A shy orphan's dreams of adoption come true. Little Carlota is called into the office of the orphanage director, who happily informs her that she's soon to be placed with a family. Too excited to sleep, Carlota imagines all kinds of new parents—pirates, astronauts, pastry chefs and tiger trainers. Her real new family isn't quite that exotic, but each has qualities of her fantasy families: Her mother often brings pastry home, father digs for buried treasure in a vacant lot next door, grandma has playful striped cats and new brother Pedro decorates her bedroom with stars and hanging planets. She knows she has the best family in the world. The warmth of Wensell's illustrations matches the gentle narrative, a modern fairy tale. This Spanish import does not seek to explain anything about the adoption process, thus rendering it nicely universal. It distinguishes itself further from other books on the topic by posing a preschool-age child as its protagonist, rather than a child adopted as an infant. Neatly pitched for its target audience. (Picture book. 4-8) Read full book review >