politics at Indiana University, and they have two sons.

Reviews

[Scottsdale Public Library]

The illustrations in Keiko Kasza stories are always bright and joyful, making her one of my favorite children’s book authors.
This particular book of hers has always struck a special chord with me. Little Choco is in search of his mother and doesn’t know where she could be.
The ending is a slight twist from the norm, and introduces the concept of adoption and love in a simple way that children can relate to. –Hannah V.

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is difficult for me to objectively review this book. I have read this book to my son almost everyday for over three years. This beautifully written book is about a bird named Choco. This bird needs a mother. Choco looks everywhere but cannot find a mother who looks exactly like him. The walrus, giraffe and penguin all encourage Choco to look elsewhere for his mother. When Choco sees Mrs. Bear he knows she cannot be his mother because she looks nothing like him. Soon, Choco discovers that Mrs. Bear can kiss like a mom, hug like a mom and dance like a mom. Mrs. Bear asks Choco if she could be his mom. Reluctantly, Choco goes home with Mrs. Bear only to find her other children, Hippy, Ally and Piggy who also look nothing like Mrs. Bear.

I love this book because my Korean son looks nothing like me. We share this story and can talk about what it means to be a mother and a family. Keiko Kasza does an excellent job making a complex topic simple and special.

[Shanna Gonzalez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twenty years after P.D. Eastman’s classic Are You My Mother?, Keiko Kasza presents a heartwarming story of another lonely bird who sets off to find his mother — but is disappointed after interviewing a giraffe, penguin, and walrus, to find that no mother shares his wings, his yellow color, his round cheeks, or his striped feet. When he spies Mrs. Bear he knows she isn’t his mother, but when he begins to cry she immediately comforts him, just as he imagines his mother would do. When she suggests that she could be his mother, he objects that she doesn’t have his wings, yellow color, round cheeks, or striped feet. She laughs, “That would make me look very funny!” and invites him home to meet her other children, none of which are bears. The story ends with the same resounding comfort as Eastman’s classic, as four children snuggle with Mrs. Bear, secure in her love even though she looks nothing like them.

The straightforward plot communicates a profound principle that families need not be defined by biological similarity. This point lends itself to heavy-handedness, but it comes across here with simple good humor as Choco experiences a mother’s love through his encounter with Mrs. Bear. This story may be especially appealing to children whose families have been formed through adoption, but other children will benefit from it as well.

[Juli19 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of Choco a bird with no home or family. One day he though that he was going to look for his mother and he set off to find her. He asked the giraffe, penguin and walrus but they told him that they were not his mother because they were not like him. Choco walk away very sad because he was not going to find someone like him. He saw a bear and he started to cry because a bear could not be his mother since she was not like him. The bear run towards him to see why he was crying so she hug him, kiss him and make him laugh. The bear asked him if she wanted her to be his mother but Choco told her that she was so different. Then the bear invited Choco to go to her house to eat some pie and Choco accepted the invitation. At the bear's house his three little sons welcomed them. They were hippy, ally and piggy so Choco understood that they were different than their mother. At the end Choco accepted his new mother just the way she was. I love the book, it has a deep message. The teacher can use this story to let children know that mothers are the ones who care for you and love even though they do not look like you. I think children will enjoy reading the book. It has nice pictures.

[Staci · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my heavens! This is my favorite new children's book. It gently introduces the idea of adoption and unique looking families to children with sweet prose, lovely illustrations, and a guessable story-line until the last few pages. I thought I knew where it was going but it was even better than I thought. The first time I read it outloud to my 4 and 2 year old my voice caught in my throat and I became choked up.

They have asked for it several times and really like it! The message is subtle enough to not feel like adoption propoganda, it doesn't even mention the word.

It is just a sweet story, and if wanted, can open the door for talking about what it could mean to have a family that doesn't "match."

I want every kid to read this book, not just kids from adoptive families!

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I guess this is very sappy story, but I really enjoyed it anyway, although I couldn’t help thinking about the potential dangers some of these animals were to some of the others.

I read this because I loved this author’s picture book: The Dog Who Cried Wolf.

The pictures in this book are wonderful, and it’s a sweet story, and it’s especially applicable for children in adoptive families.

[Amy Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book makes me cry every time I read it! To see the mom bear with all her different children, it just reminds me of every single Foster Child that has ever come through my door.

It also shows that you don't need to look alike to be a family, you only need love. Wonderful for our trans-racial family!

[Jeniece Goellner · Rating 5 out of 5]

The adoption friendly version of P.D. Eastman's "Are You My Mother?". And such a better version too since it truly tells us what a family is. It is not looking exactly the same. It is the love shared.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably my absolute favorite, adoption book to explain to children that you don’t have to look alike to belong and be family. It has engaging, colorful illustrations that draw my children further into the story. My children’s constant requests to “read it again” speaks for the book alone!

