Halloweena. Miriam Glassman. Illustrated by Victoria Roberts. 2002. 40p. (gr 3 up). Atheneum. When crotchety old witch Hepzibah is given a human child to take care of, she’s horrified (“not a wart on her,” poor thing). And when, after years of careful training in witchery, the child, Halloweena, asks for human playmates, Hepzibah is aghast. Nevertheless, she wants to see Halloweena happy, and as she tries to find friends for her daughter, Halloweena proves she is indeed a good witch-in-training by conjuring up a way to keep them both happy. A wickedly funny tale of adoption, acceptance, and self-sufficiency, for ALL seasons, with spellbinding illustrations by the New Yorker artist Victoria Roberts.

Hand of Fate. Dotti Enderle. 2004. 144p. (gr 4-7). Llewellyn Publications. A car accident prevents Anne from going to cheerleader camp and possibly winning the Cheerleader of the Year Award. This odd twist of events provokes the Fortune Tellers Club to explore the cause of the accident. Using astrology and other fortune telling techniques, the girls discover a strange connection between Anne and a woman shes never met. As the club gradually unravels the tangled web of fate, Anne learns shocking news about herself. Anne can’t help asking if fate forced her to miss cheerleading camp. And, if so, why? About the Author: Dotti Enderle began her writing career in 1995, writing for popular children’s magazines. She is the author of middle-grade mysteries, educational, and an upcoming picture book that tickles the funny bone. As a storyteller, she’s shared her tales at numerous schools, libraries, museums and festivals. Dotti is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and the Houston Storytellers Guild.

Handle & the Key, The. John Neufeld. 2002. 151p. (gr 4-7). Phyllis Fogelman Books. Dan is a shy, quiet foster child who has been moved from home to home for as long as he can remember, so when the Knox family decides to adopt him, Dan doesn’t dare believe that this new, almost perfect home is permanent. Mary Kate is the Knoxes’ only daughter, a bright, outspoken girl who is determined to prove to her parents that they only need her, and the new baby that is on the way. Like a vivid assortment of snapshots that tell a story, the short chapters of this highly engrossing novel shift back and forth between the perspectives of Dan and Mary Kate. Eventually both children adjust as they deal with the many complex reactions brought on by this adoption, and Dan finally becomes—in a very real and moving way—a member of the family.

Hannah West in Deep Water. Linda Johns. 2006. 160p. Puffin. Hannah West may look like any other funky, artistic, street-smart Seattle twelve-year-old, but there’s more to her than meets the eye. In addition to being a detective, adopted, and having a sixth sense for bus schedules, Hannah’s also homeless, a fact that she and her single mom deal with by moving from one house-sitting job to the next. This time, they’re taking care of a houseboat on the tranquil waters of Lake Washington. Before long, someone starts making waves, and before you can blink an eye, Hannah West is on the case. Hannah’s not sure who is dumping chemicals in the water—or why—but one thing’s for sure: if Hannah doesn’t get to the bottom of things soon, they’ll all be in deep water! About the Author: Linda Johns lives in Seattle, WA.

Happy Orpheline, The. Natalie Savage Carlson. Illustrated by Garth Williams. 1957. Harper & Row. Marvelous balck-and-white illustrations by the famous illustrator, Garth Williams, highlight this charming story of small group of orphan girls living in Paris whose friendship is such that none of them wishes to be adopted so that they can stay together.

Happy Tears: An Adoption Story. Connie Kamp. 2004. 40p. AuthorHouse. Happy Tears is a true adoption story that was written by a Mom who had prayed for a child for many years. As the events of the adoption process unfold, the reader will be inspired by this strong expression of love, hope, and faith. Parents, counselors, teachers, and social workers who deal with family and adoptive issues, will find Happy Tears to be a very helpful resource. This children’s book will make you want to “cuddle up” with your family members and hug them tight in thanksgiving. About the Author: Connie Kamp of the Avilton area in Garrett County, MD, is an Elementary School Counselor. She earned her Elementary teaching degree (1992) and her Masters degree in Guidance and Counseling (1996) from Frostburg State University. She taught elementary school children at the first and third grade levels for 10 years. During her career, she always had a passion for reading children’s literature. When she was blessed with her miracle baby during an adoption process, she felt compelled to share her own story. She hopes to provide inspiration for adoptive families and a resource for counseling personnel. Connie and her husband, Darren, live with their children in a ranch-style home on a wooded lot. They attend Trinity Assembly of God Church in Midlothian, MD.

Harley, Like a Person. Cat Bauer. 2000. 250p. Winslow Press. Who is my father? That’s the difficult question faced by Harley Columba, the feisty 14-year-old narrator of Cat Bauer’s debut novel. Harley lives in a suburb less than an hour from New York City, but it might as well be “four zillion light years away.” She’s sure she’s adopted, since there’s no way those “two psychos”—as she calls her abusive father and bitter mother—could be her parents. Harley tabulates the differences: her eyes blue, their eyes brown; her interest in poetry and painting, their dog-eared stacks of romance novels and Popular Mechanics. Harley’s life changes radically after she finds a note signed “Papa loves you forever and a day.” As things deteriorate at home, Harley’s grades slide and she starts hanging with a wild crowd. As life closes in on her, Harley’s search for her “real father” takes her to New York City and the truth at last. Tough, funny, and refreshingly honest, Harley (like a person) is a compelling story of mothers, fathers, daughters, and the healing power of living authentically.

Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets. JK Rowling. 1998. 473p. (gr 4-7). Bloomsbury (UK). It’s hard to fall in love with an earnest, appealing young hero like Harry Potter and then to watch helplessly as he steps into terrible danger! And in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, the much anticipated sequel to the award-winning Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, he is in terrible danger indeed. As if it’s not bad enough that after a long summer with the horrid Dursleys he is thwarted in his attempts to hop the train to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry to begin his second year. But when his only transportation option is a magical flying car, it is just his luck to crash into a valuable (but clearly vexed) Whomping Willow. Still, all this seems like a day in the park compared to what happens that fall within the haunted halls of Hogwarts. Chilling, malevolent voices whisper from the walls only to Harry, and it seems certain that his classmate Draco Malfoy is out to get him. Soon it’s not just Harry who is worried about survival, as dreadful things begin to happen at Hogwarts. The mysteriously gleaming, foot-high words on the wall proclaim, “The Chamber of Secrets Has Been Opened. Enemies of the Heir, Beware.” But what exactly does it mean? Harry, Hermione, and Ron do everything that is wizardly possible—including risking their own lives—to solve this 50-year-old, seemingly deadly mystery. This deliciously suspenseful novel is every bit as gripping, imaginative, and creepy as the first; familiar student concerns—fierce rivalry, blush-inducing crushes, pedantic professors—seamlessly intertwine with the bizarre, horrific, fantastical, or just plain funny. Once again, Rowling writes with a combination of wit, whimsy, and a touch of the macabre that will leave readers young and old desperate for the next installment. — Karin Snelson

Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire. JK Rowling. 2000. 636pp. (gr 4-7). Bloomsbury (UK). In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, J.K. Rowling offers up equal parts danger and delight—and any number of dragons, house-elves, and death-defying challenges. Now 14, her orphan hero has only two more weeks with his Muggle relatives before returning to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Yet one night a vision harrowing enough to make his lightning-bolt-shaped scar burn has Harry on edge and contacting his godfather-in-hiding, Sirius Black. Happily, the prospect of attending the season’s premier sporting event, the Quidditch World Cup, is enough to make Harry momentarily forget that Lord Voldemort and his sinister familiars—the Death Eaters—are out for murder. Readers, we will cast a giant invisibility cloak over any more plot and reveal only that You-Know-Who is very much after Harry and that this year there will be no Quidditch matches between Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin. Instead, Hogwarts will vie with two other magicians’ schools, the stylish Beauxbatons and the icy Durmstrang, in a Triwizard Tournament. Those chosen to compete will undergo three supreme tests. Could Harry be one of the lucky contenders? But Quidditch buffs need not go into mourning: we get our share of this great game at the World Cup. Attempting to go incognito as Muggles, 100,000 witches and wizards converge on a “nice deserted moor.” As ever, Rowling magicks up the details that make her world so vivid, and so comic. Several spectators’ tents, for instance, are entirely unquotidian. One is a minipalace, complete with live peacocks; another has three floors and multiple turrets. And the sports paraphernalia on offer includes rosettes “squealing the names of the players” as well as “tiny models of Firebolts that really flew, and collectible figures of famous players, which strolled across the palm of your hand, preening themselves.” Needless to say, the two teams are decidedly different, down to their mascots. Bulgaria is supported by the beautiful veela, who instantly enchant everyone—including Ireland’s supporters—over to their side. Until, that is, thousands of tiny cheerleaders engage in some pyrotechnics of their own: “’The leprechauns had risen into the air again, and this time, they formed a giant hand, which was making a very rude sign indeed at the veela across the field.” Long before her fourth installment appeared, Rowling warned that it would be darker, and it’s true that every exhilaration is equaled by a moment that has us fearing for Harry’s life, the book’s emotions running as deep as its dangers. Along the way, though, she conjures up such new characters as Alastor “Mad-Eye” Moody, a Dark Wizard catcher who may or may not be getting paranoid in his old age, and Rita Skeeter, who beetles around Hogwarts in search of stories. (This Daily Prophet scoop artist has a Quick-Quotes Quill that turns even the most innocent assertion into tabloid innuendo.) And at her bedazzling close, Rowling leaves several plot strands open, awaiting book 5. This fan is ready to wager that the author herself is part veela—her pen her wand, her commitment to her world complete. — Kerry Fried

Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince. JK Rowling. 2005. 607p. (gr 4-7). Bloomsbury (UK). Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the sixth book in J.K. Rowling’s bestselling series, picks up shortly after we left Harry at the end of The Order of the Phoenix. Lord Voldemort is acting out in the open, continuing his reign of terror which was temporarily stopped almost 15 years beforehand. Harry is again at the Dursleys, where the events of the previous month continue to weigh on his mind, although not as much as the impending visit from his Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore. Given their last meeting, Harry is understandably confused as to why the old wizard would want to visit him at home. Rowling opens with a chapter she had wanted to use for the first book—Lord Voldemort has been creating chaos in the Wizard and Muggle communities alike, the war is in full swing and the Wizarding community now lives in fear. The press have been questioning the events at the Ministry which led to the admission of Voldemort’s return, and of course Harry’s name is mentioned a number of times. Harry’s got his problems, but his anxiety is nothing compared to Hermione’s when the OWL results are delivered. There’s a new Defence Against The Dark Arts teacher, an assortment of new characters and creatures, and startling revelations about past characters and events. Gone is the rage-filled Harry of The Order of the Phoenix—he’s not being kept in the dark any more, his unjustified Quidditch ban has been lifted and he has matured considerably in his short time out of school. Half-Blood Prince follows Harry into the world of late-teens, and his realisation that nobody is infallible has made his growth that much easier. Accepting his destiny, Harry continues to behave as teenagers do, enjoying his time with his friends, developing his relationships outside of his usual circle, and learning more about how he must, eventually, do what he is destined to do.

Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix. JK Rowling. 2003. 766p. (gr 4-7). Bloomsbury (UK). There is a Door at the end of a silent corridor. And it’s haunting Harry Potter’s dreams. Why else would he be waking in the middle of the night, screaming in terror? Here are just a few things on Harry’s mind: A Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher with a personality like poisoned honey. A venomous, disgruntled house-elf. Ron as keeper of the Gryffindor Quidditch team. The looming terror of the end-of-term Ordinary Wizarding Level exams...and of course, the growing threat of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. In the richest installment yet of J. K. Rowling’s seven-part story, Harry Potter is faced with the unreliability of the very government of the magical world and the impotence of the authorities at Hogwarts. Despite this (or perhaps because of it), he finds depth and strength in his friends, beyond what even he knew; boundless loyalty; and unbearable sacrifice. Though thick runs the plot (as well as the spine), readers will race through these pages and leave Hogwarts, like Harry, wishing only for the next train back.

Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban. JK Rowling. 1999. 317p. (gr 4-7). Bloomsbury (UK). For most children, summer vacation is something to look forward to. But not for our 13-year-old hero, who’s forced to spend his summers with an aunt, uncle, and cousin who detest him. The third book in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series catapults into action when the young wizard “accidentally” causes the Dursleys’ dreadful visitor, Aunt Marge, to inflate like a monstrous balloon and drift up to the ceiling. Fearing punishment from Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon (and from officials at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry who strictly forbid students to cast spells in the nonmagic world of Muggles), Harry lunges out into the darkness with his heavy trunk and his owl Hedwig. As it turns out, Harry isn’t punished at all for his errant wizardry. Instead he is mysteriously rescued from his Muggle neighborhood and whisked off in a triple-decker, violently purple bus to spend the remaining weeks of summer in a friendly inn called the Leaky Cauldron. What Harry has to face as he begins his third year at Hogwarts explains why the officials let him off easily. It seems that Sirius Black—an escaped convict from the prison of Azkaban—is on the loose. Not only that, but he’s after Harry Potter. But why? And why do the Dementors, the guards hired to protect him, chill Harry’s very heart when others are unaffected? Once again, Rowling has created a mystery that will have children and adults cheering, not to mention standing in line for her next book. Fortunately, there are four more in the works. — Karin Snelson

Harry Potter & the Philosopher’s Stone. JK Rowling. 1997. 223p. (gr 4-7).  Bloomsbury (UK). Say you’ve spent the first 10 years of your life sleeping under the stairs of a family who loathes you. Then, in an absurd, magical twist of fate, you find yourself surrounded by wizards, a caged snowy owl, a phoenix-feather wand, and jellybeans that come in every flavor, including strawberry, curry, grass, and sardine. Not only that, but you discover that you are a wizard yourself! This is exactly what happens to young Harry Potter in J.K. Rowling’s enchanting, funny debut novel, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. In the nonmagic human world—the world of “Muggles”—Harry is a nobody, treated like dirt by the aunt and uncle who begrudgingly inherited him when his parents were killed by the evil Voldemort. But in the world of wizards, small, skinny Harry is famous as a survivor of the wizard who tried to kill him. He is left only with a lightning-bolt scar on his forehead, curiously refined sensibilities, and a host of mysterious powers to remind him that he’s quite, yes, altogether different from his aunt, uncle, and spoiled, piglike cousin Dudley. A mysterious letter, delivered by the friendly giant Hagrid, wrenches Harry from his dreary, Muggle-ridden existence: “We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.” Of course, Uncle Vernon yells most unpleasantly, “I AM NOT PAYING FOR SOME CRACKPOT OLD FOOL TO TEACH HIM MAGIC TRICKS!” Soon enough, however, Harry finds himself at Hogwarts with his owl Hedwig... and that’s where the real adventure—humorous, haunting, and suspenseful—begins. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, first published in England as Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, continues to win major awards in England. So far it has won the National Book Award, the Smarties Prize, the Children’s Book Award, and is short-listed for the Carnegie Medal, the U.K. version of the Newbery Medal. — Karin Snelson

Haunting, The. Joan Lowery Nixon. 2000. 184p. (YA). Delacorte Press. Fifteen-year-old Lia comes from a long line of courageous women, dating back to a Civil War survivor who single-handedly saved her Louisiana plantation house, Graymoss, from destruction. But Graymoss is haunted by a terrible evil. With clues from a diary and Favorite Tales of Edgar Allan Poe, Lia, who doesn’t feel as if she’s inherited any family genes of courage, must figure out what—or who—the evil wants. About the Author: Joan Lowery Nixon is the author of more than 90 books for young readers. The only four-time recipient of the Edgar Allan Poe Award for the Best Juvenile Mystery, Nixon knows what interests readers and delivers it to them without fail. A native Californian and a transplanted Texan, Nixon lives in Houston with her husband, four children and thirteen grandchildren.

Have You Seen Me?. Monica Hall. Based on a teleplay by Pamela Redford Russell (Touched By an Angel); from a story by R.J. Colleary. 1998. 96p. (gr 4-7). Tommy Nelson. This slight story (book two in the Touched by an Angel fiction series) is based on a teleplay by Pamela Redford Russell. 12-year-old Sarah is intrigued when she sees her brother Noah on a milk carton as a missing child, but her suspicions are not truly aroused until she realizes that she has never seen a baby picture of Noah. The story alternates between Sarah’s growing realizations and scenes of the two men who affected Noah’s fate most: his birth father, who continues to look for his kidnapped son, and Ray Bishop, a crooked lawyer who sped along Noah’s adoption without asking about the child’s sudden appearance. Along the way, all of the characters are aided by Tess, Monica, and Andrew, a trio of angels sent by God to help put things right. The happy ending could only have come from a TV show, and the writing throughout depends upon the reader’s knowledge of the show’s conventions (For instance, the constant appearances and disappearances of the angels). Fans of the show, or readers who demand angel stories, may be intrigued, but those who find the show too treacly will find the book no easier to swallow. — Kathleen Kelly, Children’s Literature

Haven. Beverly Patt. 2009. 218p. (gr 4-7). Blooming Tree Press. Fourteen-year-old Latonya Dennison needs a home and, as luck would have it, Rudy Morris’s home is available. However, because Latonya is black and Rudy’s family is white, the foster care system is unwilling to make the placement. When Latonya, Rudy and Rudy’s goofball friend, Stark, take matters into their own hands, each discovers a unique definition of family, as well as a few surprises along the road.

