Home at Last by Vera B. Williams Book Review

Home at Last by Vera B. Williams
Illustations by Chris Raschka
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Release Date: September 13, 2016

When Daddy Albert and Daddy Rich adopt Lester, he is so excited. But being part of a new family isn't as easy as he thought it would be. He can't sleep at night, creeping into his parent's room sure that if he could just be with them and their dog, Wincka, nothing bad will happen to him ever again. Yet, each night his new dads return him to his own empty room. Lester is happy with his new family, yet each night the fear returns. Until one day Wincka helps solve the problem.

The amount of books concerning adoption are very few. There are even less that deal with older child adoption. And even fewer concerning same sex couples and adoption. Which makes this book extremely special in its subject matter. The problem with this book is that it is so text heavy that it doesn't seem appropriate for its target age range in the picture book demographic. Which leaves the open ended question of, who is this book's audience? The illustrations are nice, the information is fairly accurate, the feelings very real, but there is a very small audience for this book I am afraid. This is a shame, because there is a definite need for picture books that explain older child adoption.

I think I could be even more nit-picky about this book since I am in the middle of adopting an older child from foster care, but I think I shall leave this as my last complaint: If you are adopting a waiting child through foster care in America (even if they are living in a group home/orphanage), they come live with you first before the adoption is finalized. There is usually a minimum period for this. In my state, 90 days.

Give it some time and perhaps I will make a book of my own. One that explains to young children why Aunt & Uncle suddenly have a teenager living with them. One of my nephews is very interested in the concept, but I don't think he understands it completely and I would love it if there was a book out there that helped. To a seven-year-old, it's all a bit grown-up and confusing.