Review
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Title: From God's Arms to My Arms to Yours
Author: Michael McLean
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Genre: Gift Book/Inspirational
Year Published: 2007
Number of Pages: 46
Binding: Hard with a Music CD
Size: 7.3” x 8.25”
ISBN: 13:978-1-59038-493-0
Price: $17.95

Reviewed by Andrew Hamilton

By way of disclaimer, my father was adopted. Not only was he adopted, but he was born to non-LDS parents and adopted by an LDS family. So, while I don’t understand adoption from the role of a direct participant, I fully appreciate the effect it can have on families for generations to come. Because of this, I will honestly admit that I am generally in favor of anything that helps to smooth or encourages the adoption process.

The dust jacket for “From God’s Arms to my Arms to Yours: An Adoption Keepsake of Best Loved Songs,” contains the following purpose statement: “This remarkable gift book is a celebration of the miracle of adoption. Through his sensitive song lyrics, paired here with gorgeous visual images, Michael takes us through the feelings of fear and uncertainty to a place of hope and understanding.”

Now, I’m the type that is always a little skeptical whenever any list or book title contains words like “Best Loved,” “Top 100,” “All Time Greatest,” etc. and the dust jacket quote seemed a little too self congratulatory for me, especially since my wife and I had only heard of one of the six “Best Loved Songs” in the book, and we listen to a fair amount of LDS music around our house.

Of the six songs, I really liked two of them, and thought that the other four were okay. My opinion of the music is, of course, entirely subjective, and I realize that I am not their primary audience. Someone directly involved in the adoption process would likely be more touched by their message and find great meaning in them. I did get the feeling, as I listened to the songs and read the lyrics in the book, that Michael McLean had really tried to reach out and be sensitive to and help sooth the feelings of those involved in adoption.

Another problem I had with the book was that of the 19 pictures of people in the book, 18 were or appeared to be Caucasian, and only one had a minority in it, a picture of a lone black baby. This book would have been much stronger, and fulfilled its intent to reach out to anyone involved in the adoption process better, if its pictorial content was more diverse.

Despite these concerns, I think that overall this book is a great idea and could give an emotional boost to those involved in the adoption process, especially women. The pictures are beautiful, and the layout of text, pictures, and white space is very appealing. The text, which is mostly the song lyrics, is in my opinion, touching, thoughtful, and insightful.

In the introduction, Michael explains that he wants this to be more than just a book, he wants it to be an experience. He tells the story behind his song “From God’s Arms to My Arms to Yours” and explains how this led to the creation of the book. He invites the reader to use the music on the included CD (each of the six songs are on the CD twice, with lyrics and music only) to create DVD’s of picture montages and special occasions. He has also started what he hopes will become an online community, FromGodsArms.com, and invites the reader to join and share their stories and experiences.

I think that many who have given a child, adopted a child, or who were adopted could find comfort in this book.