A softly woven narrative with a lasting emotional resonance.
A family gathers around a puzzle—only to discover that one important piece is missing in Palmer’s compelling picture book. “Working on our family puzzle, we looked all around… We were missing an important piece nowhere to be found.” Day after day, they search “high and low, over and under,” but the piece never appears. Slowly, the search becomes something deeper: a quiet act of waiting. “Searching, searching, searching… Waiting, waiting, waiting… Hoping, hoping, hoping… All the while, loving, loving, loving.” Palmer gently frames adoption with tenderness, honoring both love and loss. The emotional turning point arrives with quiet certainty: “We were meant to find each other; the missing piece was you!” Palmer’s rhythmic, soothing prose pairs seamlessly with Emily Hurst Pritchett’s soft, expressive illustrations, which use warm tones and intimate family scenes to emphasize connection and joy. The recurring puzzle imagery offers a clear, accessible metaphor that resonates long after the final page. A gentle, affirming tale about adoption, belonging, and the love that makes a family whole.
A valuable addition to library collections addressing family diversity with warmth and clarity.
Winnbrook Press
Pub date March 13, 2026
ISBN 978-1967983056
Print length 24 pages
Price $20.00 (USD) Hardcover, $10.00 Paperback, $2.99 Kindle edition
Reading age baby-5 years
