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Ten Days and Nine Nights: An Adoption Story
A girl waits ten days and nine nights for her mom to return from a trip with an adopted baby sister.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published May 12, 2009
About the author
Yumi Heo
37 books12 followersYumi Heo (1964-2016) was a children's author and illustrator who was born and raised in Korea, where she studied graphic design. She came to New York City in 1989, and received an MFA in Illustration from the School of Visual Arts. She llustrated many picture-books for young people, including Father’s Rubber Shoes, The Green Frogs: A Korean Folk Tale, and One Afternoon. She lived for some years in White Plains, New York, with her husband, Steve, and their children. Yumi Heo died in 2016 of cancer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
October 6, 2019
A young girl eagerly awaits the arrival of her new baby sister in Yumi Heo's Ten Days and Nine Nights, checking off the days on her calendar until the big moment. As she and Grandpa redecorate her room in preparation for the new arrival, and Daddy brings home more furniture, Mommy is shown in a far-off country, making the final arrangements for an adoption. Finally, when there are no days and no nights left, Mommy returns, and girl meets baby for the first time...
I appreciated Heo's positive approach to the subject of international adoption. Her simple text depicts an older sibling who has no resentment to overcome, no problems to deal with: she's simply excited about the new addition to the family. I also liked Heo's oil, pencil and collage illustrations, in which stylized figures seem to dance in front of colorful, detailed backdrops. But although I approve of the idea, and intentions, of this book, there simply wasn't enough of a story to truly involve me in it. I found it pleasant, but not particularly memorable. Still, I think it would be an excellent selection for young readers who are facing this situation themselves, as they will no doubt take more away from it than I.
I appreciated Heo's positive approach to the subject of international adoption. Her simple text depicts an older sibling who has no resentment to overcome, no problems to deal with: she's simply excited about the new addition to the family. I also liked Heo's oil, pencil and collage illustrations, in which stylized figures seem to dance in front of colorful, detailed backdrops. But although I approve of the idea, and intentions, of this book, there simply wasn't enough of a story to truly involve me in it. I found it pleasant, but not particularly memorable. Still, I think it would be an excellent selection for young readers who are facing this situation themselves, as they will no doubt take more away from it than I.
September 22, 2009
A welcome addition to adoption-themed picture books, this one focuses on the sibling relationship (one that has been lacking in the shadow of the books focused on the parent-child adoption experience). Here, a little girl revels in the excitement of waiting the ten days and nine nights for her mother to return with her new sibling! She helps prepare the baby's room. I like the concept, but there was nothing really WOW about the execution in either words or illustrations.
May 10, 2018
Literature Requirement: Diverse book
Number of pages: 40
Grade level: P-3
Age level: 4-8
Genre: Fiction
Copyright: 2009 Yumi Heo
Book Format: Hardcover/picture book
Ten days and nine nights. That's how long until a little girl gets to meet her new baby sister. Her parents are adopting a baby from Korea and she is anxiously awaiting the little ones arrival. Each day she counts down on her calendar how many more days there are. Each day she, along with members of her family, prep. Finally, the day arrives when she gets to meet her baby sister!
This is a really heartwarming story. I love how the author included Korean words in the illustrations throughout the book. For instance, the little girl made a picture for her sister and there was Korean characters on it. I really liked the illustrations in the book as well. A reader would be able to understand the stories from the pictures alone. I also think this would be a great story for any children whose parents are expecting or adopting to read. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it.
Number of pages: 40
Grade level: P-3
Age level: 4-8
Genre: Fiction
Copyright: 2009 Yumi Heo
Book Format: Hardcover/picture book
Ten days and nine nights. That's how long until a little girl gets to meet her new baby sister. Her parents are adopting a baby from Korea and she is anxiously awaiting the little ones arrival. Each day she counts down on her calendar how many more days there are. Each day she, along with members of her family, prep. Finally, the day arrives when she gets to meet her baby sister!
