I Am Adopted: Finding My Forever Family. Mark Dicken-Bradshaw. 2008. 24p. (gr ps-3). Tate Publishing. As can only be seen through the eyes of an adoptive child, this faith-filled book shows how, through trust in God, adoptive families can overcome fears and differences to bond as members of both an earthly family and Gods heavenly family. I Am Adopted is a testimony that God has a purpose for all. If you are adopted, or ever considered adopting, join author Mark Dicken-Bradshaw on his journey from birth family to foster family and finally to loving Forever Family in I Am Adopted. About the Author: My name is Mark Dicken, I am 16 years old, and I have just published a book called I Am Adopted. It is about being an adopted child who wants to be successful in his forever family, and how the family accomplishes that. I wrote this when I found out how many kids have trouble fitting into their families once they realize they are adopted, or if they, like me, are older when they find their forever family. I wish that every child would find a loving family! I hope the book can be of help to adoptive families — June 30, 2008.

I Am Chosen: A Memory Book For You. Jennie Lodien. 44p. I Am Chosen is a beautifully designed memory album for adopted children of any age or nationality. Sprinkled with cheerful quotes, its acid-free card stock allows plenty of room to fill in information and add pictures. The book comes in two versions—“bold” in astro colors with contemporary type and“pastel” in softer colors with a delicate typeface. All wording is appropriate to one or two parent families.

I Know Who I Am!. Stacie H Cahill. 2005. 32p. Xlibris Corp. This book is truly a celebration of adoption. The book is designed to encourage each child by boosting confidence and security, which are two necessary components in the development of a healthy identity. About the Author: Stacie Cahill is a licensed independent social worker and the author of Who Am I?, a Christian children’s book concerning the topic of adoption. She enjoys writing books for children concerning self-help topics and adoption. Stacie was inspired to write My Parents Love Me Too! following questions from Jacob, her biological son. He wanted to know if he was as special as his adopted sisters. This book is designed to help all biological and adopted children understand that they are equally special and loved. By the Same Author: Who Am I?, My Parenst Love Me Too!, and Victory in the Void.

I Miss My Foster Parents. Stefon Herbert. 1991. 36p. (gr ps-7). CWLA. I Miss My Foster Parents was written by a child who was adopted and experienced firsthand the anxiety when leaving his foster family. Stefon describes the fear and how he feels when he and his sister Latisha leave their foster home and go to live with their new adoptive family.

I See You, I See Me. Cliff Greenberg. Illustrated by John Joel Rances. 2007. 20p. (gr 3-6). Trafford Publishing. Adopted children may have many questions about themselves and their families. They may have hidden desires and dreams about their biological family. What do you say to your children about their biological and adoptive families, respectively? In the past, adoptive parents were advised not to talk with a child about his/her adoption. Now, open and honest discussions is strongly suggested by adoption professionals. How you child views him or she will depend to a great degree on your explanation of the adoption process. No matter how much you love your child and how much he loves you, he is likely to have questions—or worries—about his birth family. However you choose to explain a birth parent’s decision to choose adoption for a child, it is incumbent upon you to reaffirm that the decision was made out of love by the birth an adoptive parent(s) and by desire for the child to have a happy healthy life. You are the best person to reassure your child that he is special an d loved, not because of what he looks like, but because of who he is. A healthy emotional life is nourished by love, honesty and support that you give your child as he begins to explore the emotional path from birth parent to his family that was created by adoption. This book focuses on a tangible issue for adopted children: why do I look different from my adoptive parent(s)? When they look in a mirror, children can see different things, depending on how they look and what they are looking for. The adoptive parents can guide a child by supporting what he sees and suggesting that he can also look in a different place to see what family is all about: the child can look inside his heart. About the Author: Cliff Greenberg’s interest in adoption stems from his early years as a lawyer representing foster children in New York City’s foster care system. He now represents adoptive parents in foster care, domestic and international adoption matters. This is the first of Mr. Greenberg’s three children’s books that are being published simultaneously. Mr. Greenberg is a single parent of two small children and has a special place in his heart for the loving families who open up their homes for foster and adopted children.

I’m Adopted, You’re Adopted: Welcome to God’s Family. Susan Davis. 2007. 80p. Autumn House Publishing. Teach a child about adoption, joy, and the importance of belonging. The adoption metaphor reaches us all for we have all been adopted into the family of God.

Is That Your Sister?: A True Story of Adoption. Sherry & Catherine Bunin. Illustrated by Sheila Kelly Welch. 1992. Reprint of 1976 edition. Pantheon. Six-year-old Catherine tells, in her own words, what it is like to be adopted. She talks about the questions that her friends have asked and how she has answered them. Since she is a member of a multiracial family, many of the questions center on her physical appearance. With its matter-of-fact tone, Is That Your Sister? is a perfect book for the child who is beginning to ask, and be asked, questions about adoption.

Issues in Adoption. William Dudley. 2004. 144p. (YA). Greenhaven Press. One in the “Current Controversies” series on social and political issues designed to present all sides of an issue, this edition provides 30 essays about adoption. Opposing viewpoints are presented on issues such as: Should adoption be encouraged? Does America’s adoption system need more government regulation? Should adoptees be given open access to personal information? And should adoptions by gays and lesbians be permitted? Current writers from a variety of sources, including only one adoptee, weigh in with their opinions. This is an excellent method for studying issues in political science and social studies classes and one that should be available to anyone considering adoption. There is rarely one side to any story and providing information both pro and con encourages critical thinking on any issue. While the experts have spoken, it would have been helpful to hear more from adoptees and their families.

Issues in Adoption. Julia Bauder. 2009. 202p. (Current Controversies). (YA). Greenhaven Press. Each anthology in the series is composed of a wide spectrum of primary sources written by many of the foremost authorities in their respective fields. This unique approach provides students with a concise view of divergent opinions on each topic. Extensive book and periodical bibliographies and a list of organizations to contact are also included. Table of Contents: Chapter 1: Do Adoptions Need More Regulation?; Chapter 2: What Risks and Benefits May Accompany International Adoptions?; Chapter 3: Should Adoptive and Birth Families Be Allowed Contact with Each Other?; Chapter 4: What Issues Are Involved in Nontraditional Adoptions?

It’s Okay to Be Different. Todd Parr. Illustrated by the author. 2001. 32p. Megan Tingley. Featuring Todd Parr’s trademark bold, bright colors and silly scenes, this book embraces difference in a unique way. Deceptively simple in appearance, It’s Okay to Be Different cleverly delivers its important messages of acceptance, understanding, and confidence in a child-friendly package.

It’s Time to Let You Know. Beth Riedler. 1996. 36p. Honor Books. Those who have been adopted are often left with the burning question—why? It’s Time to Let You Know, written by a birth mother, is the heartfelt story of her love for her child. The beautiful illustrations were drawn by students to match their feelings for each line of the book. This unique book will aid your child in understanding a birth mother’s feelings about her difficult decision to place a baby for adoption.