Hearts Journey Home. Ashley Elisabeth Crook. 2008. 376p. (gr 4-7). Trestle 2 Treasure. A patchwork family... A tragic accident... And amidst all that life carries, the Trestles strive to find peace and healing for their souls amongst the small population of the joyless town in Texas they have just moved to. No one in town understands these eccentric newcomers and they wish the new family would just leave them to their dull, strict life. Yet the Trestles stay on... but for how long? Adding to their already eventful life, one day the father catches a glimpse of what he believes to be a strange man lurking on the nearby mountain. With a heart crying out to God, he strives to protect his children and help them find a place in this cold, proud town, to reach out to the town in spite of their dislike for his family, and, most of all, help his children to find healing and rest for their wounded hearts.

Heaven: A Novel. Angela Johnson. 1998. Simon & Schuster. At fourteen, Marley knows she has Momma’s hands and Pops’s love for ice cream, that her brother doesn’t get on her nerves too much, and that Uncle Jack is a big mystery. But Marley doesn’t know all she thinks she does, because she doesn’t know the truth. And when the truth comes down with the rain one stormy summer afternoon, it changes everything. It turns Momma and Pops into liars. It makes her brother a stranger and Uncle Jack an even bigger mystery. All of a sudden, Marley doesn’t know who she is anymore and can only turn to the family she no longer trusts to find out. Truth often brings change. Sometimes that change is for the good. Sometimes it isn’t. Coretta Scott King award-winning author Angela Johnson writes a poignant novel of deception and self-discovery—about finding the truth and knowing what to do when truth is at hand. About the Author: Angela Johnson is the author of numerous books for young readers, including Toning the Sweep, winner of the 1994 Coretta Scott King Award. Her award-winning picture books include When I Am Old with You, a Coretta Scott King Honor Book; Tell Me A Story Mama, a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year; and Julius, an ALA Notable Book. Ms. Johnson lives in Kent, Ohio.

Here Comes Ellen. Jean Ure. 1999. 152p. (gr 4-7). (Foster Family #3). Hodder Children’s Books. Abi, Sam and the Radish have just about settled down to a normal life when Abi’s mum springs another surprise, 14-year-old Ellen Dredge is coming to stay. Abi and Sam have never met anyone like Ellen—she’s loud, childish and so clumsy, she’s driving them mad.

Here’s a Penny. Written & illustrated by Carolyn Haywood. 1944. 158p. (gr 1-5). Harcourt, Brace & Co. Follows the adventures of six-year-old William, an adopted boy nicknamed Penny for his copper-colored hair, as he attends a Halloween party, adopts kittens, and finds an older brother to join his family. About the Author: Carolyn Haywood was born January 3, 1898 in Philadelphia, PA. She attended the Philadelphia Academy of the Fine Arts where she studied under such noted artists and illustrators as Jessie Wilcox Smith. She worked as a teacher, portrait painter and mural artist before publishing her first book for children, When I Grow Up, in 1931. In 1939, Carolyn Haywood published “B” Is for Betsy, the first book in her “Betsy” series. The book was very successful with children, and critics praised the book, and others in the series, for the author’s “imaginative yet wholesome situations,” “simple, natural style” of writing and for how she “captured children’s speech and interactions.” In 1947, she published Little Eddie, a book that told of young Eddie, a rambunctious little boy who would prove as endearing as Betsy. Like the “Betsy” books, this series also dealt with experiences children could relate to: school events, interactions with friends. Carolyn Haywood illustrated most of the books in both series and her drawings are also noted for their simplicity. In 1956, she received the Boy’s Club of America Junior Books Award for Eddie and His Big Deeds (1955), and later won the Utah Children’s Book Award, in 1981, for the body of the work. Carolyn Haywood died on January 11, 1990 in Philadelphia. By the Same Author: Penny and Peter (1946) and Penny Goes to Camp (1948).

Holding Up the Earth. Dianne E Gray. 2000. 224p. (gr 4-7). Houghton Mifflin. It has been eight years since Hope’s mom died in a car accident. Eight years of shuffling from foster home to foster home. Eight years of trying to hold on to the memories that tether her to her mother. Now Sarah, Hope’s newest foster mom, has taken her from Minneapolis to spend the summer on the Nebraska farm where Sarah grew up. Hope is set adrift, anchored only by her ever-present and memory-heavy backpack.Accustomed to the clamor of city life, Hope is at first unsettled by the silence that descends over the farm each night. But listening deeply, she begins to hear the quiet: the crickets’ chirp, the windsong, the steady in and out of her own breath. Soon the silence is replaced by voices, like echoes sounding across time—the voices of girls who inhabited the old farmhouse before her. Reluctantly, Hope begins to stretch down roots in the earth and accept this new family as her own.

Hollywell Family, The. Margaret Kornitzer. Illustrated by Shirley Hughes. 1973. (ps) The Bodley Head (UK). Describes the adoption of a baby boy into the Hollywell family.

Home, & Other Big, Fat Lies. Jill Wolfson. 2006. 224p. (gr 6-up). Henry Holt & Co. Whitney has been in so many foster homes that she can give a complete rundown on the most common varieties of foster parents—from the look-on-the-bright-side types to those unfortunate examples of pure evil. But one thing she doesn’t know much about is trees. This means heading for Foster Home #12 (which is all the way at the top of the map of California, where there looks to be nothing but trees) has Whitney feeling a little nervous. She is pretty sure that the middle of nowhere is going to be just one more place where a hyper, loud-mouthed kid who is messy and small for her age won’t be welcome for long. Jill Wolfson has woven together the stories of an irrepressible foster child and a deeply divided small town with incredible humor and compassion.

Home Court Advantage. Sandra Diersch. 2002. 128p. (gr 4-7). (Sports Stories). Lorimer. When Debbie is on the basketball court she feels free and alive. But while she’s a good player she’s also an aggressive one, and rough tactics get her in trouble more than once. Off the court she’s different from other girls, a foster child without “real” parents of her own. When Debbie learns she’s going to be adopted, her world is turned upside down. Until, that is, she’s accused of stealing from a teamate. From then on, it’s an uphill battle to prove herself to her new parents and her team. Home Court Advantage shows how young players’ behavior on the court and their lives off it are inextricably linked.

Home Is Where Your Horse Is. Dandi Daley Mackall. 2000. 190p. (YA). Concordia Publishing House. When Scoop meets the beautiful and glamourous Twila Twopennies and is invited to help out at her lavish stables, Scoop imagines that Twila is the mother who gave her up for adoption fifteen years earlier. By the Same Author: Runaway (2008).

Honey Badgers. Jamison Odone. 2007. 32p. (gr 4-6). Front Street. From Publishers Weekly: Odone’s debut book makes a deep bow to Maurice Sendak, with its somber palette and heavily crosshatched, pen-and-ink and watercolor wash illustrations. But the affectionate, dreamy text is his own. “I get along well with honey badgers,” the boy narrator begins. “In fact, I was raised by a pair—Maurice and June. They are good parents,” he adds. On the opposite page June, in a warm red overcoat, holds out her arms to a naked, Sendak-style foundling. (Honey badgers are carnivorous African mammals, making Maurice and June’s solicitousness particularly heartwarming.) Telegraphic sentences on the left-hand pages (“We have a small stream nearby to sip from”) accompany framed pictures on the right; here, the boy and Maurice, sporting warm sweaters to ward off the chill, drink on hands and knees, surrounded by a forest of gnarled trees. Visual references to myth (empty boats), fallen civilizations (Mayan stone sculptures), and wealth and education (velvet drapes and leather-bound books) give the story elegant resonance without weighing it down. “It is late now,” the boy says. “I think I’ll go to bed.” Maurice and June stand guard as he sleeps under an enormous canopy. Odone, tapping into a powerful vein of fantasy (what child would not rush to move into a cozy den with two gentle, furry parents?) has created the kind of book certain children will cling to, years after they abandon the rest of their picture book collections. © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Hope-so Too. Jodi Hills. Illustrated by Barbara Björnson. 2004. 36p. (gr 4-7). Tristan Publishing. This children’s book is a charming story that truly captures the power of hope. Written in verse, the story centers around a young girl named Hope-So who is adopted and follows her hope-filled journey to adopt a puppy from an animal shelter. The story also brings us inside the “Second Hope” shelter to two special dogs whose hope for a home and family draw them to Hope-So. Beautiful full-color pastel illustrations magically bring Hope-so Too to life. About the Authors: Jodi Hills operates her own design studio – Studio J – in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The studio features her collection of “visual verse”—all created with the intent to keep people guessing, praying, hoping and laughing. Through her books and line of original artwork, prints, greeting cards, journals and magnets, Jodi explores the days we thrive… and the ones we survive…finding beauty in both. Barbara Björnson is a freelance artist & illustrator based in St. Paul, Minnesota. Her style of art is based on training in classical realism. Barbara has been creating designs from her imagination for prints and greeting cards for many years. She strives to create images that touch people in a positive way. “If any of my pictures put a smile on your face, then I have succeeded.” Barbara lives in New Brighton, Minnesota with her family.

