Books on Adoption for Children
We recommend that
these books are read to children, and the stories are discussed with
them afterward.
Adoption is for Always, Linda
Walvoord Girard, Albert Whitman and Company, 1986. A little girl
discovers that she is adopted and she feels bad and acts out. The story
is about how the parents deal with her behavior and how she comes to
accept adoption as the
happiness of her life.
All About Adoption, by
Marc Nemiroll and Jane Annunziata. For children 6-11 includes
good information about children's feelings, adoptive families and
birthparents. It includes anxiety, older child adoption and
birthparent issues.
Allison, Allen Say, 1997,
When Allison
realizes that she looks more like her favorite doll than like her
parents, she comes to terms with this unwelcome discovery with he help
of a stray cat. Caucasian parents, Asian child.
Being Adopted, Maxine
B.Rosenberg, Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books, 1984. In simple
and few words the children’s fears about joining a family they didn’t
know and the rewarding outcome of becoming part of a loving and helpful
family tell the story of being adopted. This includes transracial and
transcultural adoptions and families.
Beneath Her Gentle Wings, Mona
McElderry, an imprint of SISU Press, Minnesota, 1995. A simple
story about a hen who cannot fly and who finds a baby sparrow that she
takes under her wings and raises. With the work of others in her
community the little bird learns how to fly.
Boyra and the Burps, A
Eastern European Adoption Story, Joan McNamara. This
light-heartened book helps little ones visualize the movement from
Eastern Europe to home. Beautifully ilistrated and fun to read.
The
Three Names of Me, by Mary Cummings.
This book addresses the fact that in addition to a Chinese name
and, in many cases, a newly given name when adopted, you also have a
third name which was "whispered" by your birth mom. Questions and
emotions are sure to follow.
The
Kiss Goodbye, the Kissing Hand and A
Pocket Full of Kisses by Audrey Penn, these books
share themes related to change, transitions and love.
Don’t Touch my heart, Lynda
Gianforte Mansfield and Christopher Waldmann. (age 7+) A moving
story about how an attachment disordered child and his successful
treatment. Can be read to any age child.
Did My First Mother Love Me?
Kathryn Ann Miller,
Morning Glory Press, 1994. A little girl asks her adoptive mother
about the birth mom. The mother takes out a letter from the girl’s
birth mom and it explains very simply how much she indeed loved her
child—so much
so that she wanted her to be loved and to grow up happy and those were
things she wouldn’t have been able to offer.
Families are Different, Nina
Pellegrini, 1991, (age 4+). An adopted Korean girl discovers that
her classmates have different types of families. Caucasian
parents.
I Love You Like Crazy Cakes, Jane
Dyer, Little, Brown and Company, 2000. The author chronicles the
adoption of her own child from what she felt was missing in her life,
to the trip to China to find her daughter, to bringing the child home,
to their life together.
Long Journey Home, Richard
Delany
Ph.D.
(age 4+) A well written story about a little boy's journey
and his difficulty trusting.
Look Who’s
Adopted, Michael Taheri,
1996, (ages 5+). Written by a local author, this book describes
famous persons who were adopted. Can help normalize being adopted
by providing some well known people as role models.
Steven’s Baseball Mitt, Kathy
Stinson,
1992,
(5). A young person’s feelings and fantasies about
being adopted.
Somebody Else’s Child, Roberta
Silman,
1976,
(8). A fourth grader is hurt when an adult friend
misunderstands adoptive relationships.
The
Best Single Mom in the World: How I was Adopted.
Mary Zisk, A cheerfully illustrated read-aloud book for a single
parent family.
The Coffee Can Kid, Jan M.
Czech, Child Welfare League of America, 2002. About an adoption
from China, this book is good for all adopted children.
The Sounds of Coaches, Leon
Garfield, 1974, (15).
Set in 18th. Century England the story describes an adopted boy’s
relationship with this adoptive parents, his fantasies about his
birthfather, and the effect when he encounters his birthfather by chance.
The Red Thread,
by Grace Lin. The
Red Thread is a fairytale with a Chinese adoption theme. A
simply, fanciful story that all children, adopted or not, will find
magical.
Vicky, Catherine
Storr,
1981,
(15). After her adoptive mother dies, sixteen year
old Vicky decides to search for information about her biologic parents.
Velveteen Rabbit, The
story is about what does it mean to be "real" and how does one become
"real."
When You Were Born In China, Sara
Dorow, 1997, (2+). Pictures and story about being adopted from
China and about China.