This is a really heartwarming story. I love how the author included Korean words in the illustrations throughout the book. For instance, the little girl made a picture for her sister and there was Korean characters on it. I really liked the illustrations in the book as well. A reader would be able to understand the stories from the pictures alone. I also think this would be a great story for any children whose parents are expecting or adopting to read. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it.
April 8, 2019
This children’s book about an adoption is very cute for any child who was adopted. The book illustrates a child who is so excited to meet her newly adopted sister. It talks about how inviting few family members into the family is so wonderful and loving as many people as you can is a happy life to live. This English Language learners book talks about love and adoptions. It shows the mom having to get on the plane to get the sister and flying to Korea and how her dad is home setting up the nursey and getting ready. It’s a beautiful story.
November 23, 2019
This is a simple, cheerful story of a young girl waiting for her new adopted baby sister to arrive. The girl and her parents prepare for the new baby and count down the days and nights. There aren’t many adoption books written from the perspective of a sibling, and this is a good one. It focuses exclusively on those ten days of waiting and the joy of arrival; it doesn’t address any of the complexities of adoption and it makes no attempt to explain adoption. It’s a story about a little kid waiting with excitement for something wonderful to happen. The illustrations are bright and cheerful.
April 7, 2019
This book talks about a little girl who is very excited to meet her new sister. I like this book because it frames adoption as normal. The little girl never says that she feels strange that her family is adopting, she only talks about her excitment. I also like how this book talks about everything that has to be done in the days leading to the new baby coming home. This would be a great book for any child who is getting a new sibling.
September 20, 2019
Grade: k-3
This book was adorable!!! Mom took off to adopt baby, and little girl has a countdown and describes the countdown of what's going on til her baby sister arrives.. absolutely adorable! Loved this book!!! Would definitely read it to my kid if i was adopting.
topic: adoption
This book was adorable!!! Mom took off to adopt baby, and little girl has a countdown and describes the countdown of what's going on til her baby sister arrives.. absolutely adorable! Loved this book!!! Would definitely read it to my kid if i was adopting.
topic: adoption
September 20, 2019
All the illustrations are adorable, and I love how this gives representation to adoption and different family dynamics. A super cute read for students to read and learn about all different family structures.
March 30, 2021
This book is a good book for little children as it teaches kids how to count down from 10. A good book for parents with younger kids who are adopting as well.
November 13, 2021
A bit simplistic and would have explained adoption to an older child better. Did capture the excitement.
November 17, 2023
A girl counts down and prepares as she waits for her new adopted baby sibling from Korea
December 2, 2016
Title: Ten Days and Nine Nights
By: Yumi Heo
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Plot Summary: In this book a young girl is counting down the days and nights before the new member of their family joins them. As the mother goes to pick up the baby the young girl and her family prepare for the baby's arrival.
Literary Merit: I think book is a great way to convey a child's point of view to its audience. Since the point of view is of the little girl it really gives the reader an insight to the feelings of the youngest member of the family and provides a different aspect in that sense.
Reader's Response: Since this activity is intended for younger grades I can have my students do a similar activity as the girl does in the book. After going over how to read a calendar and showing them how to make one, I would have my students make their own calendar and mark a day on there that is important to them. If they are old enough I would have them write why this date is important to them and have them count the days that remain until this date.
Note: This book is part of my text set on adoption
This book was also on the PA Center for the book Baker's dozen list. To visit the website go to: https://pabook.libraries.psu.edu/awar...
By: Yumi Heo
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Plot Summary: In this book a young girl is counting down the days and nights before the new member of their family joins them. As the mother goes to pick up the baby the young girl and her family prepare for the baby's arrival.
Literary Merit: I think book is a great way to convey a child's point of view to its audience. Since the point of view is of the little girl it really gives the reader an insight to the feelings of the youngest member of the family and provides a different aspect in that sense.