Hoping for the Best: Jack’s Story. Sheila Byrne & Leigh Chambers. Illustrated by Sarah Rawlings. 1998. 28p. British Agencies for Adoption & Fostering (UK). When children are separated from their birth families, part of their very self is in jeopardy. They need help to make sense of their experiences and individual history. This book is part of a unique series for use with separated children. As a whole the series will cover a broad range of scenarios and backgrounds. The four individual titles already published each have their own unique story. Each book can be used flexibly and creatively with children to help them explore feelings, come to terms with their pasts, and prepare for the future. This particular title is about an adoption that did not work out. Other Books in the Series: Living With a New Family: Nadia & Rashid’s Story (1998); Belonging Doesn’t Mean Forgetting: Nathan’s Story (1998); Feeling Safe: Tina’s Story (1998); Joining Together: Jo’s Story (1999); and Waiting for the Right Home: Daniel’s Story (2001).

Horace. Holly Keller. 1991. 32p. (gr ps up). Greenwillow Books. Horace, a leopard, is the adopted son of tiger parents. Every night at bedtime Mama tells him how he came to be their child. Horace always falls asleep before the story ends. As Horace grows older, he begins to wonder whether he belongs with his adoptive family. One night he proves his own ending to the story he has heard so often.

Horse Crazy Lily. Nancy Rue. 2003. 128p. (Lily Series #11). Zonderkidz. Lily’s in love! With horses?! Back in the “saddle” for another exciting adventure, Lily’s gone western and destined to be the next famous cowgirl. After her first horseback-riding experience, Lily’s hooked. Her room practically turns into a stable and her life is all about horses. Of course her pleas for her very own horse go unacknowledged, so Lily does the next best thing ... she gets an unofficial job at a stable. But does she do it for the love of horses or to escape dealing with her new adopted sister Tessa? When the unthinkable happens at the stable, Lily is left wondering, Where is God? Why did he let it happen?, but learns a real lesson in faith and who God really is. About the Author: Nancy Rue has worked as a public school teacher, church youth director, theater workshop developer, and camp director. She has written hundreds of short stories and articles for youth magazines and more than sixty books for young people. Nancy has a grown daughter and lives with her husband in Lebanon, TN.

Hostile Hospital, The. Lemony Snicket. Illustrated by Brett Helquist. 2001. 272p. (A Series of Unfortunate Events #8). (gr 4-7). HarperCollins. As you might expect, nothing but woe befalls the unlucky Baudelaire orphans in the eighth grim tale in Lemony Snicket’s Series of Unfortunate Events that began with The Bad Beginning. Ever since the orphans’ photographs were plastered across the front page of The Daily Punctilio in an article falsely accusing them of murder, they have been on the run. Only when they disguise themselves as cheerful hospital volunteers (Volunteers Fighting Disease, to be exact), do they see a possible refuge. Of course, this backfires hideously. Where is their ineffectual guardian, Mr. Poe, when they need him most? Will the evil, greedy Count Olaf be successful in giving poor Violet a cranioectomy at the Heimlich Hospital? Is a heart-shaped balloon really better than water for a thirsty patient? Is no news really good news? As ever, Snicket refuses to comfort young readers with cozy answers and satisfying escapes. And, as ever, there are plenty of rusty blades and horrible plot twists to make us shudder and shameless-but-hilarious wordplay to make us grimace happily. Bring on the next one! — Karin Snelson

House in the Woods, The. Isabelle Holland. 1991. 194p. Little, Brown. Feeling overweight, unattractive, and unloved by her adoptive father, Bridget learns to put aside her escapist fantasies and live in the real world after uncovering the secrets of a mysterious house. The house seemed to call out to her. It was as if it had a secret it wanted to share. Someone else might have called it creepy, sitting there, dilapidated and unused, deep in the country woods. But Bridget felt welcome there.

How Do You Do? I’m Shelley. Mary Whiteley. 1964. (YA). Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc.

How I Became a Big Brother: An Adoption Story. Dave Moore. 2008. 24p. (gr ps-3). 1st World Publishing. How I Became A Big Brother is a children’s book that explains adoption to young children. It is a simple story of how a little boyl who doesn’t have any siblings suddenly becomes a big brother to an adopted child. The story is told from the point of view of the toddler, and touches on many of the concerns and fears that a child might be experiencing when their family decides to adopt. This book is a must read for anyone who is considering adoption of another child when they already have young children.

How I Became a Big Sister: An Adoption Story. Dave Moore. 2008. 24p. (gr ps-3). 1st World Publishing. How I Became A Big Sister is a children’s book that explains adoption to young children. It is a simple story of how a little girl who doesn’t have any siblings all suddenly becomes a big sister to an adopted child. The story is told from the point of view of the toddler, and touches on many of the concerns and fears that a child might be experiencing when their family decides to adopt. This book is a must read for anyone who is considering adoption of another child when they already have young children.

How I was Adopted: Samantha’s Story. Joanna Cole. Illustrated by Maxie Chambliss. 1995. 48p. (gr ps-3). Morrow Junior Books. Sam has a joyful story to tell, a story completely her own, yet common to millions of families. It is a story of how babies are born and how children grow, a story of what makes people different and what makes them the same. But most of all, How I Was Adopted is a book about love. And in the end, Sam’s story comes full circle, inviting young readers to learn and to tell the stories of how they were adopted. This is a uniquely reassuring book about adoption that captures all the joy of loving families.

How Micah Helped Build a Family. Deirdre Goldsmith. Illustrated by Courtney Martin. 2003. 32p. (gr ps-3). Trafford Publishing Co (Canada). Micah has many questions for such a young boy. As a child who has lived with his biological mother, foster parents and eventually adoptive parents, he needs a great deal of reassurance. How Micah Helped Build a Family gives simple yet necessary explanations for many of the events which have occurred in the child’s journey to his permanent adoptive home. Most importantly, it helps the child to accept that all of the significant adults in his life loved him, and truly did want what was best for him. This book is geared toward young children and deals with the emotions and issues that surround foster care and adoption. How Micah Helped Build a Family portrays the biological mother with sensitivity. The book also gently reassures the child that (s)he is loved and will be taken care of forever by the family adopting him/her.

How My Family Came to Be: Daddy, Papa & Me. Andrew R. Aldrich. Illustrated by Mike Motz. 2003. 32p. New Family Press. Adoption. Two Fathers. Interracial families. How My Family Came to Be—Daddy, Papa and Me touches on these very complex topics at an age-appropriate level. Narrated from the perspective of a school-aged child, the book shows how his family was created and that families are made up of people who love each other. About the Author: Andrew Aldrich makes his writing debut with How My Family Came to Be—Daddy, Papa and Me. He is committed to advocating for families with gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender members. Andrew lives in Oakland, California with his partner and their son.

I Am Adopted. Susan Lapsley. Illustrated by Michael Charlton. 1974. 26p. (gr ps-2). Bradbury Press. A little boy explains what it means to be adopted.

I Bet She Called Me Sugar Plum. Joanne V Gabbin. Illustrated by Margot Bergman. Foreword by Lucille Clifton. 2004. (gr ps-3). Franklin Street Gallery Productions. A soft and beautiful story honoring an adopted child’s first mother and the precious relationship of love that exists in that connection and meaning of names. Pictures that reflect natural materials along with the timeless and simple text of bedtime parent child conversations of love and commitment make this book a welcome addition as one of those few books that talks about adoption and birth parents in terms of relationships and love instead of role definitions. The family just happens to be African American. There is a bonus paper doll to cut out at the back with clothes of the girl at the center of the story. A story of family love that includes adoption in a wonderful way.