Jim Limber Davis: A Black Orphan in the Confederate White House. Rickey Pittman. Illustrated by Judith Hierstein. 2007. 32p. (gr ps-3). Pelican Publishing Co. From School Library Journal: This is a heartbreaking tale of a free black orphan boy adopted by Jefferson Davis and his family. After Davis was arrested by the Union army, Jim was kidnapped and taken to the North as an unwilling example of the cruelties meted out by Davis to the boy. One illustration shows Jim exposing his welt-covered back to shocked Northerners. In reality, his scars were not from the beatings suffered under the Confederate president, but from the boy’s uncle. Pittman does a terrific job of capturing readers’ interest, but there are concerns about this title. First of all, thoughts and feelings, which cannot be known, are ubiquitous. When Jim’s adopted brother dies after a fall, the text reads, “These were sad days for the Davis family, but especially for Jim because he loved Joe so much.” Surely Mrs. Davis would have had her own particular, undeniable, maternal grief. There is so much speculation and filling in of unknown blanks. Large, average-quality illustrations evoke the author’s sympathetic views toward the Davis family and the Confederacy. Without source notes, readers should view this story as fiction, not biography. The mystery of what happened to young Jim remains unknown. Davis searched for him after the Civil War, but never found him. Despite the above concerns, it is a worthy tale for young students. — Anne Chapman Callaghan, Racine Public Library, WI; © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. About the Authors: Rickey E. Pittman 1998 grand prize winner of the prestigious Ernest Hemingway Short Story Competition, is an active member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. He is also a Civil War reenactor, a public speaker on issues and topics related to the War Between the States, and a musician who travels and performs original and Civil War-period music. The inspiration to write Jim Limber Davis: A Black Orphan in the Confederate White House came from a chance discovery of Jim Limber Davis’s existence. Pittman proceeded with the encouragement of friends and the desire to provide reading audiences with an “accurate book written from a Southern perspective” among “the politically driven, and often historically inaccurate materials currently available on the Civil War.” Born in 1952 in Dallas, Texas, Pittman earned a bachelor’s degree in New Testament Greek and a master’s degree in English from Abilene Christian University. His prolific writing career took off after graduation; he produced numerous plays, works of nonfiction, collections of poetry, and short stories. After moving to Monroe, Louisiana, Pittman was added to the Louisiana Roster of Artists in 1998. Working closely with regional art councils, he was commissioned to write historical plays for Franklin and Madison Parishes. Pittman lives with his wife in Bastrop, Louisiana, where he teaches English at Bastrop High School and freshman composition at the University of Louisiana at Monroe. He is the proud father of two and grandfather of one. An enthusiast of many types of music, he is also a singer, guitarist, and songwriter for Angus Doubhghall, a local Scots-Irish band. Judith Hierstein believes that “pictures should begin where the written word ends.” She encourages children to share in her love of learning about other cultures through illustrated books. Ms. Hierstein holds a B.A. in art from the University of Iowa. A former elementary-school teacher, she now teaches high-school graphic and media arts. She sees digital art as “another exciting media to explore when illustrating for children.” Aside from teaching and learning,Hierstein has also illustrated a number of children’s books for Pelican Publishing. Ms. Hierstein resides in Tucson, AZ.

Just the Two of Us. Will Smith, Floyd Coope & Jon J Muth. Illustrated by Kadir Nelson. 2001. 32p. (gr ps-3). Scholastic. Will Smith lends the lyrics of his hit single to a remarkable new picture book. Gorgeous pencil and oil illustrations by Kadir Nelson follow a father and son relationship through three stages of life: from newborn, to young child, to young man. Will Smith’s song is a call to all fathers to teach their children the values of dignity, integrity, and honor. But above all, it is a song of love.

Karli’s Kritters. Jan Cammarata. 2009. 24p. (gr ps-3). AuthorHouse. Karli feels lucky because she shares her life with the wonderful dogs and cats that her mother has rescued. Mom feels even luckier because she, in a very personal way, has been rescued by her daughter, Karli, whom she adopted from Guatemala. Karli’s real life photographs and experiences are revealed in this children’s book.

Kids Need to Be Safe: A Book For Children in Foster Care. Julie Nelson. Illustrated by Mary Gallagher. 2005. 32p. (gr ps-3). Free Spirit Publishing. Kids are important. They need safe places to live, and safe places to play. For some kids, this means living with foster parents. In simple words and full-color illustrations, this book explains why some kids move to foster homes, what foster parents do, and ways kids might feel during foster care. Children often believe that they are in foster care because they are “bad.” This book makes it clear that the troubles in their lives are not their fault; the message throughout is one of hope and support. Includes resources and information for parents, foster parents, social workers, counselors, and teachers.

Kids Still Having Kids: People Talk About Teen Pregnancy. Janet Bode. Illustrated by Stan Mack. 1992. 191p. (gr 7-up). Franklin Watts. Presents interviews with teenage mothers and provides information about adoption, parenting, abortion, and foster care.

Kindertransport. Olga Levy Drucker. 1992. 146p. (gr. 4-7). Henry Holt & Company. An autobiographical account—compelling in its authentic details—of the author’s WW II years as a Jewish refugee in England. Beginning in 1932 with a vignette of her family of four and their servants moving into the fine Stuttgart house her father (a children’s book publisher) built for his family, Drucker briefly reviews the mounting restrictions of the prewar years on her family before focusing on the six years after her escape, in 1939, as one of 10,000 children shipped to Britain. Her hosts were various: she moved from a miserable first accommodation, where she picked up lice, to the home of wealthy family friends, who never quite made her feel welcome; a fairly satisfactory boarding school, closed for lack of students, was followed by a stay with a dogmatically Christian couple. Eventually, after leaving school at 16, “Ollie” was happier as a live-in nursemaid for a warmhearted family until she could join her parents, after the war, in New York. Drucker enlivens her straightforward narrative with reconstructed conversations; she makes the horrors (what was happening in Germany and her troubles in England, in many ways like those of present-day foster care) clear without dwelling on them. A fine addition to the many other remembrances of the period. — Kirkus Reviews, 11/15/92; Copyright © 1992, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Let’s Talk About Adoption. Diana Star Helmer. 1999. Rosen Publishing Group. Being adopted often has a stigma. Learning about how and why people adopt children will inform your students about this sometimes confusing and upsetting topic. Whether the reader has been adopted, or his sibling or friend has been adopted, he will fully understand that adoption is a wonderful choice and that an adopted child is a loved child.

Let’s Talk About Foster Homes. Elizabeth Weitzman. 1997. 24p. (gr ps-3). PowerKids Press. Explains why one goes to a foster home, who foster parents are, what to do if things don’t work out, and other matters regarding foster care.

Let’s Talk About It: Adoption. Fred Rogers. Photos by Jum Judkis. 1995. 32p. Putnam Pub Group. To be in a family is to belong, but children who are adopted may have some confusing feelings about what that means. In Let ’s Talk About It: Adoption, Mister Rogers confronts, with sensitivity and insight, the questions children have about being adopted. He describes the many ways that children feel close to their families—celebrating special occasions, doing everyday activities, and spending quiet moments together. In his characteristically reassuring tone, Mister Rogers shares an important message—the secure feeling of belonging in a family comes from being loved.