[Clara Jane Isch · Rating 5 out of 5]

So sweet! An unexpected favorite. Everyone deserves to be loved the way Choco’s mom loved him.

[CaseyTheCanadianLesbrarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the picture book with the longest story of the ones about mothers and motherhood at my local branch, so I chose it as the first one in this storytime. The pictures are done with bright colours and so would be visible even for children not sitting at the front. With the story consisting of Choco going around and asking different animals if they are his mother, the narrative has a nice repetition to it with a slight vocabulary difference every time. The tone of the story is also very playfulDepending on their age and experience, some kids might not know all the animals in the book, but the illustrations of each are big and clear, helping them to understand the story and perhaps introducing some rare vocabulary such as “walrus.” The scene where the bird Choco finds a bear mom and hugs, kisses, and dances with her is also an opportunity for an action that moms and their children at the storytime could participate in along with the characters. The “lesson” is a great thing for learning about the world around preschoolers about how families might look different from each other but that love makes a family, particularly in the case of adoption.

[Jackie "the Librarian" · Rating 4 out of 5]

Choco is a funny-looking yellow bird with striped blue feet, who doesn't have a home. He goes looking for his mother, but doesn't ever find her, exactly. Instead, he gets adopted by a bear who says she would love to be his mother, too, as she is mother for several other young animals.
Yes, it's sappy, but in a lovely way, and it made me a bit teary.

[Veronica Molina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tenía altas expectativas, pero aún así fueron superadas. Es una preciosidad. Qué manera tan linda de identificar a una mamá, y no por el parecido físico.
Es un libro para leer de mamá a hijo/a. Ya imagen la complicidad que se puede dar en la lectura compartida.

Y bueno, ahora quiero devorar la colección Buenas noches :3.

[Crystal Marcos · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this before giving it as a gift to my niece. This is a adorable heartwarming story about a little bird looking for a mother. The story is written in a way that even the youngest child can follow along. A sweet message of love and adoption.

[Roy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is sweeter than syrup poured on top of honey and sugar.

[Julie G · Rating 5 out of 5]

All adopted children should have this on their bookshelf.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very sweet story about adoption and how families don't always have to look alike to have love.

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorites from childhood.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute story about creating a family with love. Looking alike doesn’t have to matter.

[Camila · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was in a collection my parents used to read to me when I was very little. I had books from this author but I never read this one until now. The message is absolutely beautiful, and a wink to all adoptive mummies out there. Sometimes a mum may not look like her child, but she's still their mum as long as there's lots of love. I liked how Mrs. Bear had three other children who are, surprisingly, a piggy, a crocodile and a hippopotamus. I feel like she really wanted to be a mummy and she became one by adopting babies from other species and she is very loving with them, so therefore, she is their mum 💛

[C · Rating 1 out of 5]

A lazy ripoff of “Are You My Mother?” which only serves to validate adopters’ status as “parents.” What this book (and AYMM) fail to recognize — or, if we’re being real, deliberately ignore — is that adopted people have parents and lives before they are adopted. Adoption largely does not happen because adopted people are searching for parents, it happens because hopeful adopters are looking for a child to scoop up for themselves.

[sputnik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ay, este cuente es maravilloso:( lloré leyéndolo.

[Melissa Swistek · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t read this without crying.
Little Choco is in search of a mother but can’t find one like him. Mrs. Bear looks nothing like him but could she still be his mother?

[Mandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super sweet book about adoption 💗

[Samuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was really, really, good! I highly recommend it!

[Alexandra Christensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is definitely a keeper

This story is so simple and to the point and yet it is full of emotion. I believe it is the perfect book to read to my adopted children.

[Ebookwormy1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely book whose engaging tales goes far beyond adoption to reach out to any child who has ever felt "different" within his family. While adoption practitioners have embraced this book, it would be a sad waste of a wonderful story (the word adoption is not even used), if it were not read broadly.

The book illustrates that families are built on love and that love for each other is more important that how each member of the family looks. The first time I read it was with my friend and her daughter. My friend and I were teary eyed. It is a charming, well written, well illustrated, story. I have bought extra copies for Christmas gifts. Highly recommended.

_____________________________________________________
I do not usually write summaries, but this topic is so sensitive and it is difficult to find good resources if you cannot read them yourself. So, here is my synopsis.

"Choco was a little bird, who lived all alone. He wished he had a mother, but who could his mother be? One day he set off to find her..." (pg.1) Choco approaches various mothers, each of which point out that they do not have some aspect of his physique. There is a little humor here as Mrs. Penguin tells Choco she does have wings like him, but not his big, round cheeks. Choco then goes to a very obviously round cheeked Mrs. Walrus, and this continues with Choco unable to find a mother "who looked just like him."

Then, he runs into Mrs. Bear, who he watches from a distance. She seems very kind, but looks nothing like him. He starts to cry and says "Mommy, Mommy! I need a Mommy!" Mrs. Bear rushes to comfort him, "Oh dear, if you had a mommy, what would she do?" The following pages are filled with Choco's dreams of a Mommy, and Mrs. Bear fulfilling them (hold me, kiss me, sing and dance with me to cheer me).

"When they stopped to rest, Mrs. Bear turned to Choco and said, "Choco, maybe I could be your mother." Choco points out his distinguishing features and how Mrs. Bear doesn't have them. Mrs. Bear laughs and says she would look very funny like that. The facing page is a delightful drawing of Mrs. Bear made into a Chocolike character. Mrs. Bear invites him home to eat apple pie with her other children who are waiting for her. Turns out her other children don't look like her either! Mrs. Bear is mother to Hippy (Hippo), Ally (Allegator) and Piggy (Pig), who play with Choco as laughter and apple pie fill the home. The book closes with:

"After their delicious treat, Mrs. Bear gave all her children a big, warm, bear hug. And Choco was very happy that his new mommy looked just the way she did."

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title / Author / Publication Date:
A Mother for Choco / Kasza, Keiko. / 1992

Genre: Fiction

Format: Picture Book – print

Plot summary:
Tells the story of a lonely bird named Choco who is searching for a mother, asking all kinds of animals if they are his mother. But he doesn’t meet anyone who looks just like him. He then meets Mrs. Bear, and doesn't even think of asking if she's his mother. But, then she starts to do just the things a mommy might do. And when she brings him home, he meets her other children-a piglet, a hippo, and an alligator-and learns that families can come in all shapes and sizes and still fit together.

Review citation:
The talented creator of The Wolf's Chicken Stew (1987 ALA Notable) provides a warmhearted contemporary surprise ending for the time-honored formula of a little creature searching the animal kingdom for its appropriate mother. Choco, a small yellow bird with a big blue bill, tries a giraffe (she has no wings, she says), a penguin (no "big round cheeks"), and a walrus, but no one seems to look just like him. Comfortable Mrs. Bear is wiser: "If you had a mommy, what would she do?" And since she's quite able to hold him and kiss him, regardless of appearances, he's soon the new member of her happy family--joining the little pig, hippo, and alligator already in her affectionate brood. The timely point is hardly subtle, but it's made with notable good humor, especially in Kasza's marvelous animal caricatures of comically human states of mind. Just right for the preschool group or beginning reader. (Kirkus Reviews, February 15, 1992)

Section source used to find the material: Schimmel, N., & Love, S. (1997). Books on adoption for young children: Looking at language. School Library Journal, 43(7), 32.

Recommended age: Ages 2-6

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Mother for Choco by Keiko Kasza is an adorable picture book for ages nursery to primary. It tugs on the heartstrings and has the sweetest ending. A little bird, Choco, awakens one morning with no mother to be seen. The little bird goes around to every mother animal and asks her if she is his mother. They all have the same reply- no, because they do not look alike. Defeated and lonely, Choco is found by a momma bear who says that she will be his mother. The momma bear brings Choco home to her family, none of whom are bears. The plot is obvious- families come in all shapes and sizes. Love has no boundaries. Why can’t a brown bear be the mother of a yellow bird? The illustrations are very cute and colorful and mesh perfectly with the story. The language is simple enough for younger children to understand and is good for children who are learning to read. As an Elementary and Special Education major, I definitely see myself using this in class. I think that it is a good pick, not only for adoptive families, but for children who come from all walks of life. It has a very profound message: love.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book A Mother for Choco by Keiko Kasza was published in 1996 and unfortunately did not win any awards. It is intended for 3rd through 5th grade children to read. It’s about a little yellow bird asking different animals if they are his mother by the way the features of that animal have. He finds himself not finding his mother but finding a bear that also has other children living in her home that does not look like her. The message that children would gain from reading this book would be that family is important, does not matter if you don’t all look the same. My rating is a 4 because the text is easy for young children to read but you can tell that it has a mystery for the children to want to keep reading till the end. The illustrations are bright but there are a lot of white spaces on the pages so the reader might be bored. Children who don’t look like their mom or dad or don’t live with their parents will feel very relatable to this book and will catch their attention. There are many children who feel lost because they don’t know their biological parent but this book can show children that family is family, looks don’t define family.