Reader's Response: Since this activity is intended for younger grades I can have my students do a similar activity as the girl does in the book. After going over how to read a calendar and showing them how to make one, I would have my students make their own calendar and mark a day on there that is important to them. If they are old enough I would have them write why this date is important to them and have them count the days that remain until this date.
Note: This book is part of my text set on adoption
This book was also on the PA Center for the book Baker's dozen list. To visit the website go to: https://pabook.libraries.psu.edu/awar...
August 17, 2009
Simple first person narrative, cheerful illustrations and charming child-like details make this task-by-task countdown to the arrival of a long awaited sibling sweet reading for any child.
You can listen in on our chat about this book on our Just One More Book! Children's Book Podcast.
More stories of family welcoming and adoption on JOMB:
The Red Thread
Thicker than Water on SILS
Before You Were Here, Mi Amor
Someday
We’d love to hear your thoughts on a favourite children’s book. Leave a voice message on our JOMB listener hotline, +1-206-350-6487, so we can include your audio in our show
You can listen in on our chat about this book on our Just One More Book! Children's Book Podcast.
More stories of family welcoming and adoption on JOMB:
The Red Thread
Thicker than Water on SILS
Before You Were Here, Mi Amor
Someday
We’d love to hear your thoughts on a favourite children’s book. Leave a voice message on our JOMB listener hotline, +1-206-350-6487, so we can include your audio in our show
March 18, 2013
We're in the middle of a fost/adopt process, so we've been looking for books to adjust our 2.5 year old to the idea of a new non-baby brother or sister coming into the house. So far, no luck. This might be one of those "you have to write it yourself situations."
Ten Days and Nine Nights follows a little girl who is counting down the days until her new baby sister comes home from Korea. While it doesn't exactly suit our purposes, I do like that it shows the parents doing all the things that we are doing: preparing a room, filling out paperwork and so on before bringing a new child home. Also, it has none of that "baby growing in mommy's tummy" narrative that is confusing for our situation. The final page shows the little girl and her family reuniting with mom in the airport as she comes off the plane with the new baby. We are able to talk on this page about how happy everyone is to greet this new family member, so it's been good for us in that sense.
Most importantly though, our son enjoys this book which is always the ultimate thing we are going for. It has simple, brief text with illustrations of people doing a variety of things (and with a variety of facial expressions) so it gives him lots to point out and talk about.
While it's not perfect for us, I think it's a really well done book to explain this experience to both sides of the story.
Ten Days and Nine Nights follows a little girl who is counting down the days until her new baby sister comes home from Korea. While it doesn't exactly suit our purposes, I do like that it shows the parents doing all the things that we are doing: preparing a room, filling out paperwork and so on before bringing a new child home. Also, it has none of that "baby growing in mommy's tummy" narrative that is confusing for our situation. The final page shows the little girl and her family reuniting with mom in the airport as she comes off the plane with the new baby. We are able to talk on this page about how happy everyone is to greet this new family member, so it's been good for us in that sense.
Most importantly though, our son enjoys this book which is always the ultimate thing we are going for. It has simple, brief text with illustrations of people doing a variety of things (and with a variety of facial expressions) so it gives him lots to point out and talk about.
While it's not perfect for us, I think it's a really well done book to explain this experience to both sides of the story.
September 6, 2022
Whether a family grows through adoption or birth, waiting for a baby sister or brother to come home is an exciting time for an older sibling. This is a time of anxiety, preparations, and celebrations and Heo captures an older sister's excitement while she waits for her baby sister to join her family through international adoption. Heo successfully presents complex issues and emotions in ways that very young children can relate and understand.
Heo also understands her subject matter and respectfully & realistically addresses the joys of international adoption. The baby in this book is being adopted from Korea, a country in which babies live in loving foster homes with adoring foster parents until they're united with their forever parents. In one wordless spread Heo shows a loving meeting between the adoptive mother, foster mother and case worker. This portrayal helps adopted children think about their own stories and helps them, and others, see the love and care that goes into placement. An author's note provides more information about international adoption and Heo's own connections to Korean adoptees.