Life’s Lessons From a Father to His Daughter. Bob Grossmann. 2003. 100p. Trafford Publishing. Life’s Lessons From a Father to His Daughter uses twenty-four stories, pictures and artwork to help teach our children life’s lessons with the aim of helping our children learn to make good decision-making skills. Decision-making skills are often not well taught or integrated into a strong sense of personal philosophy. Human nature can be impulsive. The use of stories (real life or metaphors) to pass on life lessons from one generation to another is at the core of our oral and written traditions. Parents can help to pass on this information as a creative way to install core values, help reduce the chance of mishap, and enhance lifelong success. Part of the challenge is establishing a dialogue that allows worldviews to be discussed: both the commonalties and the differences. Perhaps part of the failure to achieve a sustained dialogue is that we as parents wait too long to start the dialogue. Part of the challenge, too, is that the lessons have different levels of meaning as we age. So Life’s Lessons from a Father to his Daughter was written to have meaning at the different stages of life: in one’s mid-teens, mid-twenties, and again in mid-life. Value exists in the stories being real. Non-fiction can carry more weight. Children need to learn early that their parents continue to go through what they are experiencing. We, too, make mistakes, that we try and fail, and we are both individuals and members of larger communities. All the increasing access to information may not make decision-making easier. Greater discrimination and better choices will be essential. So, read the vignettes with your children and see where the discussion goes. Be sure to have afew good laughs along the way! Life’s Lessons from a Father to his Daughter is a tool to help parents communicate with their children by providing a context for parents to add their own personal stories. About the Author: Bob Grossmann is a local artist and writer in Honolulu, Hawaii. Dr. Grossmann received his doctorate degree from the University of Hawaii in political science and currently is raising funds to sponsor after school art programs for intermediate and high school students. He has lived and worked in France, Italy, the Philippines, the United Kingdom, and West Africa. His policy work and writing stresses the need for teaching decision-making skills that are based on the development of a strong personal philosophy. Dr. Grossmann’s twenty years of teaching and community service, primarily in the area of public health and biological resources, has incorporated community empowerment, ethics and social responsibility. His life’s experiences shared through the book’s stories share a broad cultural viewpoint. He is married to Dr. Geri Marullo, who was the CEO of the American Nurses Association in Washington, D.C. and currently serves as the President & CEO of Child and Family Service (a private, non-profit human service organization in Hawaii). Our greatest gift was the adoption of our daughter, Maya Makana, in 1993. She is an aspiring marine biologist and veterinarian.

Look Through My Window. Jean Little. Illustrated by Joan Sandin. 1970. 258p. (YA). HarperCollins. Young adult novel about the hurts and the doubts, the excitement and the joy of true friendship. Emily, an only child, moves to an 18-room house so that her 4 cousins can come and live with them. Life for Emily is never the same again.

Look Who’s Adopted. Michael S Taheri and James F Orr. 1997. Look Who’s Adopted talks about some of the many famous people who were adopted, from President Ford to Greg Louganis. More importantly, it talks about the many possible work experiences and community activities available for your child. Wendell Rabbit, the turtle who narrates this book, shares the important message that being adopted does not limit a child’s potential or lessen his or her responsibilities as a person. This delightful book invites your child to look forward to the future.

Mama for Owen, A. Marion Dane Bauer. Illustrated by John Butler. 2007. 32p. (gr 3-6). Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing. The touching and true story of Owen, a baby hippo, who lives in Kenya, and who was orphaned by the 2004 tsunami. He attached himself to Mzee, a 130-year-old Giant Tortoise, and, hard as it is to believe, the old tortoise seemed to adopt him. They became close friends.

Maybe Days: A Book For Children in Foster Care. Jennifer Wilgocki & Marcia Kahn Wright. Illustrated by Alissa Imre Geis. 2002. 32p. (gr ps-3). Magination Press. Maybe Days is a straightforward look at the issues of foster care, the questions that kids ask, and the feelings they confront. An excellent primer for the young child going into foster care, this book also explains in kid terms the responsibilities of everyone involved: parents, foster parents, social workers, lawyers and judges. As for the kids themselves, their job is to be a kid, and there’s no maybe about that.

Mine For a Year. Susan Kuklin. Illustrated with Photographs by the Author. 1984. 77p. (gr 3-7). Coward-McCann. the true story of George, twelve-year-old boy in foster care who may soon go blind who lovingly raises a puppy who will one day become a guide dog that helps another blind person.

Mommy, Did I Grow in Your Tummy?: Where Some Babies Come From. Elaine R Gordon. Illustrated by Kathy Clo. 1992. 28p. (gr ps-6). Greenwood Press. This book is written for children so that they might better understand and respect the increasingly different ways that families can grow and come to be. It explains, in simple language, various options such as in vitro fertilization, using egg or sperm donors, surrogacy, and adoption. Mommy, Did I Grow in Your Tummy? shows children the positive results of these options—a new baby in the family.

My Adopted Child, There’s No One Like You. Dr. Kevin Leman. Illustrated by Kevin Leman II. 2007. 32p. (gr ps-3). Revell. Every child is special. And every child deserves to be recognized for what makes him or her unique. Now birth order guru, Dr. Kevin Leman, and his artist son, Kevin Leman II, offer parents the perfect way to tell their adopted child just how wonderful he or she is. A read-to-me children’s picture book, My Adopted Child, There’s No One Like You conveys love, acceptance, and a sense of individuality to adopted children. The combination of Dr. Kevin Leman’s trademark humor and his talented son’s artwork makes this book a wonderful gift.

My Adoption Celebration: My Daily Journal. Karen Jean Matsko Hood. 2005. 128p. Whispering Pines Press. Capture the memories of a child’s adoption with My Adoption Celebration Journal! Filled with pages for recording this special time, it will remain a vital part of your family for years to come! Whispering Pine Press, Inc. © 2005.

My Adoption Workbook. Theresa McCoy. 1993. 56p. (gr 1-9). Adoption World Specialties, Ltd. This kid-friendly workbook will help prepare the older child for adoption. Inviting and easy-to-follow, My Adoption Workbook guides both the social worker and the child through each step of the adoption process. Explanations and hands-on activities help to answer questions; explore hidden fears or fantasies; work through abuse, trust and love issues; build self-esteem; and prepare the child to handle new experiences and adjustments. This book is a must for older children being adopted.

My Family, My Journey: A Memory Book. Zoe Francesca. Illustrated by Susie Ghahremani. 2007. 48p. (gr ps-6). Chronicle Books. For the growing audience of adoptive families, Chronicle Books is proud to offer a baby book that suits the wide array of experiences and choices that bring a family and their new child together. This lovely keepsake album contains sections to record all the joyful milestones and cherished family moments that mark a new baby’s life, pages to chart the adopted child’s unique journey, as well as a sturdy pocket in which to store important documents and memorabilia. Inside the pocket are over 60 stickers you can use to customize the family tree pages. As the pages of the journal fill with memories, My Family, My Journey will stand as a lasting testament of love for the entire family.

My Foster Care Journey. Beth O’Malley. 2000. 26p. (gr ps-5). Adoption-Works. What a wonderful way for a child to record and remember the events before he or she was adopted or reunited with the birth family. There are fill-in-the-blank pages to record information about birthparents, foster care (with room for multiple placements), adoption or reunification memories, and, of course,“all about me.” Pages that are not relevant can easily be removed. In addition, this book contains a simple explanation of the whys and hows of foster care. Every child passing through placement deserves the gift of My Foster Care Journey. About the Author: Beth O’Malley spent her first five months in foster care before entering her family by adoption.“Adoption has been a driving force in my life,” says O’Malley. As an adoption social worker, Beth has made countless LifeBooks with children in foster care. LifeBooks are an essential tool for helping foster/adopted children connect with their past which frees them for future relationships. She lives by the ocean in Winthrop, MA, with her husband and dog, Jade.

My Foster Family: A Story for Children Entering Foster Care. Jennifer Levine. 1993. (gr k-5). CWLA. My Foster Family is a special children’s coloring book that offers young children entering foster care the opportunity to explore their feelings and to adjust to the foster care system. Intended for young children who are being placed in foster care for the first time, it provides a gentle and thoughtful description of both the logistical and emotional changes that a young child is likely to face. Useful at any stage of the foster care placement process, My Foster Family employs the familiar coloring-book format as a safe and supportive tool to help children share their deepest fears and concerns upon entering foster care.

