Thursday, November 7, 2013

An-Ya and Her Diary: Reader & Parent Guide


So, I’ve read the book, An-Ya and Her Diary, I’ve plowed through the An-Ya and Her Diary: Parent & Reader Guide, available on Amazon.* 
I’ve interviewed the novel’s author, Diane RenéChristian and Guide contributor/Lost Daughters Founder Amanda H.L. Transue-Woolston.
 
And, of course I’ve written about it all over at my blog.
But you know what I haven’t done? I haven’t (yet) shared An-Ya and Her Diary with my young daughter. It might be a little early for her, but she loves drawing and is learning to write. When I explained to her the concept of a diary—a place where you can write about your feelings and draw your experiences, well, suffice-it-to-say, she was hooked.
Armed with the Parent & Reader Guide, I feel confident that I can lead my daughter through new concepts and emotionally difficult situations that the novel itself might inspire. Of course, Danica already knows what domestic adoption is, but this will be her first exposure to the concept of international adoption—to the ideas that someone loses their ethnicity, language and heritage in adoption.
But there are also really cool things for her to connect with, too.

Danica is right now in the throes of her first close “best” friendship. Thankfully, the feeling is mutual; and both girls can’t bear to be apart from one another. One of the subplots of An-Ya is the protagonist’s relationship with a young girl her age who lives nearby. I’m excited to see what aspects of this novel intrigue and inspire my daughter, and armed with the Parent & Reader Guide, I feel assured that I can navigate any difficult questions that Danica might have.
What's more is that proceeds from the Parent & Reader Guide go to an amazing charity called Love Without Boundaries Unity Fund, which helps parents in China who do not have funds for medical expenses to care for their children. Instead of families relinquishing their children to an orphanage so the child can get much-needed medical care, this fund is all about keeping families together. 
So please, check it out today!


* I was given a complimentary review copy of this guide.