Adoption Is for Always

Linda Girard, 1986

Celia is frustrated and upset when she realizes for the first time that she is adopted. As she gradually discovers the bits and pieces of her story, she begins to understand not only why her birthmother gave her up, but also that her adoptive parents will be her mommy and daddy for always.

All About Adoption: How Families Are Made and How Kids Feel About It

Marc Nemiroff and Jane Annunziata, 2004

For children adopted at any age and from any country, All About Adoption explores the what, how, and why of adoption, as well as the many feelings kids can experience as they grow up. And for parents, an extensive afterword discusses the unique practical and emotional dimensions of adopted children and their families, with suggestions for answering the most challenging questions. (Ages 4 to 8)

Every Year on Your Birthday

Rose Lewis, 2007

A touching portrait of a mother and child celebrating birthdays and reflecting upon their tender, unforgettable moments together: tiny toes touching the sand, hugs for a new puppy, and nights gazing at the stars remembering the love of her daughter’s faraway family. Every Year on Your Birthday captures the richness of both Chinese and American traditions and serves as a poignant tribute to the heartfelt bond only a parent and child can know.

A Family for Leanne

Shelby Griffin-Timberlake, 2007

A Family for Leanne tells the story of a little girl and her two brothers, who were taken from their biological family and placed in the foster care system. This story takes you through the emotions and ups and downs that Leanne experiences during her foster care and adoption process. At the end of the story is a series of questions for parents to review with their children. This book will help open the door for better communication between foster and adoptive parents and their children.

Finding the Right Spot: When Kids Can’t Live with Their Parents

Janice Levy, 2004

Finding the Right Spot is a story for all kids who can’t live with their parents, regardless of their circumstances. It’s a story about resilience and loyalty, hope and disappointment, love, sadness, and anger, too. It’s about whether life is fair, and wondering what will happen tomorrow, and talking about all of it. And finally, it’s about what makes the spot you’re in feel right. (Ages 6 to 12)

The Forever Child: A Tale of Anger and Fear

Nancy Clark and Bryan Post, 2003

This is a tale about a young boy named Jean Paul. He was abandoned at a tender age by uncaring relatives after his parents had died from hunger and cold. He lives alone, deep in a forest in France, depending on no one else to meet his needs. One day, while hunting for food, Jean Paul is captured by wandering thieves and sold to some kindly villagers with good intentions. Imagine their surprise when they discover he is a snarling and ferocious creature; more animal than boy. Will there be someone who can help Jean Paul learn to be good? Will there be a family who can love him in spite of his terrible ways? Find out what happens to this angry and frightened young boy and to the well-meaning villagers who try to save him. The tale reflects the joys and pitfalls of adopting or fostering a child with a history of early trauma. It is accompanied by a parenting guide that provides practical step-by-step help in assisting families to work through their child’s negative behaviors to achieve more positive ones.

The Forever Child: A Tale of Lies and Love

Nancy Clark and Bryan Post, 2002

This is a story about a little girl called Ruby Rose who was abandoned in the forest and left for dead. Luckily, she was found by seven fairy godsisters who took her home and nurtured her back to good health. A childless king and queen, hearing of the abandoned child, eagerly bring her to live with them. The new parents, amazed by their good fortune, are surprised to find that their beautiful princess has a rather surprising habit of stretching the truth. In fact, she tells the most outrageous lies. But why? The tale reflects the joys and pitfalls of adopting or fostering a child with a history of early trauma. It is accompanied by a parenting guide which provides practical step-by-step help in assisting families work through their child’s negative behaviors to achieve more positive ones.

The Forever Child: A Tale of Loss and Impossible Dreams

Nancy Clark and Bryan Post, 2004

This is a tale, not very long ago or far away, about a little girl named Bella and her six brothers and sisters. Their parents, already burdened by their own addictions, are unable to care for even the most basic needs of their own innocent children. It is soon uncovered that these children are living in a terrible state of misery and neglect. The parents are eventually arrested and the Social Worker Agency randomly pairs up the bewildered children and sends them off into foster care. Will these children ever find each other again? Will they ever recover from these terrible events? Read the tale and find out what happened to this unfortunate family. The tale reflects the joys and pitfalls of adopting or fostering a child with a history of early trauma. It is accompanied by a parenting guide that provides practical step-by-step help in assisting families to work through their child’s negative behaviors to achieve more positive ones.

Forever Fingerprints: An Amazing Discovery for Adopted Children

Sherrie Eldridge, 2007

For adopted children, learning about their beginnings and how they understand what that means to them is a process. It doesn’t happen at one point in time, but rather throughout the experiences of their life. In this heartwarming children’s book, Forever Fingerprints uses a common occurrence – a relative’s pregnancy – as a springboard for discussions on birthparents, where adopted children are before they are born, and how that makes one little girl feel about it. This book opens the door for more loving conversations and truthful discussions about how you and your child came to be a family.

Help! I’ve Been Adopted

Brenda McCreight, 2010

When a child or youth is placed for adoption, it is a time of joy and excitement and it presents the child with the opportunity to experience what it is like to truly belong to a loving, stable family. However, for many adoptees, the first few months in a new adoptive placement are also a time of confusion and even more change in a lifetime of loss, unpredictability, and unanswered questions. This book will answer many of the questions that new (and long time placed) adoptees have about their lives. It is full of helpful suggestions to promote discussion between the adoptive parents and the child, and it will help social workers and counselors gain a new perspective on how to support the early stages of an adoption placement.

Let’s Talk About It: Adoption

Fred Rogers, 1994

Fred Rogers opens the door for adopted children and their parents to safely talk about their good and sometimes not-so-good feelings in a book about the joy of belonging and the love that unites families. (Ages 4 and up)

A Mother for Choco

Keiko Kasza, 1992

Choco is a little yellow bird who lives all alone. He wishes he had a mother, but who could she be? One day, he decides to search for a mother. First he asks Mrs. Giraffe, but she is not Choco’s mother – she doesn’t have wings like he does. Then he asks Mrs. Penguin, but she doesn’t have big, round cheeks like Choco. None of the animals seem to be right for Choco. Will he ever find a mother? (Ages 2 to 6)

The Mulberry Bird

Anne Brodzinsky, 1996

The Mulberry Bird was written for children ages five to ten to acknowledge their interest and to begin to help each understand his own adoption story from its very beginnings. The story before the adoption is an integral part of the life of the child who has been adopted. Children are invited to wonder about their early life and to try to imagine what kinds of problems could be serious enough to cause a mother to consider adoption for a baby she loves. (Ages 5 to 10)

Over the Moon: An Adoption Tale

Karen Katz, 1997

An affirming story about international adoption, based on the author’s own experience with her daughter. A magical, reassuring story of one adoptive family’s beginnings, told in words and pictures that are just right for the youngest child. (ages 2 to 8)

We Adopted You, Benjamin Koo

Linda Girard, 1989

A story of interracial adoption about nine-year-old Ben, who was adopted from Korea, and who has questions about his adoption. (Ages 7 to 11)

Zachary’s New Home: A Story for Foster and Adopted Children

Geraldine and Paul Blomquist, 1990

Children in foster care and adopted children have usually suffered painful separations from their families for reasons they may not understand. They are often very confused, angry, and sad. This appealing and comforting story explores their experiences, problems and emotions. Foster and adoptive parents, counselors and therapists will find Zachary’s New Home to be a useful tool for understanding these children and helping them to cope with their many losses and to feel happier about the present and optimistic about their future. (Ages 3 to 8)