My Life & Me. Jean Camis. 2002. 122p. British Association for Adoption & Fostering (UK). For children separated from their birth families, life story work is one way of filling in the gaps about their lives and gives children a structured and understandable way of talking about themselves. My Life and Me provides a much-needed template to help children separated from their family of origin develop and record an accurate knowledge of their past and their family. Once completed, the book will provide them with a permanent record which they, and with their permission, the adults caring for them, can refer to at any time and which the child can carry with them through life. This durable and comprehensive workbook can be used flexibly by any child, including children with special needs and children adopted from abroad. Colour-coded sections include space for drawings, photographs, documents and a record of feelings and thoughts at various stages in the child’s life. My Life and Me starts with “A Photograph of Me”. It is then divided into the following sections: Things I know about myself; My health; My birth family; Contact with my birth parents; Special memories; My schools; My disability; The country where I was born. Separate practice guidelines will help social workers, foster carers, adoptive parents and others undertaking direct work with children to understand the background and significance of completing the various sections of the book.

My Life Book: Chosen to Be Loved. Robbin Hatten & Bobby Joe Reichel. 98p. 2004. Being a foster parent herself, Robbin put this memory book together to help Foster and soon-to-be-adopted children capture the memories of their lives. Features 100 developmentally appropriate pages, making it easy to record a child’s development, important information, and events. The book is simple to use for foster parents and has ample space to track growing up years, that otherwise may be lost, including room for photos. Also includes extra pages at the back to record “special events” that may occur while living in a given home.

My Parents Love Me Too!. Stacie H Cahill. Illustrated by Jacob Cahill. 2005. 26p. Xlibris Corp. Do you have both biological and adopted children in your life? If so,this book will be a great addition for your collection!My Parents Love Me Too!, is intended for the biological child who may feel lost in the celebration of adoption.He/she must know that they are also special and loved. Stacie Cahill designed this book to help the child understand that they are just as important as their adopted siblings. Biological children will feel more secure with the addition of adopted siblings,after reading this unique new book! Jacob Cahill,the author´s son, is a curious nine year old who illustrated this book from the biological child´s perspective. He is a protective big brother and loves his adopted sisters, Chelsea and Brooklynn, with all of his heart! Jacob wants biological children everywhere to celebrate their own very special birth. By the Same Author: I Know Who I Am!, Who Am I?, and Victory in the Void.

My Parents Picked Me: A First Look at Adoption (a/k/a My New Family: A First Look at Adoption). Pat Thomas. Illustrated by Leslie Harker. 32p. 2003. (gr 1 up). Hodder Children’s Books. This book stresses the positive aspects to adoption—quite rightly. Here, birth parents are seen as having given something very special: life. And the adoptive parents have given a home and family and much-needed love. The book is also honest in the kinds of questions that adopted children can have: are they second best, why did their birth parents have them adopted, why don’t they know more about their birth parents? These are tackled within the possible parameters of knowledge and no easy answers are given. The warm, soft-coloured illustrations with lots of reassuring rounded curves, show us different kinds of families. There is a page of advice for parents, a list of further reading, and a list of agencies having to do with fostering and adoption. A good resource for starting in-depth discussion about adoption in families.

My Special Care Scrapbook: A Special Scrapbook for Adopted Children. Karen Jean Motsko Hood. 2004. Whispering Pine Press. Capture delightful memories of your children’s life with this special scrapbook. Decorate these pages with treasured photos; include awards, stickers, favorite stories and school memories. Your children will really enjoy helping create special memories.

My Special Someone. Brittany & Sherry Kyle. 2003. 32p. (gr ps-3). My Special Someone is a beautiful full-color book written and illustrated by a 6-year old. Brittany tells how her family adopted a baby sister into their family and describes the process from a child’s point of view. Each book includes a bookmark with suggestions for bonding moments with your child. There is a section in the back of the book which provides some of the questions you can ask your child to discuss adoption as well as how the child feels about having a new sibling in the family.

Never Never Never Will She Stop Loving You. Jolene Durrant. Photographs by Steve Allred. 1998. 32p. (gr ps-3). JoBiz! Inc. Thousands of readers enjoyed the original story! This revised edition combines the original children’s book with an eight-page guide for adults, including adoptive parents, birth parents, and the general public. Written by an adoptive parent, this true story lovingly connects birth mom and child while stressing the importance of the adoptive parents. “...Wherever you are Annie’s Child, she loved you before you were born. She loves you now. Never, never, never will she stop loving you.” Illustrations for the text are a combination of drawings by adopted children and photographs. Both text and illustrations are a chocolate colored ink on cream paper. About the Author: Jolene Durrant is an adoptive parent and a former elementary school teacher. Annie, the young woman in the story, was Durrant’s foster daughter during Annie’s pregnancy.

On the Day You Were Born. Debra Frasier. Illustrated by the author. 1991. 32p. (gr ps-5). Harcourt Brace. Every child loves to hear the story of how he or she came into the world, but usually very little attention is paid to how the world was in that magical moment. For any family who feels a special connection to nature and the flow of life, On the Day You Were Born will help baby understand how each of us is received not just by our family, but by the universe and its gentle ways. The simple, bright pictures in Debra Frasier’s book recall Matisse, and they won the book a Parents’ Choice Award for illustration. In the final pages, each illustration and theme in the book (migrating animals, gravity, glowing moon, rising tide, etc.) is explained in simple and direct language that can be used to teach older children how nature works on our planet, and how Earth works in the universe.

Orphan Train Rider: One Boy’s True Story. Andrea Warren. 1996. (gr 3-5). Houghton Mifflin. Discusses the placement of over 200,000 orphaned or abandoned children in homes throughout the Midwest from 1854 to 1929 by recounting the story of one boy and his brothers.

Orphan Trains, The. Alice K Flanagan. 2006. 48p. (We the People Series). (gr 4-7). Compass Point Books. Learn about the homeless city children who were taken out West to have new homes in the early 1900s. Contents: An orphan’s story; Poor working-class families; New York’s homeless children; How the orphan trains began; Who rode the orphan trains?; Finding homes for orphans; The baby trains; The end of the orphan trains.

Orphan Trains, The: Leaving the Cities Behind. Jeanne Munn Bracken, ed. 1997. 60p. Discovery Enterprises, Ltd. Stories of some of the orphans “placed out” from Eastern cities, mostly into the American heartland—who they were, why they went, and what happened to them.

Orphan Trains: Researching American History. Jeanne Munn Bracken & Joanne Weisman Deitch, eds. 2002. 52p. (gr 4-7). Discovery Enterprises, Ltd. Researching American History is a series of books introducing various topics in our nation’s history through the study of primary source documents. This anthology includes several of the orphans’ letters, memoirs, agents’ first-hand accounts of the “placing out” system, ads for finding homes for the children, indenture and adoption papers, and a section of document based questions for students.

Our Baby: A Birth & Adoption Story. Janice Koch. Illustrated by Patricia Goldberg. 1985. rev ed. 27p. (gr ps-2). Perspectives Press. Every child wants to know the facts of life. This book is more than just a first sex education book. It also acknowledges that the adopted child needs additional information on how he or she joined the family. There is space for the parent to write in a short, personalized account of the child’s arrival home. Oor Baby: A Birth and Adoption Story belongs in the library of every young child.