This would be a great book to use in story times that celebrate babies and their older siblings.
Heo also understands her subject matter and respectfully & realistically addresses the joys of international adoption. The baby in this book is being adopted from Korea, a country in which babies live in loving foster homes with adoring foster parents until they're united with their forever parents. In one wordless spread Heo shows a loving meeting between the adoptive mother, foster mother and case worker. This portrayal helps adopted children think about their own stories and helps them, and others, see the love and care that goes into placement. An author's note provides more information about international adoption and Heo's own connections to Korean adoptees.
This would be a great book to use in story times that celebrate babies and their older siblings.
September 16, 2009
Heo captures an older sister's excitement while waiting for her baby sister to join her family through international adoption. Heo successfully presents complex issues and emotions in ways that very young children can relate and understand.
Heo also understands her subject matter and respectfully & realistically addresses the joys of international adoption. The baby in this book is being adopted from Korea, a country in which babies live in loving foster homes with adoring foster parents until they're united with their forever parents. In one wordless spread Heo portrays shows a loving meeting between the adoptive mother, foster mother and case worker. This portrayal helps adopted children think about their own stories and helps them, and others, see the love and care that goes into placement. An author's note provides more information about international adoption and Heo's own connections to Korean adoptees.
Review originally from Shawn Brommer http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/14...
Heo also understands her subject matter and respectfully & realistically addresses the joys of international adoption. The baby in this book is being adopted from Korea, a country in which babies live in loving foster homes with adoring foster parents until they're united with their forever parents. In one wordless spread Heo portrays shows a loving meeting between the adoptive mother, foster mother and case worker. This portrayal helps adopted children think about their own stories and helps them, and others, see the love and care that goes into placement. An author's note provides more information about international adoption and Heo's own connections to Korean adoptees.
Review originally from Shawn Brommer http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/14...
November 9, 2011
Adoption
This is the story of a big sister who is counting down until she gets to meet her new baby sister. Although I like the idea of the book with its simple text and colorful illustrations, there are some things that bothered me. I did not like the fact that all the pictures from the babies home land are done in dark, drab and almost scary or forbidding colors. This gives the reader a negative image of the baby’s home country. I also did not like the fact that dad owns a dry cleaner. Isn’t there anywhere else, non-stereotypical, where he could work?
This is an ok book as far as empathizing with the eager siblings, but I would be more likely to try and find a better one for use in the classroom.
This is the story of a big sister who is counting down until she gets to meet her new baby sister. Although I like the idea of the book with its simple text and colorful illustrations, there are some things that bothered me. I did not like the fact that all the pictures from the babies home land are done in dark, drab and almost scary or forbidding colors. This gives the reader a negative image of the baby’s home country. I also did not like the fact that dad owns a dry cleaner. Isn’t there anywhere else, non-stereotypical, where he could work?
This is an ok book as far as empathizing with the eager siblings, but I would be more likely to try and find a better one for use in the classroom.
October 3, 2011
This book follows a little girl a waits and prepares for her new sister to arrive. This is a story about adoption. The book goes back and forth om showing prepare g what they are doing at home to prepare and what mom is doing when she is getting the baby.
This book's age range would be primary. The words are very simple and helps with counting.
The artistic element in this book is very simple. The pictures seem to be drawn. Some of the pages are all pictures and some have very little words.
I recommend this book. It helps with numbers through ten and talks about adoption and talk more about it and teach children about it more.
This book's age range would be primary. The words are very simple and helps with counting.
The artistic element in this book is very simple. The pictures seem to be drawn. Some of the pages are all pictures and some have very little words.
I recommend this book. It helps with numbers through ten and talks about adoption and talk more about it and teach children about it more.
June 24, 2012
This is a good picture book about a little girl getting ready for a new baby sibling adopted from Korea. She counts down the days and nights while her mother hops a plane to Korea to pick up the baby, her father and grandfather get her room ready to share, etc.
