Emma's Story

Illustrated by Song Nan Zhang
When Emma sets out to make a cookie family with her Grandma, the happy afternoon suddenly turns sad. The cookies are meant to look like her family, but hers is the only one with licorice hair and eyes. She doesn’t look like the others; does that mean she doesn’t belong?

In gentle text, Deborah Hodge tells the story of one small girl’s adoption: the hopes and prayers of her Canadian parents, their trip to the other side of the world, their meeting with the new baby, and the very long ride home to the new family waiting for Emma

Thousands of baby girls from China have been adopted by North American families. Although this lovely book tells the story of one such little girl, it is about much more than the logistics of adoption. It is about the many ways in which we can come together to form a family.
Deborah Hodge is the author of thirty-five books for children. She specializes in writing engaging nonfiction for young readers and loves the challenge of using few words to explain big thoughts.
 
Many of Deborah’s books have received awards and been published internationally. Her honours include twice winning the Children’s Literature Roundtable of Canada’s Information Book Award, and receiving the Honour Book distinction from the National Jewish Award for Children’s Literature for Rescuing the Children: The Story of the Kindertransport. Her work has also been featured on such lists as IBBY’s Outstanding Books for Children with Disabilities for Lily and the Mixed-up Letters.

Before she was an author, Deborah was a teacher and curriculum writer for the BC Ministry of Education. She says, “Although I’m not teaching anymore, I still feel like I’m talking to my students whenever I write a book. I love the process of trying to create something that young readers will find interesting.”
 
Deborah was born in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan and lives with her family in Vancouver, BC.
 
For more information, please visit her website at www.deborahhodge.com. View titles by Deborah Hodge
© Song Nan Zhang
Tundra artist Song Nan Zhang was born in Shanghai. He received a Masters degree from the Beijing Central Institute of Fine Arts, and his paintings have been exhibited in galleries around the world. After teaching at the Central Institute for several years, he visited Montreal, Canada, and decided to settle there with his wife and two sons to pursue his painting full time. His works on canvas have been regularly exhibited in eastern Canada, notably at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. View titles by Song Nan Zhang
“Skillful paintings … realistic, detailed illustrations … The layout balances text and art neatly.”
Publishers Weekly

“Hodge writes with a quiet tenderness, creating the mood of the story…. Zhang’s soft, but wonderfully detailed illustrations match the mood of the story perfectly… Highly Recommended.”
CM Magazine

“[A] gentle and warm tale…[with] beautiful paintings that are superbly rendered with incredible detail…. [A]n invaluable adoption tale…”
Resource Links

“…timely… The softness of Zhang’s paintings, rich in detail, matches the mood of the text… heartwarming…”
Montreal Review of Books

About

When Emma sets out to make a cookie family with her Grandma, the happy afternoon suddenly turns sad. The cookies are meant to look like her family, but hers is the only one with licorice hair and eyes. She doesn’t look like the others; does that mean she doesn’t belong?

In gentle text, Deborah Hodge tells the story of one small girl’s adoption: the hopes and prayers of her Canadian parents, their trip to the other side of the world, their meeting with the new baby, and the very long ride home to the new family waiting for Emma

Thousands of baby girls from China have been adopted by North American families. Although this lovely book tells the story of one such little girl, it is about much more than the logistics of adoption. It is about the many ways in which we can come together to form a family.

Author

Deborah Hodge is the author of thirty-five books for children. She specializes in writing engaging nonfiction for young readers and loves the challenge of using few words to explain big thoughts.
 
Many of Deborah’s books have received awards and been published internationally. Her honours include twice winning the Children’s Literature Roundtable of Canada’s Information Book Award, and receiving the Honour Book distinction from the National Jewish Award for Children’s Literature for Rescuing the Children: The Story of the Kindertransport. Her work has also been featured on such lists as IBBY’s Outstanding Books for Children with Disabilities for Lily and the Mixed-up Letters.

Before she was an author, Deborah was a teacher and curriculum writer for the BC Ministry of Education. She says, “Although I’m not teaching anymore, I still feel like I’m talking to my students whenever I write a book. I love the process of trying to create something that young readers will find interesting.”
 
Deborah was born in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan and lives with her family in Vancouver, BC.
 
For more information, please visit her website at www.deborahhodge.com. View titles by Deborah Hodge
© Song Nan Zhang
Tundra artist Song Nan Zhang was born in Shanghai. He received a Masters degree from the Beijing Central Institute of Fine Arts, and his paintings have been exhibited in galleries around the world. After teaching at the Central Institute for several years, he visited Montreal, Canada, and decided to settle there with his wife and two sons to pursue his painting full time. His works on canvas have been regularly exhibited in eastern Canada, notably at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. View titles by Song Nan Zhang

Praise

“Skillful paintings … realistic, detailed illustrations … The layout balances text and art neatly.”
Publishers Weekly

“Hodge writes with a quiet tenderness, creating the mood of the story…. Zhang’s soft, but wonderfully detailed illustrations match the mood of the story perfectly… Highly Recommended.”
CM Magazine

“[A] gentle and warm tale…[with] beautiful paintings that are superbly rendered with incredible detail…. [A]n invaluable adoption tale…”
Resource Links

“…timely… The softness of Zhang’s paintings, rich in detail, matches the mood of the text… heartwarming…”
Montreal Review of Books

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