I Choose You. Deborah Ripoll Greulich. 2006. 28p. (gr ps-3). Tate Publishing & Enterprises, LLC. From the Publisher: Imagine a little baby who, before she is born, decides to choose her own parents. Picture her carefully choosing a bright and cozy star and settling upon it to travel the world over until she finds the perfect forever family. I Choose You is the precious story of one such baby. Author Deborah Ripoll Greulich has eloquently created a magical journey of one special child who searches for a family to call her own. Once she finds her parents, she travels the world again until she finds just the right birth mother in whose belly she could grow until the day of her birth. Uniquely heartwarming, I Choose You offers us all a glimpse into how some families come to be born through adoption. About the Author: Deborah Ripoll Greulich is a writer and independent travel agent. She holds a B.A. from Barnard College and twenty years’ experience as a policy writer and analyst in Local government. She and her husband William reside in North Massapequa, NY, and have a three-year-old daughter and a newly born son.

Compiler’s Comments: In keeping with my stated position as a dispationate assembler of data, I normally keep my thoughts to myself; however, this particular story’s premise struck me as so uniquely ridiculous, I am moved to express my opinion. Turning the traditional adoption story of the “chosen child” completely on its head, the author imagines that a “pre-born” soul, in the form of an infant, would, if it could, “choose” to be born to a woman it knows will not be able to keep and raise it, and then be adopted by its “ideal family.” I can well imagine the perspicascious child to whom the story is being read asking what, it seems to me, is the obvious question: “Wouldn’t it have been easier if she’d chosen to be born to the Mommy and Daddy who adopted her?” In contrast to this particular story, the tale of the “chosen child,” at least, makes some sense, insofar as it acknowledges the child’s helplessness and lack of input into the adoption process, and serves to absolve the birth mother of guilt for making the choice that she makes while providing a bulwark for the burgeoning familial relationship between the adoptee and the adoptive parents by casting the adoption in the most positive possible light.

I Feel Different: A Book About Being Adopted. Kathy Stinson. Illustrated by Robin B Lewis. 1998. 27p. Western Psychological Services. This book was originally published under the title Steven’s Baseball Mitt: A Book About Being Adopted.

I, Rebekah, Take You, the Lawrences. Julia First. 1981. 123p. Franklin Watts. Even after she has been adopted, 12-year-old Rebekah wonders if she wouldn’t be better off back at the orphanage with her friends.

I See the Moon. CB Christiansen. 1994. 115p. (gr 4-7). Atheneum. Unlike the rest of her family, 12-year-old Bitte is thrilled when her 15-year-old sister Kari is pregnant. When she learns of Kari’s plans to put the baby up for adoption, Bitte is devastated. Then, she comes to accept Kari’s decision and to understand that love is not as simple as she’d thought.

I Wished for You: An Adoption Story. Marianne Richmond. 2008. 40p. (gr ps-3). Marianne Richmond Studios. A beautiful story for adoptive families, I Wished for You, follows a conversation between a little bear named Barley and his Mama, as they curl up in their favorite cuddle spot and talk about how they became a family. Barley asks Mama the kinds of questions many adopted children have, and Mama lovingly answers them all. With endearing prose and charming watercolor illustrations, I Wished for You, is a cozy read that affirms how love is what truly makes a family.

I’d Rather Be With a Real Mom Who Loves Me: A Story for Foster Children. Michael Gordon, PhD. 1995. 23p. (gr ps-6). GSI Publications. A boy is confused and angry about his placement in foster care, even though he knows his mother was not able to take proper care of him or protect him. He is tired of therapy, though one of his therapists is pretty nice, and he thinks his foster mother is okay. This book does not have a “happy” ending. At the end, the boy is still in limbo. This short book for younger children dealing with separation from their families is a good book to read to children placed in foster care, making it clear that many of the thoughts and feelings they are likely to experience are normal rather than odd or shameful.

If You’re Reading This, It’s Too Late. Pseudonymous Bosch. 2008. 400p. (Secret Series #2). (gr 4-7). Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. Beware! Dangerous secrets lie between the pages of this book. OK, I warned you. But if you think I’ll give anything away, or tell you that this is the sequel to my first literary endeavor, The Name of This Book is Secret, you’re wrong. I’m not going to remind you of how we last left our heroes, Cass and Max-Ernest, as they awaited intiation into the mysterious Terces Society, or the ongoing fight against the evil Dr. L and Ms. Mauvais. I certainly won’t be telling you about how the kids stumble upon the Museum of Magic, where they finally meet the amazing Pietro! Oh, blast! I’ve done it again. Well, at least I didn’t tell you about the missing Sound Prism, the nefarious Lord Pharaoh, or the mysterious creature born in a bottle over 500 years ago, the key to the biggest secret of all. I really can’t help myself, now can I? Let’s face it—if you’re reading this, it’s too late. About the Author: Pseudonymous Bosch is the anonymous pseudonymous author of the Secret Series. Not much is known about him other than that he has a passionate love of chocolate and cheese and an equally passionate hatred of mayonnaise. Rumors of Boschian sightings are just as frequent and about as reliable as reports of alien abductions. If you ever meet anyone claiming to be Pseudonymous himself he is almost certainly an impostor. The real Pseudonymous is said currently to be hiding in a cave in a remote jungle (although there are contrary reports that he is somewhere in Greenland). You may contact him through his website. Mysterious stranger? Anonymous author? Who is Pseudonymous Bosch and how does he know so much about our heroes and heroines? The truth will all be revealed—with time. For more info on P. Bosch, please read his first book, The Name of This Book is Secret. By the Same Author: This Book is Not Good for You.

I’m Adopted, I’m Special. Beth Rice. Illustrated by Sharon Podgurski. 2008. 32p. (gr ps-3). Peppertree Press. Beth Ann is five years old and she is adopted. But what does being adopted really mean? Join Beth Ann as her colorful dream leads her to a better understanding of what adoption means in one simple message.

I’m Brown & My Sister Isn’t. Robbie O’Shea. Illustrated by Matthew Ambre. 2002. 20p. (gr ps-3). RKO Enterprises. Perfect for starting discussions with both young children who’ve been adopted across racial borders and their siblings, I’m Brown & My Sister Isn’t is a simple book told in the words of an adopted child. He discusses his various differences from his sister, who is also adopted. These range from their likes and dislikes to the fact that he tans in the sun while she burns.

I’m Still Me. Betty Jean Lifton. 243p. 1981. (gr 7-12). Alfred A. Knopf. A school assignment to draw her family tree forces Lori Elkins to struggle with questions she had never considered regarding her status as an adopted child. She starts her search as much for her own benefit as for completion of a school assignment, learning unexpected lessons about herself and her family along the way.

Impatient Pamela Wants a Bigger Family. Mary Koski. Illustrated by Dan Brown. 2002. 32p. (gr ps-3). Trellis Publishing. Children will learn that their families are beautiful, regardless of size, in this wonderful story about accepting their own family size. Pamela’s world is quiet and orderly, with only one child in her house. This delightful story takes a mischievous turn, however, when Pamela visits her friend Sam, who has seven brothers! When Pamela realizes the wonders of a large family, she wants her own parents to have more children. Her parents explain that their small family allows them to have more time to spend with just her, and Pamela eventually comes to terms with her small family. About the Author: Mary Koski is the award-winning author of Impatient Pamela Calls 911, Impatient Pamela Says: Learn How to Call 911, and Impatient Pamela Asks: Why Are My Feet So Huge? She lives in Duluth, MN, and Carefree, AZ.

In My Heart. Molly Bang. Illustrated by the Author. 2006. 32p. (gr ps-3). Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. From Booklist: Speaking directly to her child, a mother describes how, throughout her day, she peeks into her heart: “I look inside, and ... I find YOU!” Bang’s vibrant collages illustrate the tender message literally: a heart-shaped window in Mom’s chest shows her child inside. Throughout her working day, the mother continues to look at her child, active and smiling, in her heart. Then the focus turns to the child: “Guess who’s always in that great big heart of YOURS?” A closing picture shows a crowd of caring faces—parents, grandparents, friends—nested in the child’s heart. The spreads are sometimes overstuffed with images, and large letters creatively woven into the pictures offer an alphabet game of sorts but also add to the visual chaos. Still, the bright colors and whirl of cozy domestic scenes reinforce the words’ loving meaning. This is for all kids, but the visceral message about belonging and the blend of faces—the child has brown skin; Mom and Dad are blond and blue eyed—may have particular resonance with adoptive families. — Gillian Engberg; © American Library Association. All rights reserved

In Our Mothers’ House. Patricia Polacco. Illustrated by the Author. 2009. 48p. (gr ps-3). Philomel. Marmee, Meema, and the kids are just like any other family on the block. In their beautiful house, they cook dinner together, they laugh together, and they dance together. But some of the other families don’t accept them. They say they are different. How can a family have two moms and no dad? But Marmee and Meema’s house is full of love. And they teach their children that different doesn’t mean wrong. And no matter how many moms or dads they have, they are everything a family is meant to be. Here is a true Polacco story of a family, living by their own rules, and the strength they gain by the love they feel.