It seems like a good book to share with children who are about to become an older brother or sister through adoption, but I did find it a little confusing since I started with the assumption that it was the little girl who was getting adopted, and not that she was waiting for an adopted baby.
It seems like a good book to share with children who are about to become an older brother or sister through adoption, but I did find it a little confusing since I started with the assumption that it was the little girl who was getting adopted, and not that she was waiting for an adopted baby.
November 22, 2012
This book tells the story of a Korean girl’s day-to-day life as she waits to see her adoptive baby sister. The mother traveled to Korea to adopt the baby. While the mother was away, the girl started to count the days by marking on her calendar.This book can help children with counting the days. Those students that are adopted or have brothers and sisters who were adopted can relate to this story. This would be a good story to put on the book shelves in class because it's easy for students to read and understand.
Want to read
April 7, 2014Ten Days and Nine Nights: An Adoption Story is a story about is a story about a little girl who is waiting for her adopted sister to come home. Throughout the book she describes the way they prepare for her and what the anticipation feels like. This is a great book to show adoption from an older sibling's perspective. I would use this book in my classroom to teach adjectives. For example the little girl says, "Daddy brought some new furniture." and "I wash my old teddy bear."
July 6, 2016
This book is intended for prek-1 to show what an older child goes through while waiting for their new sibling to come from another country. I like that it is in the format of a countdown and watches the mom fly over to get the baby while the rest of the family stays home to prep for the new baby. At the end, the author includes a note to explain her purpose behind writing this book, which gives it credibility and validity.
September 14, 2010
A little girl counts down the days until her sister, adopted from Korea, will be home. In the process of counting down the days, the story tells some of the experiences of preparing for and adopting a baby. The text is written in a large font and is kept simple and brief making this book suitable for younger children but of course it can be used with older children too.
August 28, 2009
I like the realistic child-like voice here, as a little girl counts down the days and nights until she becomes a big sister. We see Mom fly off, Dad getting the crib set up, etc., and instead of long descriptions and explanations, here we get age-appropriate simplicity:
"Grandma makes a little pink dress. I have three days and two nights."
"Grandma makes a little pink dress. I have three days and two nights."
October 25, 2010
In this story, a little girl is anxiously awaiting the arrival of her new adopted sister. The girl counts down the days and nights while her mother is getting her new sister and her father and grandparents and preparing the house. The font is large and simple with the text on one side and the illustrations on the other.
November 2, 2012
Counting.
Adoption,
Families.
Multi-cultural.
There are many different types of families. Beginning of the school year. Building community.
Introduction to math lesson. Days of the week. How do we know how many days until something by looking at a calendar? How many days are in a week? What are they? How many months in a year? What are they?
Adoption,
Families.
Multi-cultural.
There are many different types of families. Beginning of the school year. Building community.
Introduction to math lesson. Days of the week. How do we know how many days until something by looking at a calendar? How many days are in a week? What are they? How many months in a year? What are they?
October 12, 2015
This was a sweet story of a big sister counting down to when her mom would return home with the new baby. Each day she prepares something new as she counts down the days and nights. You see the mom at the orphanage in Korea also you see the big sister tell her best friend the good news.
"At last I have no days and no nights. I have a new baby sister"
"At last I have no days and no nights. I have a new baby sister"
March 20, 2016
This is the simplest adoption book I've ever read, which was nice.
I love that the family is of-color (Korean, I assumed) and adopting from Korea. There are so few adults of color in adoption books. I also love that it's an adoption book disguised as a counting book (the Night Kiddo asked if we could read the "days of the week book").
I love that the family is of-color (Korean, I assumed) and adopting from Korea. There are so few adults of color in adoption books. I also love that it's an adoption book disguised as a counting book (the Night Kiddo asked if we could read the "days of the week book").
July 15, 2009
Cute book about international adoption for young kids. There's no explanation of the motivation behind adopting internationally, and pretty much everyone in the book has a happy face, so it isn't the best adoption book I've ever seen.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews