Apple Cider Mill review

Apple Cider Mill
December 9, 2010

Red in the Flower Bed
by Bethany Hudson

A few weeks ago, I was approached by Tribute Books to review an upcoming release, Red in the Flower Bed.

Written by Andrea Nepa, the mother of an adopted Vietnamese daughter, this metaphoric rhyming tale spins the story of a little poppy seed that makes its way on the wind “from east to west” until it finds “the place that’s best” for it to be planted and grow. Poppy may not match the other flowers in the garden, but all together, they form a beautiful family.

While I must admit that the rhyme was at times a bit forced (though no more so than so than many other children’s books I’ve read and enjoyed; let’s be honest folks: rhyme schemes are tough!), the story was lovely. I appreciated that the metaphor was organic and never contrived. The sweet illustrations are colorful, imaginative, and engaging. I think this book would be a wonderful gift for anyone who has an adopted family member or who is considering adoption.

Red in the Flower Bed is scheduled for sales beginning Monday, December 12th. Pick up a copy for an adoptive parent or adopted child this Christmas!

You can purchase through Amazon or directly from Tribute.

Congratulations on a lovely addition to this important niche of children’s lit, Andrea! And thanks to Tribute for letting me help spread the word.

Image Source: Cover and photograph of Andrea Nepa and daughter, Leah, provided by Tribute Books for this review.

A Fanatic's Book Blog review

A Fanatic's Book Blog
December 8, 2010

Blog Tour - Book Review Red in the Flower Bed
by Jessica Torres

Red in the Flower Bed is a beautifully imagined story about interracial adoption. It's sweet and lilting prose captures a child's attention, while the stunning illustrations capture their imagination. Honestly, I do believe that this book would be perfect for any child who has gone through an adoption. Especially if they question why they may not look like their other family members.

The simple analogy of a child to a seed is fantastic. Just as the seed needs to move on to another patch of ground to fully grow, Andrea Nepa shows that sometimes a child must move on to a new family to fully grow. Red in the Flower Bed is an age-appropriate look at a tough topic for children, and is sure to open the floor for more discussion. I believe every child could benefit from this book even, since at the soul of it is the message of acceptance. Andrea Nepa shows children that everyone is beautiful, and fits in just where they are.

With beautiful illustrations and a sweet storyline, I'd definitely recommend Red in the Flower Bed to all families out there. Share it with your children and discuss. You can even read the first 10 pages of the book for free, right here.

Eskimo Kisses and Air Hugs review

Eskimo Kisses and Air Hugs
December 7, 2010

Red in the Flower Bed by Andrea Nepa - Book Review
by Kara Flathouse

Red in the Flower Bed is a sweet children’s book about a seed that finally finds its home in a garden far away. The colorful illustrations and rhyming verses make this book not only fun to read, but capture the audiences of both young and old.

The simplicity of the story opens up the door to discussions on how the seed felt being so far from home, but so loved by its new garden family. Which can then lead to the topic of Interracial adoption, which is what the author Andrea Nepa wrote the story about.

Andrea Nepa is the mother of an adopted Vietnamese daughter named Leah. In 2001, Adoptions from the Heart assisted with the international adoption. Andrea dedicated her book to her daughter: "For my dear Leah, whose journey in her young life has already taken her to far away and unexpected places." In 2006, Leah was diagnosed with cancer. She is currently in remission. Andrea lives with Leah and her husband, David, in Haddonfield, New Jersey. She is a registered dietitian for the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

Theirs is a beautiful story, one that is shared by many families across the country. I believe the story of Red in the Flower Bed is a beautiful way to introduce children to adoption, as well as a meaningful story for those families who find themselves like the garden in the story.

It would also make a great Christmas gift! You can look here to see about purchasing it.

Thank you to Andrea Nepa and Tribute Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book!

Come Meet AusJenny review

Come Meet AusJenny
December 7, 2010

Red in the Flower Bed by Andrea Nepa
by Jenny

I found this a delightful book and it deals with adoption in a sensitive way.