In the Country. Guy de Maupassant. 1993. 32p. (Translation of Aux Champs). Creative Education. When a peasant woman refuses to let a rich couple adopt her little boy, claiming that it would be selling her son, the would-be benefactors make the same offer to her neighbor next door.

In the Face of Danger. Joan Lowery Nixon. 1988. 151p. (The Orphan Train Adventures Series #3). (YA). Bantam Books. The Orphan Train Quartet follows the story of the six Kelly children, whose widowed mother has sent them west from New York City in 1856 because she realizes she can’t give them the life they deserve. Shy Megan Kelly truly believes she is to blame for her family’s misfortune. She’ll never forget the day a gypsy grabbed her palm and read it, announcing that Megan was a “bad-luck penny” who would always bring trouble to those around her. Megan is happy when a loving young couple living in the rugged Kansas territory adopt her. But during the first trying months, a blizzard, a pack of prairie wolves, and armed fugitive are just some of the disasters the family must face. Megan is certain the gypsy’s curse is real. With the help of her new family, can Megan find a way to overcome her fear and superstition?

In Times of Peril: A Tale of India. G(eorge) A(lfred) Henty (1832-1902). 1881. (YA). Griffith & Farran (UK). This is a tale of Dick and Ned Warrender, two preposterously courageous young English brothers in their early teens, the sons of an officer in the Indian Army at the time of the Indian Mutiny during the reign of Queen Victoria in 1857. They reconnoiter in and out of the losses, seiges, reliefs, sallies, sappings, and reconquests of about a dozen towns and cities, among them the massacred retreat from Cawnpore, the long defense of the residency at Lucknow, Oudh, and Delhi. From what I remember of trying-to-be-unbiased histories of the East India Company and the Mutiny and sequelae, some of the mutiny at Cawnpore really was disgusting by the standards of all the civilizations involved—throwing babies’ bodies into a city well—and many, though not all, of the mutinous troops behaved so badly to the peasantry as to make British rule look better. Points, as it were, for the righteous anger of the surviving English, if one can forget why they were there in the first place. One can’t; Henty clearly comments that a large cause of the uprising was the British (Crown or Company? I can’t tell) casually breaking treaties with adopted heirs of deceased rulers, on the grounds that adoption doesn’t count, which was done with no warning—ungentlemanly by Henty’s standards—and with scant reason, as adopted heirs were not worse rulers than born ones, and was a total strategic error, since all the other rulers who were adopted or had adopted heirs suddenly worried a lot about the value of their treaties. — Excerpted and adapted from Clew’s Reviews

Indigo Notebook, The. Laura Resau. 2006. 336p. (gr 4-7). Delacorte Books for Young Readers. Zeeta’s life with her free-spirited mother, Layla, is anything but normal. Every year Layla picks another country she wants to live in. This summer they’re in Ecuador, and Zeeta is determined to convince her mother to settle down. Zeeta makes friends with vendors at the town market and begs them to think of upstanding, “normal” men to set up with Layla. There, Zeeta meets Wendell. She learns that he was born nearby, but adopted by an American family. His one wish is to find his birth parents, and Zeeta agrees to help him. But when Wendell’s biological father turns out to be involved in something very dangerous, Zeeta wonders whether she’ll ever get the chance to tell her mom how she really feels—or to enjoy her deepening feelings for Wendell. About the Author: Laura Resau lives with her husband, her dog, and her son in Colorado, where she teaches cultural anthropology and ESL (English as a Second Language). She is also the author of What the Moon Saw and Red Glass.

Invisible Threads. Annie & Maria Dalton. 2006. 208p. (YA). Delacorte Books for Young Readers. From School Library Journal: Naomi, 16, became pregnant after her first sexual experience. Her story is told in alternating chapters with those of Carrie-Anne, the daughter she gave away, who, at 16, decides to find her birth mother. As a child, Naomi walks a fine line around her erratic single mother who expresses adoration of her one moment and verbally abuses her the next, blaming the girl for all her troubles. When free-spirited Lily and her two daughters enter their lives, Naomi glimpses what a healthier, more stable home life could be like and eventually moves in with Lily for the duration of her pregnancy. Carrie-Anne is adopted by a married couple who are also out of balance, and neither parent is equipped to deal with a rebellious teenager. Carrie-Anne reacts to their emotional detachment by fantasizing that her birth mother would love and appreciate her, and sets out to contact Naomi. Set in England, Invisible Threads is full of British slang and flavor and features characters who have no qualms about using profanity liberally. At times, the depiction of teenagers’ hopelessness in the face of family dysfunction and social pressure to enter uncomfortable romantic and sexual relationships is dishearteningly vivid. However, in this intriguing study of two young women of succeeding generations, the major characters are sympathetically developed and multidimensional, and both Naomi and Carrie-Anne are able to see beyond their immediate circumstances and reach out to key adults for help. — Joyce Adams Burner, Hillcrest Library, Prairie Village, KS; © 2006 Reed Business Information.

Irrepressible Lucie Archer. Karen Fyke Kirchel. 2002006. 148p. (gr 4-7). PublishAmerica. Lucie Archer is an eleven-year-old girl who doesn’t seem to fit in with her family. Lucie tries to be restrained, but instead she is irrepressible. As a result of her latest exploit, Lucie is bumped from the family’s trip to England and is forced to spend the remainder of her summer with an uncle and a cousin she has never met. From the time Lucie arrives at her uncle’s isolated, television-less house, she suspects something is sinister. Either her uncle and cousin are some sort of monsters, or there is one in the house, or the house is haunted. Without a television, Lucie has time to explore and imagine, and she is determined to uncover the house’s secrets. As she learns the secrets of the house, she learns even more about herself and her own history.

Is Your Family Like Mine?. Lois Abramchik. Illustrated by Alaiyo Bradshaw. Edited by Barbara L Cavallo. 1996. 32p. (gr ps-3). Open Heart, Open Mind. A children’s book depicting multicultural friendships and exploring family diversity. Armetha, a 5 year-old girl, begins her search for the common bond among families, by asking her friends, “Who is in your family?” Armetha’s friends come from all kinds of families, including nuclear, step parent, single parent and foster parent. Armetha lives in a home with two Moms. Armetha comes to know that she has two Moms who raise her and a Dad who helped create her. Armetha and her friends conclude that although their families are different, it is Love that is their common bond. Armetha learns that “Love makes a family and it is Love that makes all families like hers.” This book, created by social workers, beautifully illustrated in black and white, depicts in sensitive and loving terms, multicultural friendships and family diversity. Every child, young and old, can learn from this timely book.

Isaac’s Will. Kris Durso. 2009. 174p. (YA). BookSurge Publishing. One bullet has changed everything for fifteen-year old Will Karras. It killed his father and forced him and his mother to move from their suburban Rochester home in upstate New York to a new one—on the grounds of a cemetery. His mother’s addictions and a bully set on destroying him are proving to be too much for Will to handle. But among the snowy gravestones in his new backyard, Will meets a mysterious stranger who knows the secrets of his past, and more importantly, holds the keys to his future.

It Takes Two. Devra Newberger Speregen. 1996. (gr 6-9). Scholastic, Inc. A book produced as a tie-in for the previously released film of the same name, featuring the Olsen twins, Mary Kate and Ashley. Essentially, The Parent Trap meets The Prince and the Pauper. Nine-year-old Amanda Lemmon is an orphan who wants more then anything to have a family of her own. Her only friend at the orphange is a pretty funny young woman named Diane. When Amanda hears she is going to be taken away by a very weird family, she is very sad and runs off to summer camp. Alssya Callway, also nine, is a rich girl who has a millionaire father. Still, she is alone and does not have very many friends. Her father is getting married to a mean woman who plans to send Alssya off to boarding school. But when the two girls meet, they find they look alike and then they swich places to make Diane and Alssya’s father to fall in love.

It’s Not About Him. Michelle Sutton. 2009. 321p. (A Second Glances Novel, #2). (YA). Sheaf House. Susie passed out while drinking at Jeff’s party and later discovered she’s pregnant. She has no idea who the father is and considers having an abortion, but instead decides to place her baby for adoption. Following through ends up being more wrenching than she imagined, but she’s determined to do the right thing for her baby. Jeff feels guilty that Susie was taken advantage of at his party and offers to marry her so she won’t have to give up her baby, like his birth mother did with him. But Susie refuses, insisting he should he marry someone he loves. Can he convince her that his love is genuine before it’s too late? Can she make him understand that it’s not about him-it’s about what’s best for her child?

