A Crazy-Much Love

This is an ode to familial love, set in the context of an interracial adoption. The father is white, with red hair, the mother has light skin and black hair. Some reviews say she has olive skin, but I don't see it - the colors are very splashy and fluctuating though. As the parents prepare for their much-loved and expected child, adopted from an unnamed Asian country.

Their experiences parallel the expectation and birth of a child - preparing a nursery, the excitement of the big moment and the hurried rush, but they race off in a plane, not to the hospital, and collect their beloved child to return to a diverse, excited group of family and neighbors. They fall in love with their daughter from her first laugh to her first bath, and just show more like the bubbles spill across the room their love spills out of the house and follows her wherever she goes, learning to ride a tricycle, off to school, and cuddling together in an explosion of love and happiness.

Sanchez' illustrations are wild and colorful; lots of splashy reds and oranges, bubbling fountains of colored bubbles representing emotions, wide mouths laughing, and families jumping in joy and excitement. Children totter on plump legs and tiny feet, the little girl rides her bike through a forest of glowing leaves, and a friendly brown dog pops up on various pages.

The text is poetic, rather than following a plot-line. It reiterates the refrain of "crazy-much love" and includes lots of hyperbole, "forever and ever and far beyond that" and more.

Verdict: A beautiful book, full of the warmth of family and love. It's not something I'd pick for storytime; it's more of a parent-child book to read together, or a book to give as a gift. It's not unique - I have several books about adopting an Asian child - so if I was looking to fill a gap I'd be looking for books featuring foster kids, children with disabilities, or older children being adopted - but it is a very attractive story and parents wanting to reassure their children of how much they are loved and wanted will find this a charming read.

ISBN: 9781542043267; Published September 2019 by Two Lions; Review copy provided by publicist; Donated to the library show less

Joy Jordan-Lake has used her own adoption experiences to relate the journey of a couple who have chosen foreign adoption. From the waiting period to the time they hold their baby for the first time; from her first steps to her stepping on the school bus for the first time---there are so many special moments shared in A Crazy-Much Love.
The lyrical words of the author and the colorful illustrations by Sonia Sanchez make this a book that children will love and the story is one that parents will hold dear to their hearts. This would be the perfect gift for people who are adopting and it is a wonderful way to explain adoption to a child.
'We loved you before we saw you, or hugged you, or held you. You were the one we hoped for, and prayed show more for, and piled up stuffed bears for. It was you.'
Lovely words for a child to hear but they accurately describe the anticipation and the parental love that most of us have felt as we waited for our own children to be born!
This is Jordan-Lake's first picture book but I am hoping that there will be more for me to share with my five year-old granddaughter.
I received a complimentary copy of this book but I have voluntarily chosen to share my thoughts. show less

Two parents describe their journey towards adopting their little girl. First, they talk about their long wait to get to her, and finally, when they met, she was the way they had imagined. They keep reinforcing that they have loved her since they knew she was the one and will love her forever. Then, they describe all the beautiful first moments of the child’s life and how they cherished every moment.

A Crazy-Much Love is a beautiful book. The illustrations are classy, notably parents’ love. The book can work for any parent since the feelings regarding the anticipation and excitement of a child’s journey are the same.
A great addition to a bedtime read. It will rekindle many emotions for the parents and bring joy to the child.
Read show more the full review at Nothing But Picture Books show less