The Boy on the Porch by Sharon Creech

One morning John and Marta find a young boy asleep on their porch with a note reading “Plees taik kair of Jacob.  He is good boy.  Wil be bak wen we can”.  Jacob does not talk but finds a way to communicate with John and Marta through music, art and his bond with the animals on the farm.  Not knowing when those that left him will return, they start to wonder what has happened and start looking for his family.  This a very quick and short read but a great read aloud for families to start the discussion that families can be made up for many different people and people leave lasting impressions on your life even when they leave.