Ivy & Allison. Jane Peart. 2000. 160p. (gr 4-7). Baker Publishing. Between 1854 and 1904, nearly one hundred thousand orphans were transported by train across America to new homes in the Midwest. Based on the courageous children who experienced this historic event, this series follows the lives of several girls who ride the train in search of fresh beginnings and loving families. Ivy and Allison become fast friends on the Orphan Train. As the girls grow up in the same town, their special friendship is a comfort. But is it strong enough to withstand the truth of Ivy’s secret? This Orphan Train West series, previously published for an adult audience (over 161,000 copies sold), has been abridged for girls ages 10-14. About the Author: Jane Peart is a prolific author of fiction. In addition to the Orphan Train West for Young Adults series, she is the author of the Edgecliffe Manor Mysteries series.

Jacki. Elizabeth Rice. Illustrated by author. 1969. Chicago Children’s Press. Annie, a calico cat with three new kittens, adds an orphaned baby jack rabbit to her family.

Jacqueline the Dreamer. Emma C Dowd. 1912. 30p. David C Cook Publishing Co. A sweet book of the “What to do Series” about the adoption of an orphan girl.

British First Edition

James & the Giant Peach. Raold Dahl. Illustrated by Nancy E Bunkert. 1961. 120p. (gr 3 up). Knopf. The classic children’s story of an orphaned boy who escapes his two nasty aunts to live in a giant peach with a colony of various insects.

Jasper. Brian DiMaggio. 2009. 160p. (gr 4-7). Tate Publishing. For as long as Jasper can remember, he has had the ability to change his dreams in any way he wishes. Now Jasper has learned that, that is not all he can do. He has amazed his friends for years with his incredible stories. But even Jasper himself did not expect what happens next—he finds that he can bring others into his Dreamworld! Join Jasper and his best friends, Christopher and Jeanie, as they explore the incredible power of their imaginations. Together they learned to confront their problems, face their bullies, and work together to change the world in Brian K. DiMaggio’s Jasper. Is there any limit to what they can do? In this heartwarming tale of friendship, Jasper shows us that anything can be achieved when we put our minds to it.

Jenny’s Adopted Brothers. Esther H Averill. 1952. (gr 1-3). Harper & Row. Sixth in the series of Jenny Linsky’s adventures (preceded by The Cat Club, The School for Cats, Jenny’s First Party, Jenny’s Moonligh Adventure, and When Jenny Lost Her Scarf). Touching tale in which Jenny proves again to be the fine little cat we all know her to be, and acquires two homeless cats as brothers.

Jo Jo: A Tiny Story of Faith: A Journey Through Adoption. Faith Miller. Illustrated by Joyce Knarr. 2002. 64p. (gr 4-7). Abingdon Press. This is the fictionalized story of the author’s adoption, much of which is true. A couple’s longing for a baby leads them to adopt a toddler whose mother can no longer care for her. The little girl and her doll, Jo Jo and begin a new life with a loving new family. This book provides parents and grandparents a way to introduce the concept of adoption to young children. It gives children ages 9-12 a story they can read themselves that helps them explore the concept of adoption and builds their understanding of what a family is.

Joining Together: Jo’s Story. Sheila Byrne & Leigh Chambers. Illustrated by Sarah Rawlings. 1999. 20p. British Agencies for Adoption & Fostering (UK). When children are separated from their birth families, part of their very self is in jeopardy. They need help to make sense of their experiences and individual history. This book is part of a unique series for use with separated children. As a whole the series will cover a broad range of scenarios and backgrounds. The four individual titles already published each have their own unique story. Each book can be used flexibly and creatively with children to help them explore feelings, come to terms with their pasts, and prepare for the future. This particular title is about a step parent adoption. Other Books in the Series: Living With a New Family: Nadia & Rashid’s Story (1998); Hoping for the Best: Jack’s Story (1998); Belonging Doesn’t Mean Forgetting: Nathan’s Story (1998); Feeling Safe: Tina’s Story (1998); and Waiting for the Right Home: Daniel’s Story (2001).

Josh & Jaz Have Three Mums. Hedi Argent. Illustrated by Amanda Wood. 2007. 24p. British Association for Adoption & Fostering. Josh and Jaz are five-year-old twins who have been adopted by two women. They are upset and anxious when their school teacher asks them to produce a family tree. They are worried that everyone in their class will laugh because they live with two mums—and what will they say about their birth parents? They want to be like everyone else and have just one mum and dad. Mummy Sue and Mummy Fran help the children to understand that every family tree will tell a different story and that life would be boring if they were all the same. Working together, they produce a family tree that Josh and Jaz are truly proud of and one that wins the admiration of all their classmates. This brightly illustrated book for young children aged five to eight helps to explain the diversity and “difference” of family groups, and encourages an understanding and appreciation of same sex parents. Josh and Jaz Have Three Mums will be particularly useful for social workers, child care professionals, carers and adoptive parents when exploring the complexities of modern family life with young children. The book would be a valuable addition to every primary school library as it provides triggers for discussion about tolerance and different kinds of families. © 2007 BAAF and its suppliers.

Jubela. Cristina Kessler. Illustrated by JoEllen McAllister Stammen. 2004. 32p. (gr k-3). Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing. Baby rhino Jubela is content in his African home, rolling in the mud while his mother watches over him. But suddenly Jubela’s world is shaken to its core when his mother is killed by poachers. Totally bewildered, the hungry and thirsty baby stays beside his dead mother in the hot sun, afraid to leave her, even for shade. It’s not until the returning scent of man alerts Jubela that he ventures out on his own and ultimately finds an adoptive mother. Based on the real-life experience of an orphaned rhino from Swaziland, Jubela is a heartbreaking—and heartwarming—story of the plight of rhinos, 97 percent of which have been lost to poachers over the last 30 years. Mali-based author Cristina Kessler makes a plea for increased awareness and dedication to protecting these ancient animals in her informative and shocking afterword. The story itself is simple and lyrical, with JoEllen McAllister Stammen’s stunning pastel illustrations capturing the intense heat and beauty of an African savannah, as well as Jubela’s agonizing situation. Parents who have already attempted to explain life’s tragedies after reading about Babar’s mother’s death in The Story of Babar, the Little Elephant, be prepared for more poignant questions. —Emilie Coulter, Amazon.com.

Just as Long as We’re Together. Judy Blume. 1987. 296p. (gr 4-7). Orchard Books. Rachel is Stephanie’s best friend. Since the second grade they have shared all their secrets, good and bad. So when Alison—a Vietnamese adoptee—moves in, Stephanie hopes that the three of them can be best friends because Stephanie really likes Alison. After all, they have even more to share now, including seventh grade and Jeremy Dragon, the cutest boy in junior high. Even though the three of them live in a quiet Connecticut neighborhood, there’s a lot going on in their lives. Stephanie wishes her father didn’t have to work so far from home and she worries that Rachel’s talents will get in the way of their friendship. Rachel and Alison have to deal with the changes in their own lives, yet Stephanie is sure everything will work out fine—“just as long as we’re together....”

Just the Way You Are. Max Lucado. Illustrated by Sergio Martinez. 1999. 32p. Crossway Books. When a compassionate king decides to adopt three orphaned children, the townspeople begin to offer advice: “You need to impress the king.” But, as this story shows—not all kings want to be impressed. Previously titled, Children of the King, a CBA children’s bestseller is being re-released with all-new color illustrations and format.

Kangaroos & the Outback. Gilbert Morris. 2001. 128p. (Adventures of the Kerrigan Kids #3: Travels in Australia). (gr 4-7). Moody Press. After their mother died, photographer Mr. Kerrigan begins taking his natural daughter and adopted children with him on business trips. They’re on the move for adventures all over the world. Million-selling author, Gilbert Morris, thrills and educates young readers with these new travel adventures. The Kerrigans learn valuable lessons as everything begins to go wrong on their trip to Australia. Their luggage was misdirected, the girls suffer food poisoning, Mr. Kerrigan loses a contact, and their all-purpose vehicle breaks down on a rural road. The Kerrigans learn the valuable lesson that bad things can happen to good people and that it is critical to trust in God even during difficult circumstances.

