A young girl has been adopted by her former teacher in a "real-life Matilda" story.
Loralie Henry, 9, has spent more than half of her life in foster care in Los Angeles, California, in the US.
She was first put into foster care when she was four before briefly going back to her biological mum and returning to the system aged six.
Loralie said: "It was actually really scary, too. I didn't know what to expect in other homes or what they would feed me.
"I didn't really know what to do. So I thought, 'Well, what should I do? Is there anyone waiting for me?' I was really scared. Until I met my mom. My second-grade teacher."
Zoe Henry is a teacher and didn't have any plans to adopt.
The single mum says the moment she saw Loralie two years ago she knew she wanted to adopt her.
She added to KABC : "She came into my class, and I just took one look at her - her little freckles, her little birthmark.
"I am going to adopt this little girl. She's my daughter. The minute I set eyes on her."
Zoe thought the little girl would get adopted by another family, but when that didn't happen she begged social workers to let her adopt.
Loralie went to Zoe's house two days later.
The schoolgirl said: "I remember the moment when we were sitting by the car, she's like, 'You're going to come with me.'
"I was so surprised and happy. It was like an early present."
Zoe said Loralie has a lot of obstacles but now she is a "brave and strong" little girl.
She added: "She is probably the most compassionate person I know.
"She wants to be a foster mom someday and adopt kids."
On November 20, which is National Adoption Day in the US, Loralie and 165 other kids were officially adopted by their forever families.
Zoe added: "Biological parents have the right to contest. That did not happen. I know her mom really loves her. I know she really wanted to be a better part of her life.
"But like I tell Loralie, her mom loved her so much that she would let her be adopted so that I can give her what she needed."
Matilda is a 1996 American film based on the 1988 Ronald Dahl's novel with the same.
The young girl has psychokinetic abilities and comes from a disruptive family.
During the film, Matilda forms a close bond with her teacher Honey - who goes on to adopt her at the end.
