RIVERS
Overseas “This is a terrific book to share with any kid you can find nearby and one I hope will inspire you to live a more engaged, involved life.” —Bob Goff, author of New York Times bestsellers Love Does and Everybody Always “I am so happy. Rivers and his dad flying to another country and Rivers is praying to his dad to be fine. I like very much this book. I like Rivers. His color is so nice.” —Ichhya, 8 years old, Nepal “Rivers was happy and sad and laughed. I like it when he’s happy. He is at his home now, and he went on an airplane.” —Evey, 3 years old, adopted from United States foster care “I really liked this book! Since we have moved a lot I know what it feels like to make new friends and start over. This book told me that God will always be right next to me, no matter where I live. I wish I could give Rivers a hug.” —Sam, 11 years old, Australia “I liked when Rivers peed on the floor and when his dad held him in his arms . . . In Asia he learned to make new friends and to love each other.” —Anton, 4 years old, Denmark “I have liked the book very much, and Rivers has taught me to always learn to move on and love people and things I have met. So I have learned to love people even those I don’t know.” —Jalia, 14 years old, Uganda (“Rivers was adopted; who else do you know who was adopted?”) “JUDE!” —Jude, 2 years old, adopted from Colombia
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RIVERS
Overseas W R I T T E N A N D I L L U S T R AT E D B Y
S A R A H N U N N A L LY
Birmingham, Alabama
Acknowledgments Somehow, “thank you” doesn’t seem to encompass our feelings toward our two families we now have. To the family that loves us with open hands: thank you Mom, Dad, Olivia, Edward, Adria, Tony, Jack, Jan, and Breanna. The sacrifices we made in our journey to Asia are only part of the story. From graduations and first jobs to weddings and funerals, we’ve missed a lot, and we want to thank you for taking this journey alongside us. To the family that embraced us in Asia: Countless cups of milk tea and handwritten notes were what our hearts needed when we felt lonely, forgotten, and tired. Thank you for opening your doors to the newest neighbors who moved in on your street.
New Hope® Kidz 5184 Caldwell Mill Rd. St. 204-221 Hoover, AL 35244 IronStreamMedia.com An imprint of Iron Stream Media No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior written permission of the publisher. New Hope Kidz serves its authors as they express their views, which may not express the views of the publisher. ISBN-13: 978-1-56309-270-1 Ebook ISBN: 978-1-56309-000-4 1 2 3 4 5–23 22 21 20 19
© 2019 by Sarah Nunnally All rights reserved. First printing 2019. Printed in the United States of America. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: Nunnally, Sarah, 1992- author, illustrator. Title: Rivers overseas / Sarah Nunnally. Description: Birmingham, Alabama : New Hope Kidz, an imprint of Iron Stream Media, [2019] | Summary: An adopted goldendoodle puppy named Rivers travels overseas with his human and finds joy in God’s faithfulness as he encounters new people, places, and things. Identifiers: LCCN 2019006323 | ISBN 9781563092701 (hardcover) Subjects: | CYAC: Stories in rhyme. | Dogs–Fiction. | Pet adoption–Fiction. | Moving, Household–Fiction. | Americans–Foreign countries–Fiction. | Christian life–Fiction. Classification: LCC PZ8.3.N925 Ri 2019 | DDC [E]– dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019006323
Dedicated to the girls who made me a momma.
Rivers is a doodle, a Goldendoodle to be exact. Brown eyes, giant paws, and curly hair he does not lack. 7
He is a different dog, for sure. His love will swallow you whole. But Rivers’s family couldn’t care for him. He had no place to go.
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