Customer Reviews
A sweet story - By: Christine Mitchell, 07 Sep 2007 
I think this book is a good introduction to the concept of adoption for very young children. It has an important message: that a child's 'real' parents are the ones who love, & take care of him, & share his experiences, every day.
Both my daughters (one bio, one adopted) enjoyed this book when they were younger. As children get a bit older Rosie's Family is a good book that explains more about adoption. For even older children (maybe 7 or older), The Mulberry Bird explores (through birds) why a birth parent may not be able to raise their child. I also like The Little Green Goose, which has a very similar theme as Choco, but here the child does start out with an adoptive parent (and not completely alone).
Christine Mitchell, author & illustrator or Welcome Home, Forever Child: A Celebration of Children Adopted as Toddlers, Preschoolers, & Beyond
A Very Good Book - Be Warned. - By: C Dempster, 29 Aug 2007 
The story of Choco is of a bird (of unknown type) & his search for a mother who looks just like him. Adults do argue that the book is about trans-racial adoption but I am unconvinced that young children think in this way. For my daughter (who is now 2 1/2 & was not adopted trans-raciallly), its simply a story of one cute but rather sad little bird looking for his mother.
Ultimately it's a simple, if slightly oblique story of adoption. The real question is whether your child will like the story. I can only say that my daughter loves the story of Choco. It was the first book my daughter wanted me to read to her at night and, it was at her insistence that I then read it to her every night for four months. For my daughter the regular repetition of Choco was probably comforting, I am not sure I can echo her sentiment.
Given my daughter's view, I am a strong advocate of the book. However I am delighted that in the last three weeks my daughter has finallly stoppped asking for me to read Choco at bedtime & is wanting to hear new stories.
But where did Choco come from? - By: Olivia, 29 Feb 2004 
My three year old loves this. The different reactions of my two boys were interesting - at the end my three year old ( not adopted)said "so where is Choco's real mummy?" & his brother (aged six, adopted) replied " haven't you understood the story? His mummy is the bear!" They both liked the ending though were a bit disturbed by Choco starting out completely alone (which is avoiding,I suppose to simplify things , the question of where he came from in the first place which is one that is dealt with in the Crazy Cakes book better). I don't reallly like the pictures , not my taste. To sum up,worth it but not as the only child's adoption book you have, you need others to complete the story.
A definite MUST HAVE for any transcultural adoptive home! - By: , 23 Jul 1999 We bought this through a transracial adoption source. I am very glad we did. It is a short tale of a great search & discovery. Our daughter is 17 months old & loves to hear the story over & over. This story shows that you don't have to "look" like your parents to be a family. Love & support can come from the most unlikely combination of families.
Very sweet book. - By: , 07 Feb 1999 I loved the book because I'm developing a library for my son who is three & is adopted. Choco looks alll over for his mother thinking she probably looks just like him. He finds an animal that may have a beak or a wing but doesn't look like him & becomes hopeless. He is heard weeping in the forest by a Mother Bear. She asks him what is wrong & he proceeds to tell her his tale. She listens sympathicallly & asks him what his mother would do in a case like this & he describes alll the comforting things a mother would do. Then without hesitation, Mother Bear does exactly what he needs. She takes him home where he is introduced to her "children" which are alll different animals (not one bear child). Lovely, book that can be used as discussion later on when child is older. Thumbs up!
