Why We Chose This Book: Rebecca’s Journey Home

In the past few years there has been an increasingly strong move toward diversity and inclusion in children’s books. The PJ Library Book Selection Committee believes that all children deserve to see themselves in books and have access to stories that relate to their lives. The wheels of publishing sometimes seem to turn slowly, and large segments of the population are still highly underrepresented in children’s books. This is one reason that PJ Library is so pleased to have Rebecca’s Journey Home in our line-up of books.

For PJ’s 6-year-old age group and their families, this lovely book, written by Brynn Olenberg Sugarman and illustrated by Michelle Shapiro, covers a lot of ground in a natural, organic way. In it, a prospective parent makes the long journey to bring a new daughter from Vietnam to her new home and family. What a fabulous introduction to the love and anticipation that accompanies adoption! So much is shared about the family’s feelings as they eagerly await their new child. This is all seen against the backdrop of a loving home and the family’s eagerness to welcome their new daughter into the Jewish community. Beautifully, Rebecca’s new family is already planning how to keep her birth culture alive for her, making it clear to the book’s readers that each of us is made up of many facets and that we can mesh all parts of ourselves into a unique and beautiful whole. And that’s why we chose this book.