Its a great way of explaining adoption to children, both children who are adopted and other children. This will also be good for children adopted from different countries. It is good to see this sort of book out for adopted children.

China Adopt Talk review

China Adopt Talk
December 7, 2010

Red in the Flower Bed by Andrea Nepa
by Rumor Queen

Red in the Flower Bed claims to be “An Illustrated Children’s Story about Interracial Adoption”.

Reviewing children’s books is different from reviewing grown up books. With grown up books I have to let you know enough of what the book is about, without spoiling. But reviewing children’s books, you have to decide if you think this book is right for your child, so there is no such thing as a spoiler here, is there? With that in mind…

The story starts with:

One day, a seed dropped from a poppy flower onto the earth below. But it was too dry, and the poppy began to cry: “Good-bye little one. You will be missed you know, but this is no place for you to grow.”

And so the wind carries the seed over several pages of whimsical art and rhyming verse until the wind says “I have found on this ground a lovely patch that I think will match.”

We have a brief soujourn through autumn and winter, and then the seeds all begin to sprout, and the the flowers begin to open. Poppy looks around and thinks she is now with her family, and the other flowers look around as well. Red had been missing before, and now they have all of the colors of the rainbow.

Will kids “get” that the poppy might represent them? And if so, will it make them feel better or worse about being a different race than the rest of their family? As is usually the case, I think it probably depends on the kid. I think that if you never mentioned adoption, that some transracially adopted kids would never tie this story in with their own story. Others would immediately pick up on it. I believe that most will probably see it as a positive, as a further affirmation that different can be good.

Red in the Flower Bed is not written to GlitterGirl’s age group, but we read it together last night and she liked the story. She liked that the original poppy flower knew the seed couldn’t grow and thrive there, so she sent it off to another garden on the arms of the wind. She also liked that it gives yet another way of showing that everyone doesn’t have to be the same to be a family. TwinkleToes fell asleep thirty minutes before bedtime, and before we got around to reading time last night — so I’ll have to tell you how she felt about it later. Kindergarten is hard work, apparently.

In the Pages review

In the Pages
December 6, 2010

Red in the Flower Bed
by Becky Bilby

If there is one type of book I am ALWAYS on the lookout for - it is books on adoption for children. SO, when I was contacted by Tribute Books about Red in the Flower Bed by Andrea Nepa - I was over-the-top-excited! Nepa is the mother of an adopted Vietnamese daughter so she KNOWS what adoption involves and what it can mean to our little ones that we bring into our homes. That is why I am so excited about this book - the theme of adoptionall wrapped around a little seed that grows. The analogy is wonderful! I love how the seed becomes a flower and blends into the rainbow in the flower garden. I can't wait to share this one with my daughters - it is perfect!

The Story of a Writer review

The Story of a Writer
December 6, 2010

Andrea Nepa Virtual Book Tour
by Beverly Stowe McClure

Today it is my pleasure to host Andrea Nepa on her Virtual Book Tour.

One day a tiny seed drops from a poppy flower. The ground is too dry for the seed to grow, however. So begins the seed’s quest, with the help of the wind, to find its place in the world.

Author Andrea Nepa has written a gentle story about belonging. Where the seed starts its life is not the right place for it. In the seed’s journey to find a home, it encounters one obstacle after another. Life seldom runs smoothly, for plant life or for human life. Even though discouraged at times, the seed continues its search. Does it succeed in discovering a place of its own? Or does the seed give up when encountering seemingly impossible odds? Young readers travel along with the seed and will no doubt be cheering it along to find the right spot to settle, a place to belong.

The illustrations by Ms. Nepa are simple and gentle, like the story. The soft colors she uses hint at lightness and happiness. Red in the Flower Bed would make a nice bedtime story to snuggle up with your child and read together or to sit in front of a warm fireplace and share the story of a little seed with courage. The subtitle states this is a tale of adoption. Perhaps children will see the connection, perhaps not. However, children might have questions which could open a discussion between parents and children about their relationship. This book would make a nice addition for nursery schools and preschools for their reading time and for home libraries, as well. Children will see that there is a special place in this world for each of them.