Very young children will get a glimpse into the overwhelming love and joy their parents felt when adopting them, thanks to The Day We Met You by Phoebe Koehler.

The sweet, simple book is told from the perspective of adoptive parents. It begins with getting the call that they were going to become parents and then goes through the many preparations necessary for a baby’s arrival. Children will enjoy hearing how their parents bought pacifiers, diapers, bottles, formula, clothing and a car seat – to keep them safe. But most of all, they will know how much they are loved and cherished. Like many adoptive parents, the couple telling the story mentions how they loved their new baby the moment they saw him.

Adding to the appeal of this book are the cute, pastel illustrations that look like they were colored with crayon. Because the book is short and uses simple phrases and sentences, it would be ideal to share with a child as young as age 1 or 2. This is the perfect age to begin explaining adoption. However, if you’re looking for a book with details about the adoption process, birth parents or what it means to be adopted, you won’t find it here. This book is rather light on the subject of adoption. I also wish The Day We Met You was available as a study board book, rather than a flimsy paperback. It would be much more durable for active toddlers.

Nevertheless, I still believe the book is worth purchasing for very young kids who aren’t yet ready to comprehend the complexities of adoption. The best way to describe The Day We Met You is short but sweet. Although brief, it sends a powerful message of love that will stick with children for a long time. They will truly understand how much they were wanted and how deep and rich their parents’ love is. My favorite line from the book is the way the parents describe what it felt like to meet their child for the first time. They compare it to the sun shining inside of them, which is very fitting because the sun not only provides warmth, light and joy, but is also responsible for helping to nurture living things, much like a parent.

I recommend this book to families with young children, ages 1-4, who are looking for a simple book about the love adoptive parents feel for their kids.

The Day We Met You by Phoebe Koehler is available on Amazon.com.

* I purchased a copy of The Day We Met You with my own funds.