Over Land and Sea: A Story of International Adoption - Hardcover

Driven by love, nourished by hope, and sustained by faith, thousands of families travel over land and sea each year to adopt children internationally. This timeless multicultural story provides a unique opportunity for every reader to take part in an intimate family journey and to witness the shared joy of relatives and friends upon a "homecoming."

Inspired by personal experience, Steven L. Layne's gentle verse combines with Jan Bower's captivating oil portraits to create an excellent story for reading aloud as well as a powerful remembrance for those who have traversed the miles . . . and experienced the wonder of international adoption for themselves.

Steven L. Layne serves as Associate Professor of Education and Literature at Judson College in Elgin, Illinois, where he teaches courses in reading methodology as well as in children's and adolescent literature. Dr. Layne is a respected literacy consultant, motivational keynote speaker, and featured author both in and outside of the United States, and his writing for both children and teens has been honored with multiple awards. He is the author of several other books with Pelican:

-The Teachers' Night Before Christmas, a 2002 International Reading Association/Children's Book Council Children's Choices Selection
-My Brother Dan's Delicious, a 2004 International Reading Association/Children's Book Council Children's Choices Selection
-This Side of Paradise, winner of the Hal Clement Award for Young Adult Science Fiction and a 2003 International Reading Association Young Adult Choice Title
-Verses for Dad's Heart
-The Principal's Night Before Christmas
-Thomas's Sheep and the Spectacular Science Project
-Thomas's Sheep and the Great Geography Test

Steven and Deborah Layne are the parents of three children--all adopted internationally.

Illustrator Jan Bower is a portrait artist and a member of both the American Society of Portrait Artists and the Portrait Society of America. The mother of twelve, Mrs. Bower shares a studio with her husband and home-schools her children. Her work has appeared in art shows, schools, and galleries throughout Michigan, where she lives. Over Land and Sea is her first book with Pelican.