Product Description

Based on the author's family's experience, this book describes a child's life before and after she was adopted from Russia. From scenes in the orphanage to the child’s Russian birthmother, this is one of the first children’s picture books to chronicle the special background of children adopted from Russia. Delicate watercolor illustrations perfectly compliment this poetic and heartfelt text. When I Met You is a celebration of the joy that adopting a child brings to a family.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #99150 in Books
• Published on: 2005-05
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 38 pages

Review
"Beautiful watercolors by Christine Sykes prove a perfect match for Bashista's lyrical prose." -- Mary Quattlebaum, Washington Parent, May, 2005

"In contrasting a child's life before and after adoption, it is respectful and insightful, explanatory and celebratory." -- Dellory Matthews, Eastern European Adoption Coalition

An excellent introduction for a parent to share a more complete story of adoption at age-appropriate levels. -- Richard Fischer, Adoption Today

An excellent introduction for a parent to share a more complete story of adoption at age-appropriate levels. --Richard Fischer, Adoption Today

The author carefully balances a child's memories of Russian culture with new experiences in America, celebrating both cultures. -- Amy Trojanowski, Eastern European Program Specialist, Children's Home Society and Family Services

The author carefully balances a child's memories of Russian culture with new experiences in America, celebrating both cultures. --Amy Trojanowski, Eastern European Program Specialist, Children's Home Society and Family Services

This book will be treasured for years to come - definitely one that we will read & re-read each passing year! -- Fami Doederlein, Executive Director, Until All Have Homes

This book will be treasured for years to come - definitely one that we will read & re-read each passing year! --Fami Doederlein, Executive Director, Until All Have Homes

This charming, delightful narrative of a Russian adoption [is]... respectful and insightful, explanatory and celebratory. -- Adoptive Families

[This] captures the lives of our children from Eastern Europe ... A wonderful picture book of their story. -- John MacLean, author, The Russian Adoption Handbook

[This] gracefully acknowledges the child’s life prior to the adoption ... appropriate for children adopted at many ages. -- Karen Holt of Karen's Adoption Links

From the Publisher
Parents and reviewers have said that this book gives a wonderful introduction for parents to share with their children information about their adoption. This book blends Russian vocabulary and scenes of orphanage life with family life after the adoption has taken place, setting the scene for more intimate discussions about "where I came from."

From the Author
I wrote When I Met You for my younger son, adopted from a Russian orphanage at age 15 months, and I dedicate the book to the hundreds of thousands of children in orphanages all over the world. It's my fervent hope that someday these children will find families of their own.

Customer Reviews

Like "Crazy Cakes" for Russian kids
Before this book came out the book that best captured the emotions of adopting our daughter was "I Love You Like Crazy Cakes". It's a beautiful book, but it's about adopting a child from China - not from Russia. Finally, we have our own book about Russian adoption that sums up the love I feel for my daughter in language simple enough for her to understand.

The thing I like best about this book is it serves as a jumping-off point for discussions about my daughter's past as well as for Russian culture. Since my daughter is only two, we don't have to get too complicated when we talk about her start in the orphanage, but I anticipate when she gets older we can use the book to get as in-depth as she needs us to be.

This is a must-buy for every adoptive parent of a Russian child.

Beautiful Book -- although I have a slight issue with some wording
This really is a beautiful book - both in terms of text & pictures. The story is told from a mother to her daughter, so it is girl-specific -- but still, it's great to have a story specific to Russian adoption. The biggest part where the girlishness comes into play is when it refers to pink ballet slippers. But you could always just say "slippers" instead if you want the "You" to really be your own child & he is a boy. ;) The book begins...

"When I met you, you lived in Russia, a country far across the ocean.
Now, you live here, close to my heart.

When you met me, you lived with a gruppa of sixteen other children.
Now, you live in a house, with me and Daddy and Fizz the dog."

My only issue with the book comes at the end & this is just personal preference. The text reads:

"When you met me, your Russian mother had already said good-bye.
Now, I am your mother, and I will say hello to you every day of your life."

At least at this point (at my son's young age), I would prefer not to use the term "Russian mother" & to talk about her saying good-bye. (We just say her first name instead.) I bought the book anyway, deciding to come up with my own words for that page. The following page then says:

"You will always be Russia's child.
But now, you are also mine."

I am choosing to change this wording for our use too. I would rather that it said, "a child of Russia"... so that it sounds less posessive of him -- instead emphasizing that he does belong to us. This is all personal preference, of course. :)

Beautiful
My children love the beautiful illustrations and the touching story. The story is a wonderful tool for talking about the topic of adoption on a level that is appropriate for young children. I would recommend this book for any family that has adopted or for families who have friends who have adopted.