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Children of “A Dream Come True”: A Critical Content Analysis of the Representations of Transracial Chinese Adoption in Picturebooks

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Abstract

This study offers a critical content analysis of thirty-six contemporary realistic picturebooks featuring transracial Chinese adoption. The theoretical framework of critical literacy highlights significant sociocultural implications of these portrayals: in particular, negative stereotypes and ideologies, in an attempt to call for inclusivity and respect. Though these adoption tales provide an opportunity for Chinese adoptees to explore sociocultural identities and for other young readers to perceive the world of adoption-created families from a different perspective, negative depictions of certain aspects suggest that transracial Chinese adoption narratives are highly contested in terms of how Chinese adoptees are viewed and what family configurations are valued. The stories sometimes omit or simplify the complexities and nuances involved in the practice, the voices of birth parents and adoptees are noticeably absent, and certain ideologies prevail in some adoptive narratives. The complex picture of what transnational adoption looks like and means for those involved needs to be more critically explored and extended by children’s literature researchers as unveiling discourses on belonging and exclusion are informed by values that will be passed on to the new generation.

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Funding

This study was supported by the Project of Discipline Innovation and Advancement (PODIA)-Foreign Language Education Studies at Bei**g Foreign Studies University (2020SYLZDXM011), Bei**g, China.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Foreign Languages, Nankai University, No. 94 Wei** Road, Nankai District, Tian**, 300071, China

    Lina Sun

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  1. Lina Sun
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Correspondence to Lina Sun.

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Lina Sun

got her PhD in Education from Saint Louis University, US. She is now teaching at the School of Foreign Languages, Nankai University, Tian**, China; her research interests include critical literacy, children's literature, and multicultural education. Her recent publications have been seen in Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, Multicultural Education, Voice of Youth Advocates, etc.

Appendix: A List of Picturebooks Featuring Transracial Chinese Adoption (1992-2013)

Appendix: A List of Picturebooks Featuring Transracial Chinese Adoption (1992-2013)

  1. 1.

    Blackington, Debbie and Blackington, Brynne. (2004). Mama’s Wish/Daughter’s Wish. Duxbury, MA: Pebbleton Press. (illustrated by Blackington, Brynne)

  2. 2.

    Bratt, Kay. (2011). Mei Li and the Wise Laoshi. Charleston, SC: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. (illustrated by Vass, Monika)

  3. 3.

    Busby, Richard. (2005). Carson’s Book: A Story about Adoption from China. Bloomington, IN: AuthorHouse. (illustrated by Marcelo, Phil)

  4. 4.

    Campbell, Keri. (2008). The Adventures of Lily. Bloomington, IN: AuthorHouse. (illustrated by Lemaire, Bonnie)

  5. 5.

    Cheng, Andrea. (2013). The Year of the Baby. New York, NY: HMH Books for Young Readers. (illustrated by Barton, Patrice)

  6. 6.

    Clark, Karen H. (2010). Sweet Moon Baby. New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf. (illustrated by Barton, Patrice)

  7. 7.

    Coste, Marion. (2006). Finding Joy. Honesdale, PA: Boyds Mills Press. (illustrated by Chen, Yong)

  8. 8.

    Cummings, Mary. (2006). Three Names of Me. Morton Grove, IL: Albert Whitman & Company. (illustrated by Wang, Lin)

  9. 9.

    Cuzzolino, Bonnie. (2006). Letter of Love from China. New Brunswick, NJ: Plum Blossom Books. (illustrated by Benette, Jax)

  10. 10.

    Friedman, Darlene. (2009). Star of the Week: A Story of Love, Adoption, and Brownies with Sprinkles. New York, NY: HarperCollins. (illustrated by Roth, Roger)

  11. 11.

    Hodge, Deborah. (2003). Emma’s Story. New York, NY: Tundra Books. (illustrated by Zhang, Song Nan)

  12. 12.

    Kennedy, Pamela. (2006). A Sister for Matthew. Harlan, IA: Guideposts. (illustrated by Wummer, Amy)

  13. 13.

    Kitze, Carrie A. (2003). We See the Moon. Warren, NJ: EMK Press. (illustrated by **shan Painting Academy)

  14. 14.