Photo Story, Jr. 15p. What a great project for you and your child to do together! With Photo Story, Jr., you can create a full-color, hardbound book of memories that he or she can look back on for years to come. Using the included stickers, markers, phototape, and paper, simply assemble photographs and text of your choice. When you’re finished, mail the completed materials in the postpaid envelope (along with a $3.95 shipping fee) and, in a few weeks, you’ll receive the finished book for you and your child to read and enjoy.

Pieces of Me: Who Do I Want to Be?: Voices for & by Adopted Teens. Robert L Ballard, ed. 2009. 176p. (YA). EMK Press. Pieces of Me: Who do I Want to Be? is a collection of stories, poems, art, music, quotes, activities, provocative questions, and more all for the young adopted person who wants to figure out his or her story but doesn’t know where to begin. A submission-based book with over 100 different pieces, this book was designed for the teen who happens to be adopted, but it will reach all those who live, love, and work with them. It is a book of voices, from ages 11 to 63, speaking honestly and authentically about what it means to be adopted. Most are adoptees from around the world; some are transracial, some are international, some are from foster care, some are young, some are old. There are a few adoptive parents, birth parents, and professionals who share themselves in here as well. It is a series of experiences, expressions, feelings, hurts, hopes, dreams, and struggles from a wide range of individuals. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry, some will make you happy, some will make you feel less alone, some will offer advice, and some will just share. All of them are figuring out where the “Pieces of Me” fit in with “Who I Want to Be.” Organized around the idea of putting a puzzle together, there are five major sections: 1. Gathering the Pieces; 2. Stolen Pieces; 3. Fitting the Pieces; 4.Sharing the Pieces; and, 5. Where do These Pieces Go?—all offering hope, encouragement, empowerment, and a sense of not being alone. Although it was conceived for the young adopted person, there are universal themes of healing, hope, and struggle all of us can resonate with. And if you are a parent, birth parent, or professional who works with adopted and foster kids, you will find a glimpse into their world, a place that you might not often be invited to share. This book has hands on activities for teens including t-shirts, sock bunnies, collage and postcards. There are thought provoking questions and places to doodle and think. Reading this book is not just for teens. Others who might read this include social workers who work with pre and post adoptive parents, teen group coordinators, therapists who work with the teen population, school counselors, pre and post adoptive parents, relatives and friends. About the Editor: Pieces of Me is edited by Robert L. Bert Ballard, Ph.D., an Operation Babylift adoptee from Vietnam, who wishes he had this book as a teen to know he wasn’t alone and what he was feeling was normal. He was evacuated from Vietnam in April 1975 at the end of the Vietnam War. His passion is the adoptee voice. He has helped co-found two adoptee organizations and has served on a variety of boards for adoption. He is a sought-after speaker for both adoptive parents and adoptees having given hundreds of presentations across the nation. He is also widely published on adoption, in magazines, popular books, and academic journals. Pieces of Me: Who Do I Want to Be? and it is a compilation he edited specifically for adopted teens. It has also been used by therapists and parents as an authentic voice of adoptees. He is currently an assistant professor at the University of Waterloo in Waterloo, Ontario in the Department of Drama and Speech Communication as well as the Associate Chair/Undergraduate Advisor SPCOM where he teaches courses on interpersonal communication, communication ethics, and organizational communication. He researches international and transracial adoptee and adoptive family identity, communication ethics, and race. He is married with two daughters and is awaiting a referral for his adoptive son from Vietnam.

Ray-Ray’s Dream. Barbara Massine. Illustrated by the author. 2002. 28p. (gr ps-3). Lovegifts Publishing. Ray-Ray’s Dream is based on the true story of a little boy named Raymond. Raymond was born addicted to alcohol and several illegal drugs, as well as being diagnosed with full-flown AIDS. With no one to care for him, Raymond was abandoned into the foster care system and not knowing anything else, waited to die. That is until he met that one special woman. She taught Ray-Ray how to have a fuller, happier life without feeling sickly all the time. He learned to love and he now knew what it meant to be loved. Raymond died on April 16, 1994. Before he died he talked of a camp, he called Camp Ray-Ray. His mommy started this camp and opened on May 1995 in the beautiful Colorado Rocky Mountains. This camp believes in making children feel special, and letting children live life to the fullest. Included in the back of this heart-wrenching and inspirational book are organizations and information resources for those interested in making donations, or for looking into what the organization does for help children. — Jennifer LB Leese

Real Me, The: A Teen Lifebook for Young Adults in Foster Care or Adoption. Theresa L McCoy, BSW & Donna Barnes. 2002. 27p. Adoption World Specialties, Ltd. With style and simplicity, The Real Me offers teenage adoptees and foster kids a place for information that’s all about them. With exercises and topics that are inviting, thought provoking and therapeutic, this book helps teens to explore and document the many sides of their personality as well as their past connections, present status, feelings, strengths and weaknesses, hopes and plans, and much more. A title page and spine insert are included to place under a clear vinyl binder cover (binder not included).

She Loves ME!. Karen Denise Wilkinson Pergerson. Photographs by the Author. 2008. 52p. (gr ps-3). AuthorHouse. Karen wrote this book to show how important both sides of adoption are. Adoptive parents do not exist with out a birth mother (parents). This book was written for Karen’s daughter, Kayleena, to let her know how very much she was wanted and loved before anyone ever knew that she existed! Written for children and adults, this book takes us on the journey of the adoptive parents search for a baby. The book depicts the wondrous love that birth mothers have for the precious children that they so lovingly entrust to another family to raise. The love of a birth parent is unending and forever. In this story the birth mother shows courage, love, and commitment to her new birth baby through her decision to give her to a new family. Karen’s hope is that this book will assist other children who have been adopted to understand how much they are loved by both birth and adoptive parents. All photographs were captured by the author. About the Author: Karen Denise Wilkinson Pergerson is a Florida native who holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary and Early Childhood Education. She is the owner of Angels Unique, LLC, and works as the Assistant Director advocating for the rights of adults with Developmental Disabilities. She has a wonderful husband and three beautiful, active children. Her top priorities are family time, homeschooling, geneology, and keeping up with her kids! She is a creative individual who enjoys reading, writing poetry, scrapbooking, photography, baking and swimming. She is an advocate for both Pro Life and Adoption. Her belief that God is real and Jesus Christ her personal Savior help her to balance her life and live it respectfully. She has had a desire to write children’s books for as long as she can remember and is enthusiastic about seeing her books available to the public.

Snowflakes: A Flurry of Adoption Stories by, for & about Children & Teens. Teresa Kelleher, with Katie Flake & Paul Kelleher-Smith. Il;lustrated by Mora Kelleher-Smith. 2010. 288p. Tender Loving Communications, Wyatt-MacKenzie. This collection of stories is a great overview for everyone who has a connection with adoption and for everyone who wants to learn about adoption. It gives insights from the perspective of children and teens as well as other family members. The book allows you a peek into life before, during and after adoption: the happy, the sad, the challenging, and the delightful. It’s unique because it tells about adoption from the viewpoint of children and teens who have been adopted.

Talking About Family. Gina Rose Ortiz, Lynn Barker, & Karen Willson, eds. 2001. 224p. (gr 4-7). Prima Publishing. Growing up a girl in this world can be tough. Every day brings with it new decisions, distractions, issues, and changes—and that’s just when things are going well! Sometimes a girl’s best resources are the thoughts and ideas of her peers—the gospel of girls who have been there and done that. In Talking About Family, the team of volunteer girl editors at A Girl’s World Productions, Inc., along with girls from around the world, shares its thoughts on family life. Interactive and filled with compassionate, insightful, and realistic advice, this for-girls, by-girls book will help tweens and pre-teens realize that they’re not alone and that they can take on the world. About the Author: AGirlsWorld.com includes more than 90 volunteer girl editors from around the world who offer contemporary and family-friendly advice for girls. Visit their popular interactive Web site run by A Girl’s World Productions, Inc.

