Miles Comes Home

PreS-Gr 2–There are scores of books about the parents and home where a new baby is about to arrive, via the adoption process. Brannen flips that and writes a story from the heart about Miles, a Black boy, who joins a daunting but loving household of one Black thin dad; one blond, bearded, blocky dad; and a very light-skinned sister with brown hair. He awkwardly embraces all the new experiences; ice-skating doesn’t go so well, waffles with maple syrup goes better, he loves musicals and is hopeful about ballet. Plus, there are more new things to try every day. This story has, at its surface, very little going on. Miles does not acclimate immediately, but his new family radiates love and warmth, and readers will be quickly drawn in to the arc of quiet domesticity. In cheerful and expressive illustrations, readers see that it’s okay for men to cry, being bad at ice-skating is still a whole lot of fun, and an attentive sister finds a unique way to welcome Miles.