Book Review - Whose Lovely Child Can You Be? By Shobha Viswanath & Christine Tappin

Whose Lovely Child Can You Be? I was intrigued by the book's title and cover.

I chose this book from a catalog of titles offered by the publisher. The title intrigued me and so did the cover. The cover image has three bigger children looking at the fourth smaller child lying in a bassinet. All sorts of thoughts popped into my head "Was this a fourth child in the family?" Or "Was this kid abandoned by the original family and discovered by the other bigger kids?" Or "Were they all completely unrelated and part of the same daycare?" But combined with the title of the book it seemed appropriate that the baby was lost and the other kids wondered "Whose Lovely Child Can You Be? "

What it's about

The story begins with a young girl called Gulgul running up to her mother in desperation. Her friend has told her that she hasn't arrived from her own mother's tummy but from the tummy of another mummy. Gulgul is confused and upset but then her family comes together and decides to tell her of the magical day she entered and became part of their lives.

Through the narration by her family members, Gulgul comes to realize that a sense of belonging and love she shares with her family goes further than blood ties.

What was wonderful about the book:-

1. The wonderful pastel hue acrylic illustrations by Christine Tappin ooze warmth and affection.

2. The amazing manner in which all members of the family make Gulgul feel wanted and special.

3. How the concept of adoption has been handled and explained in a heartwarming way.

4. The verse and rhyme used to narrate the story. This particular verse has stayed with me. This is exactly what I felt when my baby was born...

Something inside of me stirred,

My heartfelt full like it would burst.

I gathered you, my little rose,

And kissed your cheek and held you close.

The age group for this book is around 5-6. round this time, kids begin to understand the concept of adoption. My daughter is four so we couldn't read it together. Moreover, I read this on my iPad so I really couldn't browse pictures with my little one.

Much recommended for those handling sensitive issues of adoption and foster parenting.

Buy Now:  Amazon USA | Amazon India

Interview with Shobha Viswanath and Christine Tappin of "Whose Lovely Child Can You Be?"

It is National Adoption Month and it is timely that we talk with Author Shobha Viswanath and Illustrator Christine Tappin of "Whose Lovely Child Can You Be?". This book gently addresses the sensitive topic of adoption and foster care. 

IMC:"Whose lovely child can you be?" Is a book that has adoption as the central theme, what inspired you to address this issue?

SV: We adopted my daughter when she was 2 months old and although we never suffered any dilemmas about should we tell her that she is adopted or not, I noticed that it was a troubling issue for so many adoptive parents. One was the issue of whether to tell the child, the other was the issue of adoption itself. Should one do it or not. There was nothing available in the market which addressed either the child or the parent and in a sense, Whose Lovely Child Can You Be?  tries to address both.

IMC: The cover page is very enigmatic and does not directly address the topic of the book. Tell us something about this choice of cover.

SV:  Do you think it is enigmatic? I just thought it was a perfect fit. What would you have chosen?

IMC:  The choice of pastel hue acrylic illustrations throughout the book oozes warmth and affection. What was the creative journey like to reach these illustrations?

CT: After studying painting at college and university, I decided to try working on digital media, and found that photoshop worked really well for me. I felt that the brushes and blending options merged the colors together beautifully, which added to the soft whimsical style that I had been trying to create. These days, I'm a lot more comfortable using Photoshop than traditional media as I feel I can express myself and my ideas in a better way. When we were working on the project, a few years ago, my Aunt and Uncle were in the process of adopting back then. They are getting on wonderfully as a family. Abbie is 8 now and Aiden is 4.

IMC: What are some real-world issues with adoption?

SV: Real India issues with adoption are the following:

a.     It is still not encouraged as an option for childless couples let alone couples who have a biological child of their own. And let us perish the thought of single men or women considering it despite some celebrities having set examples doing so.

b.    There is still a social stigma and a great fear attached to the process

c.     In India race, religion, caste, gender – all of them play a huge issue in parents making a choice of a child.

d.    Fear that the child may seek to know its adoptive parents.

e.    Can one love someone else’s child as much as one’s own is an issue not just with the extended family but with the parents themselves?

f.      Over the last decade, although the male child is still preferred, the number of families that have registered to adopt a baby girl has gone up. Couples who want a male child have to wait for three to four years while the waiting period for families who prefer girls is no more than six months.

IMC:  What is your message to our readers and those considering adoption/foster care?

SV: That it is as beautiful as having your own biological child. Sometimes even better.

-       To include a child as a part of your life who has not come through you is a transformative and magical experience for not just the parents but for all members of the family.

-       Do not be influenced by media misrepresentations (films, TV serials ) of adoption. Find out for yourself.  There is nothing to fear.

-       Being a mother is not just about bearing a child. It is about the nurturing that follows after the birth.

-       To quote   Nia Vardalos, Instant Mom “Anyone who ever wondered how much they could love a child who did not spring from their own loins, know this: it is the same. The feeling of love is so profound, it's incredible and surprising.” 

Thank you for talking with us Shobha and Christine!