Mango (the long haired ginger cat) Gets A Foster Sister

The kitty on the title page was cute. I hope they didn't mistake the dryer for a fancy litterbox. The dedication page will be an eye-opener for some readers. The author lists that 400,000 kids in the United States are in foster care. What an astronomical number! I hope every one of you finds yours forever home! 

In Mango (the Long haired ginger cat) Gets a Foster Sister: Celebrating the healing power of unconditional love, Mango was excited to meet their new (same-age) sibling. Mango said, "It felt like baby fish were swimming around in her tummy and tickling her insides!" An image of a cat followed up this sentence with three swimming orange fish in its belly. 

As Mango waited for the new cat to arrive, they began to worry if the new addition to the family would like them. This led to an illustration of two orange swimming fish in Mango's head. The children I was reading to all agreed that they found the image "scary" and didn't like it. I want to note they were preschoolers. 

As the story progresses, we meet Molly, who demonstrates fears characteristic of what human children feel daily in the foster system. How would they be treated? What were the rules of the new home? What would happen if she broke a rule? Human children in the foster system will empathize with Molly's plight.

Molly and Mango did not bond instantaneously. Molly, like many children in the system, had trust issues. They acted out, stole, and lied. Readers will witness Molly's visits with her biological mom and her feelings during these visits, and how she behaved after them. Again, all realistic human behaviors. 

Children in the foster system want to be loved, feel wanted, and have a home that won't be taken away. They want security. Molly was not kind to Mango, but instead of Mango hating Molly, they showed them love and kindness. Mango didn't cast Molly out, and soon, Molly realized she could trust her new family members. Molly found her forever home! 

Fostering and adoption are not always easy roads to navigate. It requires lots of love, patience, understanding, and kindness. I encourage you to share this story with your family. Recommended reading age 4 - 11 years with a grade level of preschool - 3.