Kap-Sung Ferris. Frances Duncan. 1977. 126p.  Burns & MacEachern Ltd (Toronto). A false accusation of shoplifting forces Kim Ferris to consider whether she belongs in Canada at all—or in Korea with the mother who gave her up for adoption. Her confusion almost destroys her dedication to figure-skating and her relationship with the family which has adopted her.

Karen’s Little Sister. Ann M. Martin. 1989. 112p. (Baby-Sitters Little Sister #6). (gr 4-7). Scholastic. When Karen’s family adopts a baby girl, Karen is dismayed that she’s no longer the baby of the family. Then she finds that it’s not so bad being the middle sister.

Kayla O’Brian: Trouble at Bitter Creek Ranch. Hilda Stahl. 1991. 128p. (gr 4-7). Crossway Books. Kayla and her little brother Timothy must sometimes rely on their faith in Jesus when they are shipped west on an orphan train and go to live with the Larsen family on their ranch.

Kayla O’Brian & the Runaway Orphans. Hilda Stahl. 1991. 122p. (gr 4-7). Crossway Books. The third in a popular series by Hilda Stahl, based on the historical Orphan Train which transported homeless children from New York City to the American Frontier in the 1850s. Kayla and her brother Timothy hide four orphans who escape from the Orphan Train, but the man hunting them is hot on their trail, and not even Christmas will stop him.

Kayla O’Brian & the Dangerous Journey. Hilda Stahl. 1990. 126p. (gr 4-7). Crossway Books. Kayla O’Brian and her brother Timothy has expected to find happiness in the new land of America. But when their parents died during the vovage from Ireland, everything changed.

Keep It in the Family. Iris Howden. 1999. 48p. Cambridge University Press (UK). Written by experienced special-needs teachers and fully assessed by The Basic Skills Agency to ensure accessibility in both layout and content, the “Livewire Youth Fiction” series offers exciting stories about the issues, dramas and challenges of being young. Keep It in the Family deals with the situation when a young girl’s birth mother seeks to make contact through a social owrker intermediary.

Keeping Secrets. Joan Lowery Nixon. 1995. 176p. (The Orphan Train Adventures Series #6). (YA). Random House Children’s Books. It’s autumn of 1863, and as the Civil War rages, a stranger named Violet Hennessey seeks refuge with the Kelly family. Eleven-year-old Peg Kelly is thrilled because Violet treats her like a young woman, not a child. On the run from the Confederate raiders, Violet has information that may save the Union. But she can’t deliver her message unless she undertakes a dangerous journey, and she needs Peg’s help. Peg and her brother Danny are determined to be courageous for the sake of the Union, but what price will they pay for their heroism?

Kenji & the Cricket. Adele Wiseman. 1988. 24p. Porcupine’s Quill. Kenji and the Cricket recounts the quest of a Japanese war orphan for a family, addressing every child’s desire for love and security. Kenji, a starving street boy, adopts a pet cricket that leads him to a childless couple who in turn adopt him. The warmth of the narrative is enhanced by Shizuye Takashima’s watercolour illustrations, whose blurred edges relieve the harshness of the details of Kenji’s daily life and give the story the cast of memoir or fable. About the Author: Adele Wiseman won the Governor General’s Award for her novel The Sacrifice. She is also the author of Old Markets, New World (1964), Crackpot (1974), Testimonial Dinner (1978), Old Woman at Play (1978) and Memoirs of a Book Molesting Childhood (1978). Kenji and the Cricket is Ms. Wiseman’s first book for children. Adele Wiseman died in 1991.

Kep. Zachary Ball (pseudonym of Kelly Ray Masters, Sr). 1961. 207p. (gr 6 up). Holiday House. After a family tragedy, a boy starts a new life with a couple who have a serious personal problem of their own to contend with. The story is of a sensitive fifteen-year-old who is as much at home in the world of nature as he is alone in the world of men.. Set in Florida and peopled with memorable animal characters—among them a patch fox and a hound pup—which play vital roles in Kep’s struggle to find himself.

Kimchi & Calamari. Rose Kent. 2007. 240p. (YA). HarperCollins. Joseph considers himself an ethnic sandwich. His birth parents are Korean but as a baby, an Italian-American family adopted him. Lately, Joseph has been experiencing inner struggles because he wants to better understand his Korean heritage but he does not want to upset his caring, hardworking adoptive parents. His eighth grade teacher unknowingly brings this issue to the forefront when she assigns the class a heritage essay that requires students to trace their past. Joseph enlists the help of his friend Nash and, while attempting to contact his birth family in Korea, Joseph writes a creative paper inventing someone who is a relative to an Olympic gold medal winner. When the truth comes out, Joseph’s teacher and even some of his friends view his creativity as deceitful. Fortunately, the entire situation provides Joseph with a learning experience that helps him to better understand and appreciate his unique position. This book has an honest and light-hearted approach to situations that all teenagers struggle with, especially those with diverse cultural or ethnic backgrounds.

King & King & Family. Linda De Haan, et al. 2004. 32p. (gr ps-3). Tricycle Press. Join newlyweds King Lee and King Bertie on their journey into the noisy jungle. The Kings are greeted by wild animal families, but the royal travelers suspect that something more significant awaits them in the trees. King & King soon discover that there’s no adventure more wonderful than starting a family of their own.

King of Slippery Falls, The. Sid Hite. 2004. 208p. (gr 6-8). Scholastic. Lewis Hinton is in pursuit of two things—an elusive giant trout and his true identity. His adoptive parents, Martha and Avery Hinton, know they must let him search for clues about his past. His eccentric neighbor, Mrs. Baderhoovernisterah, advises him to heed the plot twisters in life. His best friend, Amanda Dot, just wants him to fall in love with her. And the townspeople of Slippery Falls are determined to discover if the letter from Lewis’s birth mother confirms the rumor—Is he descended from French royalty? Could this simple boy from Idaho really be a king?

Kingfisher’s Gift, The. Susan Williams Beckhorn. 2002. 208p. (gr 4-7). Philomel Books. Franny Morrow is an odd child. She talks quietly to herself, forgets to eat, and disappears for hours at a time. And there are the fairies: King Tamarack, Queen Iris, and Princess Meadowsweet. Fairies only Franny can see. Friends who are all she has left to remind her of her dead father. When Franny is sent to live with her eccentric grandmother, she takes the fairies with her. Together, they search the old house for a lost treasure: a Kingfisher’s feather, which they are certain will give Meadowsweet the gift of flight. But instead they discover a greater magic, one that Franny never expected to find. The Kingfisher’s Gift is a rare and beautiful story of growing up, of discovering the truth and wonder of imagination, the importance of believing, and the healing power of letting go.

Kit. Jane Peart. 2000. 144p. (gr 4-7). Baker Publishing. Abandoned by her widowed father, Kit rides the Orphan Train west where a farm family takes her in to help with chores, never expecting that one day she would overcome all the obstacles before her and become a successful writer.

Kitten Who Thought He Was a Mouse, The. Miriam Northon. Illustrated by Garth Williams. 1954. 25p. Simon & Schuster. There were five Miggses: Mother and Father Miggs and Lester and two sisters. They had, as field mice usually do, an outdoor nest for summer in an empty lot and an indoor nest for winter in a nearby house. One day, when the Miggses come back to their winter home, they find a small furry ball in their abode. Mickey, a gray and black kitten, is adopted by the Miggs family, who raise him as one of their own. Mickey learns to be a good muse: to like cheese, bacon, and cake crumbs; to avoid mousetraps; and to trick Hazel, the cat who guards the pantry. Then one day he is discovered by Peggy and Paul, the children of the house, whose pet he becomes. But even after he realizes he’s really a cat, he never forgets his mouse family. Pictured at right: 1974 Australian edition.

Koala for Katie, A: An Adoption Story. Jonathan London. Illustrated by Cynthia Jabar. 1993. (gr ps-3). A Whitman. As four-year-old Katie and her parents visit the zoo, Katie wonders aloud where babies come from. She knows that she is adopted and wonders if the baby koala could be happy with a new mommy. This simple, warm story and charming full-color illustrations combine to make the perfect adoption story for young children.

Kristin Comes Home. Patricia Millis. 2006. 32p. Jawbone Publishing Corp. This children’s story describes the excitement of a young boy and his family as they prepare for the arrival of his adopted sister.

Kristy & the Mother’s Day Surprise. Ann M Martin. 1989. 150p. (The Baby-Sitters Club #24). (gr 4-7). Scholastic. Mother’s Day is coming up, and the Baby-sitters have the same problem they do every year: What do they get their Mothers? The Baby-sitters decide to give their moms the day off, without any kids around! It turns out to be a success, and when Kristy returns home, she discovers the surprise her mom has waiting for her.