I purchased this book for my wife as we have adopted a baby girl from China. While these photos are from a different orphanage, the impact is the same. We did not get to see all the children at our daughter's orphanage, and they don't allow photos of the kids anyway. I recommend this book for any adoptive parents of children from China, or those looking into it. I will warn you, you will want to go back for more.

Words can't describe this beautiful little book, filled with beautiful little girls. I especially love the list of their names at the back, as they translate into English, things like Literary Excellence & Radiant Jade. The children do seem sad or at least suspicious of the photographer, and why not? It's probably not every day that some Westerner visits to take pictures. But there is mischief & hope in these little girls' faces, & just affirms my ambition for half my life to adopt from China.

A lovely, high quality edition of poignant portraits of Chinese children residing in orphanages. Ideal for the adoptive parent, the purchase of this book will also help young girls still living in China even if you cannot provide a home to one yourself. Do you remember the title "Honorable Mention" from grammar school? This deserves that merit and your attention. Some of the girls look sad today but they will be less so if you support the author's choice of foundation. See the book for details.

I too am adopt. parent of two little girls from China. I purchased this book and found some of it quite sad, and actually painful to the point where I closed the book for a while. (Some of it was very beautiful.) Little girls orphaned in China IS SAD. These girls are photographed beautifully and with the dignity of their culture, be they--whatever, with deformities, crying, laughing...they do it all, whether they are adopted or not, these are little people. They are survivors (we hope)and show some strength in doing all of these things...to the reviewer of Dec. 26, what would your preference be? Organizations like Half the Sky and Richard Bowen, etc are helping them to gain strength. By the way, did you know that a photographic experience is one which children there sometimes relish? (At least by a certain age.) I am not a religious person, yet looking at this book, one thinks, there but for the grace of G-d, go I...perhaps one thinks about this more as an adoptive parent. There but for the grace of G-d, goes mine.

As far as HTS, you can't sad anything bad about such a top organization. If your child develops any curiosity about where she came from (which is natural), and you present the book (really, this is an adult book, not for a child) in the proper light, which as you admit you don't appear to be capable of doing right now, then it might give her an understanding of the day to day living circumstances in many orphanages of her country. Not so good. Otherwise, you might consider selling this wonderful book in your next yard sale to someone more appreciative, or to someone in your local FCC group.

The photos in this book are very sad. I am not sure who would want this book. I can only imagine how upsetting an adoptive child would be to leaf through the pages. While a few children are happy, quite a few are sad, crying and have injuries or defects.