The Baby with Three Families, Two Countries, and One Promise is a children’s book designed to be read by parents to a child adopted from a foreign country. The story is first recounted from the perspective of the parents in the USA, who are very sad not to be able to have a child. The perspective then switches to that of the biological mother, who realizes that she does not have the wherewithal to raise a child. She makes the difficult decision to give up her baby. Next readers learn about a foreign adoption agency, to which the biological mother surrenders her child. The adoption agency identifies foster parents to take care of the baby temporarily. The foster parents give the baby a temporary name.
The parents in the USA begin researching international adoption possibilities and connect with the foreign adoption agency. The parents begin the adoption process and have to go to a school to learn how to be adoptive parents. When the foreign adoption agency matches the USA parents with the baby, the USA parents fly to the foreign country, where they meet the baby and the foster parents at the adoption agency. They find out that the temporary name given to the baby by his foster parents is one of the names they have selected for the baby. Their last requirement in the foreign country is to secure a visa for the baby from the U.S. Embassy.
With the baby’s visa in hand, the parents and baby return to the United States, where they are joyously greeted by their dog, their friends, and the baby’s new grandparents. When the parents tuck their baby in at night, they tell him his story—that he has three families, two countries, and a promise for the future to visit the country of his birth when he is older.
PRAISE FOR THE BOOK
Children’s Picture Book First Place Winner, 2021 North Texas Book Festival Awards
“Clearly laying out some of the key reasons, factors, and steps in the emotionally complex process of overseas adoption, this book delicately explores the subject, making it a great launching point for conversations between parents and children.” Self-Publishing Review
“International adoption is a complex topic, but under the dual, in-depth focus of author Julie Gianelloni Connor and illustrator Saman Chinthaka Weerasinghe, the story comes to life to teach all ages about the emotional and organizational process involved in joining a child to new parents.” Donovan’s Literary Services
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**** Positive Family Building Review by Rox Burkey
Author Julie Gianelloni Connor creates an easy-to-understand child adoption story. As I read the story, I considered telling this story to an adopted child, then the parents, and other family members. Parents who want to adopt wish to create a family filled with love. This book conveys the steps that are added when the children are not born in the same country.
Rules for adoption in all countries vary, however the determination of the parents to meet the requirements will tell their story. Adopted children will raise questions surrounding their life. Parents need a plan for how and when to share information regarding their adoption.
I enjoyed the brilliant colors within the pages matched with the concise wording. Together this conveys a story of love of family in bright vibrant colors shareable with all members of the family. This positive theme is caried from start to finish. Committing to adoption is decidedly different from having a baby. It does potentially involve many individuals outside of the parents. I commend Julie for creating a story that can reach the hearts of a wider audience. I recommend her story for parents, siblings, adopted children, and couples who struggle conceiving. It is an excellent example of how love extends beyond the borders.
Julie Gianelloni Connor is an award-winning author and retired senior Foreign Service Officer. Her first book, Savoring the Camino de Santiago: It’s the Pilgrimage, not the Hike, garnered no. 1 status on Amazon in both the category for new books on hiking and walking and the category for Spain and Portugal. It subsequently went on to win a silver medal in the eLit national competition as well as being selected as a finalist by Self-Publishing Review (SPR). She released her second title, a children’s book, in 2021. It has just won first place in the children’s book category at the North Texas Book Festival. The Baby with Three Families, Two Countries, and One Promise tells an international adoption story. Her short stories have appeared in four anthologies.
Julie is the owner and publisher of Bayou City Press (BCP) in Houston, Texas, which focuses on travel writing, Houston, history, and international affairs. Julie writes a weekly newsletter for BCP updating subscribers about activities. She founded BCP after spending 33 years as a diplomat in the U.S. Foreign Service, first with the U.S. Information Agency and later with the U.S. Department of State. She had nine overseas assignments in seven different countries: Israel (twice), Paraguay, Guatemala, Indonesia, Colombia (twice), Malaysia, and Chile. In Washington, DC, Julie worked on a variety of matters, ranging from nuclear non-proliferation to narcotics control to women’s issues. She has one son and two cats, Halloween and Charles Augustus V.
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6 replies to "Review & #Giveaway – The Baby With Three Families, Two Countries, and One Promise by Julie Connor @JulConnorAuth #LSBBT #children #picturebook #adoption #TexasAuthor"
Great review — and I love what you said about the book working for a wider audience. Sounds like anyone who reads it will benefit. Thanks for sharing!
Hiya Hall Ways. So glad you stopped by. Share this post with all your friends. Thank you.
Rox: Thanks so much for your positive review. I definitely wished I had had a book like this to read to my own son when he was small, so I very much hope it will be of use to other families with an adopted child.
Hi Julie,
What an honor to host your book and be a part of your tour. Well done. Come by often. Take care.
Thank you, Rox, for sharing your thoughts on Julie’s new book! And a big congrats to Julie on winning 1st place in the 2021 NTBF book award contest!
Hi Jan,
Thank you for swinging by for a visit. She is remarkable.