As many of you may know, our daughters are adopted and we celebrate openness about adoption. As such, it is important to us to incorporate stories for them that teach positively about adoption and open the door for conversation. Following are books that are helpful with just that.
A Collection of Books for Children about Adoption
A Blessing from Above- Every night before she goes to sleep, a kangaroo prays under the stars for a baby to love and hold. One day, as she rests under a tree, a baby bird falls out of its crowded nest—plop!—right into her pouch!
A Mother for Choco – Choco was a little bird who lived all alone. He wished he had a mother, but who could his mother be?ABC, Adoption & Me – A book about adoption that celebrates the miracle of family and addresses the difficult issues as well.Adoption Is for Always – Five-year-old Celia knows she is adopted. But she is confused and angry, and her parents must deal with her many questions in an honest and loving way.All about Adoption- Describes the stages of the adoption process and discusses complex feelings commonly felt by adopted children in easy to understand language.All Bears Need Love – Baby Brown Bear learns family is family, no matter the differences, and all bears need love.Did My First Mother Love Me?- A reassuring book for children about the love of their birth mother. Includes suggestions on ways to talk with your child about adoption.Forever Fingerprints- A fun story that uses an everyday experience to gently explore difficult questions and feelings commonly expressed by children who are adopted.Geoff the Green Hippo- Geoff, the Green Hippo, learns that although he may not appear to be the mirror image of his family, he is surrounded with acceptance and undeniable love from a family that was meant to be his.God Found Us You – A tender tale about a mother’s love for her adopted child who came to her from God.Happy Adoption Day! – Heartwarming verses, that can be read or sung, that reassure adopted children that they are wanted, loved and very special.Horace – A classic about the adopted child’s need for roots.How I Was Adopted – Sam tells his adoption story, and encourages young readers to do the same.I Love You All the Same – With gentleness and love, Mama Bear and Papa Bear assure their cubs that even though they are different, they are loved the same, and God put them in the same family for a purpose.I Love You Like Crazy Cakes- A joyful story about adoption from ChinaI Wished for You – An enduring story that affirms that love is what makes a familyIs That Your Sister?An adopted six-year-old girl tells about adoption and how she and her adopted Sister feel about itLily – the story of a young girl who is adopted from China, her parents travels to adopt her, and her China sisters- the girls adopted at the same time as her.Lucky the Ladybug – a charming story about a little ladybug who helps a young girl find the perfect family.Max and the Adoption Day Party – a fun story about celebrating a friends adoptionMommy’s Heart Went POP! – a touching story of trans-racial international adoptionMotherbridge of Love – a series of heartfelt, parallel musings about two women “who never knew each other” but who are central to a sprightly Chinese girl. “The first one gave you life; the second taught you to live itOliver: A Story about Adoption – Oliver, a lizardlike animal who has been adopted, sulks after being scolded and wonders what his “real” parents are like.Over the Moon: An Adoption Tale – a heartwarming story about international adoptionStar of the Week: A Story of Love, Adoption, and Brownies with Sprinkles – Cassidy is Star of the Week at school and makes a poster of all the important people in her life– except she doesn’t have a photo of her birthparents, so her family helps her find a way to include them!Tell Me Again About the Night I Was Born – an endearing story about adoption and the importance of a loving family.The Little Green Goose – an unusual tale about adoptionThe Mulberry Bird – a heartwarming story about a mother bird who must make the heart wrenching decision to place her baby with other birds who can meet his needs.The Red Blanket- A beautiful adoption story about the challenges and joys of forming a new family.The Red Thread: An Adoption Fairy Tale – a tale about a king and queen who find the baby that has been pulling on their heartstrings.Waiting for May – an endearing story about international adoption from the viewpoint of the soon to be big brother.We Belong Together- this book explores the ways that people can choose to come together to make a family.Wherever You Are: My Love Will Find You – while not specifically about adoption, this story illustrates that love is the greatest gift we have to give our children. It’s a great book to use to assure children about the love from their birth family.Why Was I Adopted? – this classic provides parents with a tool for helping their child understand the circumstances of their “birth” into an adoptive family.Yes, I’m Adopted! – a great story to help children take pride in the fact that they are adopted.You Were Always in My Heart- an adorable story about the blessings of adoption, told from the point of view of Dot, a little ladybug who happens upon a mysterious bundle one sunny day.You’re Not My Real Mother! – An adoptive mother tells her daughter all of the reasons why she is a “real mother,” even though they do not look alikeZachary’s New Home- a heartwarming story about true-to-life feelings of shame, anger, rebelliousness, and hurt an adoptive child may experience and his adoptive parents struggle with their own feelings.Just Really Joseph: A Children’s Book About Adoption, Identity, And Family
While some of these do not address our specific adoption scenario (i.e. our adoptions are not international), it is comforting to know that there are books to help me open the dialogue with my kids about adoption. Of the one’s listed, my current favorites are We Belong Together
and Horace
. I may update this list periodically, as our daughters grow up and we read even more books together about adoption.