Teen Pregnancy. Patrice Cassidy. 2002. Lucent Books. What is the problem with teen pregnancy and how should it be addressed? Teen pregnancy rates are declining, but education solutions (abstinence versus birth control) and the legality of abortion are still hotly debated. Meanwhile, teens struggle to make sexual decisions in the face of conflicting media messages.

Teenage Pregnancy. Mary Nolan. 2002. 56p. (Just the Facts). (gr 6-8). Heinemann Library (UK). What do you know about pregnancy? Why is it hard to be a teenager parent? How can you find out if you are pregnant? What harm can drugs do to an unborn baby? This book examines the issues surrounding teenage pregnancy. Get the facts about the many challenges facing teens when they find out that they will be parents, and the choices that they might have to make. Find out about the stages of pregnancy and the support that health professionals can provide before and after a baby is born. Learn about society’s views on teenage pregnancy by reading about real teenagers who have been pregnant. Finally, learn about the legal issues involved with pregnancy, and find out where help and information can be found. Just the Facts is a powerful, hard-hitting series that presents the real facts about the difficult choices teenagers face. The books examine the myths that surround topics such as drug use, disease, body image, and pregnancy to get at the reality of dangers. Each book in the series presents and defines the issues and offers first-hand accounts to give a true picture of the life of someone who uses the drug or has the condition.

This is Me: Memories to Gather & Keep. Susan L Pierce. 1999. 82p. Adoption Option Memory Books. Finally a memory book for children who are adopted. With a high quality padded cover, this book looks like a traditional baby book—it has all the traditional baby book pages—with a new twist—pages for adoption related information! The design of the binding (not a three-ring binder!) allows you to tailor the book to your unique situation—removing pages as needed. Appropriate for traditional or non-traditional families and infant or older children—treasured by all!

Three Little Words: A Memoir. Ashley Rhodes-Courter. 2008. 304p. Atheneum. “Sunshine, you’re my baby and I’m your only mother. You must mind the one taking care of you, but she’s not your mama.” Ashley Rhodes-Courter spent nine years of her life in fourteen different foster homes, living by those words. As her mother spirals out of control, Ashley is left clinging to an unpredictable, dissolving relationship, all the while getting pulled deeper and deeper into the foster care system. Painful memories of being taken away from her home quickly become consumed by real-life horrors, where Ashley is juggled between caseworkers, shuffled from school to school, and forced to endure manipulative,humiliating treatment from a very abusive foster family. In this inspiring, unforgettable memoir, Ashley finds the courage to succeed - and in doing so, discovers the power of her own voice. About the Author: Ashley Rhodes-Courter wrote this book as a way to piece together the puzzle of her past and also to thank those who step up for child welfare issues every day. An advocate for adoption and foster care reform, twenty-two-year-old Ashley has been featured in Teen People, Glamour, and USA Today. This memoir began as an essay, also titled “Three Little Words,” which won a writing contest for students, and ran in New York Times Magazine. Ashley lives in Florida and is a recent graduate from Eckerd College.

Twice-Upon-a-Time: Born & Adopted. Eleanora Patterson. Illustrated by Barbara Ernst Prey. 1988. 48p. (gr ps-4). Ep Press. Twice-Upon-A-Time is a unique adoption resource for young children, 3-8 years, and their families. Conception, birth and curiosity about birth parents are discussed as part of adopted children’s stories. The book encompasses diverse adoption experiences using a text and line drawings that are simple, direct and affirming.

Victory in the Void. Stacie H Cahill. 2006. 61p. Xlibris. In this interactive new book, Stacie Cahill shows teenagers and young adults how to overcome the void in life and how to cope with feelings that may cause pain during the growing up years. The reader will become involved in the book by answering a series of questions concerning personal issues and adoption. The questions will guide adoptees as they conquer identity issues that are so common during young adult years. This inspiring book is designed to encourage adoptees by boosting confidence and raising self awareness, both of which are necessary components in the development of a healthy identity. By the Same Author: I Know Who I Am!, My Parenst Love Me Too!, and Who Am I?.

We Are Adopted. Jennifer Moore-Malinos. Illustrated by Marta Fabrega. 2007. (Let’s Talk About It Books). 36p. (gr ps-3). Barrona’s Educational Series. A little girl is very excited because now she has a baby brother—an adopted baby brother. A few years earlier, she too had been adopted. Like the children in this story, adopted kids learn that their adoptive parents wanted them very much, and love them very dearly. As preschool and early-grades children read these illustrated “What Do You Know About?” books, or have them read to them, they will be encouraged to explore their own feelings about problems that might be bothering them, or to find answers to a wide array of questions that puzzle them. The books have appealing color illustrations on every page, and each title features a short section of advice to parents. What Do You Know About? Books are available in both English and Spanish language editions.

We Belong Together: A Book About Adoption & Families. Todd Parr. 2007. 32p. (gr ps-3). Little, Brown Young Readers. From Booklist: Popular author/illustrator Parr illustrates the rewards of family ties in this heartfelt, supportive book geared toward adopted children and their parents. In each double-page spread, Parr completes the phrase “We belong together because...” with poignant explanations that touch upon basic, tangible needs (“You needed a home ... and I had one to share”) as well as emotional ones: “You needed someone to say ‘I love you’ ... and we had love to give. Now we all have someone to kiss goodnight.” As in Parr’s The Family Book (2003), cheerful, friendly artwork, with thickly outlined forms and characters and a bold rainbow palette, inclusively depicts an array of children and families—including one with a single parent and one with two dads—and emphasizes the rewards of adoption for adults and children alike. Apart from the subtitle, the text never uses the word adoption nor refers to the adoption process, keeping the focus squarely on the universal joys of sharing hearth and heart. — Shelle Rosenfeld

We Rode the Orphan Trains. Andrea Warren. 2001. 144p. (gr 4-7). Houghton Mifflin. They were throw away kids, living in the streets or in orphanages and foster homes. Then Charles Loring Brace, a young minister working with the poor in New York City, started the Children’s Aid Society and devised a plan to give homeless children a chance to find families to call their own. Thus began an extraordinary migration of American children. Between 1854 and 1929, an estimated 200,000 children, mostly from New York and other cities of the eastern United States, ventured forth to other states on a journey of hope. Andrea Warren has shared the stories of some of these orphan train riders here, including those of Betty, who found a fairy tale life in a grand hotel; Nettie Evans and her twin, Nellie, who were rescued from their first abusive placement and taken in by a new, kindhearted family who gave them the love they had hoped for; brothers Howard and Fred, who remained close even though they were adopted into different families; and Edith, who longed to know the secrets of her past. Listen to these and other child orphans as they share their memories of transition and adventure, disappointment and loneliness, but ultimately of the joy of belonging to their own new families. About the Author: Andrea Warren’s books about children are the result of her passion for history and her interest in young readers. She has been a professional writer for twenty years and works from her home office in the Kansas City area. Her first book for Houghton Mifflin, Orphan Train Rider, won the 1996 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for nonfiction.

Welcoming Babies. Margy Burns Knight. Illustrated by Anne S O’Brien. 1994. 40p. (gr ps up). Tillbury House. Everyone is fascinated by babies—parents, grandparents, siblings, even other babies. Welcoming Babies visits with people around the globe and looks at the diverse ways they treasure new life. Describes the different ways various cultures welcome newborns, including singing songs, special meals, prayers, naming ceremonies, baptism, gifts, announcements, and planting trees.

