What is wonderful about this series of books is that they have a dual purpose. They each parents how to handle children with problems in a loving and non-judgemental way, and they are also good children's stories. Aimed at adopted and fostered children and their new parents, they show some of the common behavioural and physical problems that children who have suffered in the early years of their lives can exhibit. At the end of each story there are pages for parents to explain how to use the books. In this one, Sophie had been expected from an early age to solve her own problems, and now, with new adoptive parents, she is trying to continue to do so. Her inability to trust adults means that she insists on doing everything herself. When her mum and sister are ready to go shopping, Sophie can't find her new shoes. In a bit of a panic (because she's always losing things), she substitutes the old ones, one of which has a floppy sole. When it starts to rain, Sophie's foot is soon very wet and dirty, and mum twigs to what has happened. Sophie being unable to explain, wants to claim that all is well, but she also really wants mum's offered hot chocolate; at the coffee shop, mum says that just maybe Sophie couldn't find her new shoes and that perhaps mum can help when they get home. Mum also explains that when Sophie was small she had to do everything for herself, but now that she has a new mum, that mum can help her when she needs it: 'Don't worry, my job is to help you and we will just keep practising until one day you will be able to ask me to help you.' When they find the shoes at home, Sophie's hot and blotchy, tight feelings begin to go away and the warmth of the hot chocolate takes their place. Written by a mother who has had five adopted children, the books in the series will prove invaluable to those who must deal with children with serious difficulties in their background. The pictures are wonderfully simple and effective, full of grey and brown and taupe, with solid characters - very reassuring. Available from Amazon, from book shops, and from the publisher: www.jkp.com.