Free Kid to Good Home

When a little girl meets her baby brother, Daichan, she is less than impressed. She thinks he looks ‘just like a potato’ and blames him for her parents not seeming to want her around any more. Determined to find a better family, she gets herself a box and using her best handwriting, write ‘Free Kid’ on the front. Nothing she does seems to attract new parents, but she is soon joined by a dog, a kitty and a turtle who are also looking for a new home. When they all find somewhere new to live and the little girl is on her own once more, her parents appear and say they are looking for an older sister for Daichan so she gives up being a stray kid to become a big sister for a little potato.

Full of gentle humour, ‘Free Kid to a Good Home’ is a delightful book exploring the anxiety many children feel when faced with a new sibling. Very accessible and appealing with comic style illustrations and minimal text, the story is perfect for encouraging children to think about and discuss welcoming a new addition to the family. I love how the parents handle the situation, allowing the little girl to feel she has been chosen and has had a say in becoming a sister to the ‘little potato’.

Hiroshi’s illustrations are wonderful. The facial expressions really capture a whole range of emotions and add to the humour of the story. Bold red touches on the black line drawings really stand out against the white background, perfectly accompanying the light-hearted text.

Free Kid to Good Home Hiroshi Ito

Gecko Press ISBN: 978-1776574513