Were You Adopted? Barbara Quinn. 1970. 32p. Vantage Press.Were Your Adopted? is a book that should have been written long ago. There is a world of comfort in it. It has been written not only for the adopted child, his parents, grandparents and other relatives, but also to give non-adoptive families an insight into the true meaning of adoption. Were You Adopted? is suitable for all ages. — Dust Jacket Copy

What Are Parents?. Kyme & Susan Fox-Lee. Illustrated by Randy Jennings. 2004. 32p. (gr ps-3). StoryTyme Publishing. What Are Parents? is beautifully illustrated and uses playfully rhyming words to lead a child to discovering diversity while learning to accept their unique family. This book teaches children that there all types of families in this world; including families created by adoption, single parents and families with two mommies or two daddies. About the Authors: Kyme and Susan Fox-Lee have been partners for 15 years. They became a part of history in San Francisco by exchanging their vows in February 2004. The live and work in Northern California with the daughter and inspiration, Kami. They began writing her story to show her how special her family was and were inspired to share it with all types of families.

What Do I Do Now?: Talking About Teenage Pregnancy. Susan Kuklin. 1991. 179p. (gr 6 up). Putnam Pub. From School Library Journal: Kuklin interviewed teens and their families from many racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds, as well as medical and counseling personnel of organizations that assist those facing unplanned pregnancies. From these interviews and her observations of a Planned Parenthood unit, an adoption agency, a facility that performs abortions, and a hospital clinic, she presents in a clear and detailed style the pros and cons of options available to pregnant teens and their consequences. Some descriptions of procedures are graphic; accounts of the difficulties of those who kept their children and of those who opted for adoption also pull no punches. A particularly ugly episode relates the abuse and ostracism suffered by a teen who gave up her child. Kuklin is frank about her sympathies for the Planned Parenthood approach. Her experiences with pro-life groups are chronicled with negative connotations. She touches on a currently volatile issue about which she is uneasy—parental notification in teen abortions. Solid information, soberly presented, without moralization or strident activism. —Libby K. White, Schenectady County Public Library, NY. Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

What Do We Think About: Adoption?. Jillian Powell. 1999. 32p. Hodder & Stoughton (UK). Introducing children to the sensitive issues of adoption and fostering, this book, which is one of a series, aims to reassure and promote a positive attitude by explaining the “hows” and “whys.” Case histories are used to help the reader understand and empathise. An emphasis is placed, in this book, on adoption being something regular and normal, with the adoptive child as centre of a loving and caring family. The photographs are central to the book and often they tell the story as well as the text. Included are notes for teachers and a list of adresses to contact.

What Is Adoption?: Helping Non-Adopted Children Understand Adoption. Sofie Stergianis & Rita McDowall. Illustrated by Alicia Hough. 2006. 25p. (gr ps-5). Wisdon Press (Canada). What Is Adoption? answers that question in picture book format in ongoing discoveries between two friends, one who is adopted, and one who isn’t. This book helps adults explain and talk with children about adoption. Concepts covered in the book include: positive use of adoption language; families are formed in different ways; children are adopted in many different ways; possible reasons for adoption; privacy versey secrecy of adoption details; adoption does not define who you are as a person; and adoption is forever.

What Now?: Help for Pregnant Teens. Linda I Shands. 1999. 120p. InterVarsity Pres. This book is written from a “pro-life” perspective for teens who are unmarried and pregnant and who are struggling with such questions as whether to keep their baby, marrying, the role of parents, and living with their choices.

What to Do If You or Someone You Know Is Under 18 & Pregnant. Arlene Kramer Richards & Irene Willis. Drawings by Larry Stein; Photographs by G. Douglas Thayer. 1983. 256p. (YA). William Morrow & Co. Advice and information for the pregnant teenager on sex, birth control, pregnancy, childbirth, abortion, adoption, marriage, and babies.

What’s a Foster Family, Anyway?. Marine Golden Inlay. 2001. 20p. (gr ps-4). Diamond Cut Publishing. What’s A Foster Family, Anyway? “provides a much needed resource in helping children cope with the potential traumatic experience of placement into foster care.” “This book should be offered to all children making such a transition.” It is the hope of the author that this book will help “allay fears and confusion that are so predictable to a child entering into the foster care system.” “This easy-to-read book is a wonderful tool for assisting children in the foster care system to understand terminology that is often confusing to them.” The pages for individual reflection at the end of the book have been a real benefit to children as well as to their foster parents.

When I Am Adopted: A Children’s Book. E Moore. Illustrated by the Author. 2008. 30p. (gr ps-3). CreateSpace. When I Am Adopted was designed to help adopted children cope with doubts and fears associated with adoption. About the Author: E. Moore began writing poetry and short stories in the first grade where she realized her love for writing and drawing. Moore testifies through her writing as her voice enriches the lives of all who read her work. Moore’s talent is unleashed in her first novel, In The Fire, The Beginning,, published in 2006. She is most known for her digital creation of Mya, an African-American cartoon character designed to positively address social issues, teach children life-skills and boost self-esteem. In 2007, Moore released the first five children books from the “The Mya Series.” Moore also started “Authors Club, Exploring the Arts with E. Moore” in 2007, a program in conjunction with Tulsa Public Schools designed to help children express themselves through the art of drawing and writing. The four-week program forces children to embrace their resiliency by focusing on successful achieved positive developmental outcomes in the face of adversity. Moore is Co-founder of The Movement, LLC with Tamiya D. Lewis. The Movement, LLC is a Publishing/Public Relations company in Tulsa, OK. A member of Sanctuary Evangelistic Church(SEC) under the direction of Apostles Milford and Evelyn Carter, Moore resides in Tulsa, OK, with her husband and four children. She has dedicated her life to educating and building the self-esteem of all people.

Where are My Birth Parents?: A Guide for Teenage Adoptees. Karen Gravelle & Susan Fischer. 1993. 132p. (gr 7 up). Walker. By the author of other books on “issues of importance to adolescents” (Teenage Fathers, 1992) and a clinical psychologist who has written about surrogate mothers, a knowledgeable, perceptive discussion of the logistics—legal, emotional, etc. faced by adoptees seeking their birth parents. For adolescents, the process is complicated by the need to separate from parents while defining themselves as adults; since most states access records only to adults, the cooperation of an adoptive parent is necessary. With three detailed exceptions, most of the adoptees interviewed here were adult searchers, but the basics—the need to connect with the past and to resolve feelings of abandonment are the same at any age. The authors sample a helpful variety of circumstances (including international adoption); the responses of birth mothers, from joy to outright rejection; and the ups and downs of subsequent relationships. With admirable sensitivity, they use specific cases to develop guidelines on what to expect, though they do harp on the probability of adoptive parents feeling hurt, and never address the worst fears that can, unfortunately, prove true (e.g., that the birth mother was raped). Still, these are defensible choices in a book urging adoptees’ right—and compelling need—to know, while encouraging them to find out. Sensible and supportive. Lengthy lists of search and support groups, including many grouped by state, plus counseling centers and a registry; bibliography. — © 1993 Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Who Am I?. Stacie H Cahill. Illustrated by Sean Voelker. 2004. 38p. Xlibris. Has your life been touched by adoption? Have you or a friend adopted a child? In Stacie Cahill’s insightful new book Who Am I?, learn everything you need to know about adoption—and more. This text is a children’s picture book that proves to be a helpful resource in providing a child with a complete understanding of the miracle of adoption. Each child will feel special and more secure as a result of learning what each letter in adoption represents. “Children at a young age have so many questions regarding their identities and the circumstances surrounding each adoption experience. They typically want to know why their birthparents could not keep them. They want to know why they were adopted into their families,” says Cahill. With bright and colorful pages, Who Am I? will help create a cheerful and fun tone in which a child feels good when learning about adoption. The child will better understand God’s love in building families through adoption, learn to celebrate adoption, and view adoption as another wonderful way to build a family. About the Author: Stacie H. Cahill graduated from Northern Kentucky University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. She completed her master’s degree in social work at the University of Kentucky in 1995. She currently works as a chemical dependency therapist in a hospital setting. Stacie has always had a strong desire to help others. After being touched by adoption in her personal life, she became inspired to write and share the joys of adoption with others. Stacie and her husband Aaron chose to build a family through adoption soon after she experienced a very troubled and dangerous childbirth with her son, Brandon Jacob, in October of 1995. After praying and seeking God’s will for their lives, Stacie and her husband adopted daughter Chelsea Hope in July of 1998. Currently, they are eagerly awaiting the birth and adoption of their third child due early this year. By the Same Author: I Know Who I Am!, My Parenst Love Me Too!, and Victory in the Void.