    Koh, Frances M. (2000). A China Adoption Story: Mommy, Why Do We Look Different? Singapore: East West Pr. (illustrated by O’Brien, Anne Sibley)

  15. 15.

    Landry, Doris A. (2003). Before I Met You—A Therapeutic Pre-adoption Narrative Designed for Children Adopted from China. Bloomington, IN: Xlibris. (illustrated by Haskew, Suzanne)

  16. 16.

    Lewis, Rose A. (2000). I Love You Like Crazy Cakes: A China Adoption Story. New York, NY: Little Brown Books for Young Readers. (illustrated by Dyer, Jane)

  17. 17.

    Lewis, Rose A. (2007). Every Year on Your Birthday. New York, NY: Little Brown Books for Young Readers. (illustrated by Dyer, Jane)

  18. 18.

    Lewis, Rose A. (2010). Orange Peel’s Pocket. New York, NY: Abrams Books for Young Readers. (illustrated by Zong, Grace)

  19. 19.

    Lin, Grace. (2007). The Red Thread: An Adoption Fairy Tale. Morton Grove, IL: Albert Whitman & Company. (illustrated by Lin, Grace)

  20. 20.

    MacLeod, Jean. (2003). At Home in This World. Warren, NJ: EMK Press. (illustrated by Su, Qin)

  21. 21.

    McMahon, Patricia and McCarthy, Conor C. (2005). Just Add One Chinese Sister: An Adoption Story. Honesdale, PA: Boyds Mills Press. (illustrated by Jerome, Karen)

  22. 22.

    Molnar-Fenton, Stephen. (1992). An Mei’s Strange and Wondrous Journey. London, UK: DK Children. (illustrated by Flesher, Vivienne)

  23. 23.

    Oelschlager, Vanita. (2006). Made in China: A Story of Adoption. Akron, OH: Vanita Books. (illustrated by Blackwood, Kristin)

  24. 24.

    Okimoto, Jean D and Aoki, Elaine M. (2002). The White Swan Express. New York, NY: Clarion Books. (illustrated by Meilo So)

  25. 25.

    Peacock, Carol Antoinette. (2000). Mommy Far, Mommy Near: An Adoption Story. Morton Grove, IL: Albert Whitman & Co. (illustrated by Brownell, Shawn C)

  26. 26.

    Regier, Don. (2004). The Long Ride: A Story of Adoption & the Family of God. New York, NY: Kregel Kidzone. (illustrated by Pritchett, Karen)

  27. 27.

    Schaumberg, Rose. (2007). Three Blessings from China Adopted. Bloomington, IN: AuthorHouse. (illustrated by Schaumberg, Rose)

  28. 28.

    Shemin, Craig and Capone, Deb. (2003). Families Are Forever. Montauk, NY: As Simple As That. (illustrated by McCoy, John)

  29. 29.

    Simcox, Lorraine B. (2008). A Single Red Thread. New York, NY: Bigtent Books. (illustrated by Wang, Lin)

  30. 30.

    Spangler, Jon. (2007). The Sky Princess. Parker, CO: Outskirts Press, Inc. (illustrated by Spangler, Jon)

  31. 31.

    Spangler, Jon. (2009). The Sky Princess Moves to the Land of Peaches. Bloomington, IN: AuthorHouse. (illustrated by Lester, Roseanna)

  32. 32.

    Staut, Tami. (2009). Yushi and the Tall Man. New York, NY: HarperCollins. (illustrated by Comer, Colleen)

  33. 33.

    Stoeke, Janet M. (2007). Waiting for May. New York, NY: Dutton Juvenile. (illustrated by Stoeke, Janet M).

  34. 34.

    Thomas, Eliza. (2004). The Red Blanket. New York, NY: Scholastic Press. (illustrated by Cepeda, Joe)

  35. 35.

    **nran. (2007). Mother Bridge of Love. Cambridge, MA: Barefoot Books. (illustrated by Masse, Josee)

  36. 36.

    Young, Ed. (2006). My Mei Mei. New York, NY: Philomel. (illustrated by Young, Ed)

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Sun, L. Children of “A Dream Come True”: A Critical Content Analysis of the Representations of Transracial Chinese Adoption in Picturebooks. Child Lit Educ 52, 231–252 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10583-020-09412-x

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