Who Am I?: And Other Questions of Adopted Kids (Plugged In). Charlene C Giannetti. Illustrated by Larry Ross. 1999. 128p. (gr 4-7). Price Stern Sloan Publishers. When neither picture books nor adult guides are of help, this latest Plugged In book speaks confidently to preteens and teens seeking answers to their questions about being adopted. Why am I so different from my family? Why did my biological mother give me up? Should I search for my birth parents? Who Am I? gives answers objectively and reassuringly with advice from experts and quotes from adopted teens.

Who’s In a Family. Robert Skutch. Illustrated by Laura Nienhaus. 1997. 32p. (gr ps-3). Tricycle Press. Family is important, but who’s in a family? Why, the people who love you the most!This equal opportunity, open-minded picture book has no preconceptions about what makes a family a family. There’s even equal time given to some of children’s favorite animal families. With warm and inviting jewel-tone illustrations, this is a great book for that long talk with a little person on your lap.

Why Am I Different?. Norma Simon. Illustrated by Dora Leder. Caroline Rubin, ed. 1976. 32p. (gr k-2). Albert Whitman & Co. Some people can’t eat chocolate, and some are good at whistling. Some people are tall, some are short. People want different things for their birthdays. If we were all the same, it would be like seeing everything in gray—boring. “Each page simply and sensitively explores some of the aspects of human existence that make each person special.” —Interracial Books for Children’s Bulletin

Jamie Andrules

Deborah Hamilton

Why Are You My Mother?: A Mother’s Response to Her Adopted Daughter. Deborah E Hamilton. Illustrated by Jamie L Andrules. 2007. 16p. Dreams Due Media Group, Inc. A young girl is being adopted out of foster care! But she’s wary of this new stranger in her life—this woman who is to be called Mother. “Why are you my mother?” asks the child. “I just met you.” Why Are You My Mother? shares the woman’s response to the child’s logical and life-altering question. It expresses, with heartfelt honesty, how she feels about the child, acknowledges that life hasn’t been easy for her, promises that she’ll love her unconditionally, and presents hope for the future. Parents adopting a child out of the child welfare system will find a resource in Why Are You My Mother? This book aims to express the sentiments felt by many foster-to-adopt parents who are faced with making the transition from Mr. and Mrs. Stranger to Mom and Dad. Sharing Why Are You My Mother? with your child can provide gentle reassurances of your forever love. The story of Why Are You My Mother? is told through soothing text and welcoming illustrations that draw a young child into a world of love and change. The family, standing at the threshold of their lives together, is guided by a whimsical family of smiling flowers to support their efforts and hopes. In this way, the sometimes harsh reality of foster care blooms into the tender promises of new beginnings. As words of comfort are read, children will be both encouraged and entertained by the joyful faces smiling up at them from every page. About the Authors: Deborah Hamilton, a writer, editor and marketing strategist, is also the president of MediaMonde, Inc., a Colorado-based marketing communications firm. Deborah’s written work can be found globally in a variety of sales, marketing and public relations literature. She is a member of the National Foster Parent Association, the North American Council on Adoptable Children, the Colorado State Foster Parent Association and the Colorado Coalition of Adoptive Families. Deborah and her husband Edward live in Colorado with their adopted daughter Joanna and two chocolate labs, Bailey and Tara. Jamie Andrules, managing partner of Andrules+Fries Design, Inc., studied fine art at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design and at Northwestern University in Chicago, IL. Jamie has been working in the fine art, visual communications, advertising and multimedia industries for over 12 years, and is a recipient of several graphic and fine arts awards. Jamie held executive and creative management positions for eVitro, The Exline Agency, VisionMark, Inc. and The Cummins Group, Inc. Jamie lives in both Colorado and Illinois with her husband Jim and their dogs Dori and Morgan. Available to purchase from the publisher.

“Why Didn’t She Keep Me?”: The Question Every Adopted Child Asks. Barbara Burlingham-Brown. 1993. 169p. (gr 5 up). Diamond Communications. Every adopted child, no matter how well loved by his or her adoptive parents, seeks some kind of answer to the question, “Why Didn’t She Keep Me?” This book presents a comprehensive selection of first hand narratives by birthmothers who candidly reveal the rational, practical, and emotional motivations that led them to place a child for adoption.

Why I Chose You: 100 Reasons Why Adopting You Made Us a Family. Gregory Lang. 2004. 128p. Cumberland House Publishing. Best-selling author, Gregory E. Lang captures the essence of the dynamic relationships among adoptive families. These are families with so much love to share who are desperate to have and/or help children. From hugs and kisses, to witnessing “firsts” together, Why I Chose You depicts all of the reasons why each child is uniquely special to his or her adoptive parent(s). For many adoptive parents, they desperately want children but are unable to have them. The adoption process provides them with a child who needs a parents’ love and nurturing as much as the parents need the child. In other cases, adoptive parents see a need to provide loving homes for children who will flourish because of the affection they have to give. More than 120,000 children are adopted each year in the United States alone. Trends continue to indicate that the number of adoptees is growing each year as the number of children in foster care continues to increase. Raising a child is not a right, but a gift. It matters not from where the gift comes, but simply that it is received. Gone are the days in which adoption was taboo. It is reason for rejoicing, sharing, and celebrating. No guilt and no second guesses can creep into your heart once it is so completely filled to bursting with love. It is that love that is celebrated within the pages of Why I Chose You. Gregory E. Lang has compiled dozens of reasons for adoption as well as capturing the adoration, affection, and mutual gratification that is received from both the parent and child. For there is no greater place than a home filled with love, and no greater gift than the smile of a happy and contented child who knows he or she is loved. About the Author: Gregory E. Lang works in suburban Atlanta, GA. His other books include Why a Daughter Needs a Dad, Why a Daughter Needs a Mom, Why a Son Needs a Dad, Why a Son Needs a Mom, Why I Love Grandma, and Why I Love Grandpa.

“Why Was I Adopted?”. Carole Livingston. Illustrated by Arthur Robbins. 1978. 48p. (gr 1 up). Carol Pub Grp. This humorous look at adoption uses informal language and pictures to give a basic explanation of adoption. It encourages children to ask questions of their parents. The book is especially reassuring about the permanence of adoption. Why Was I Adopted? is also an appropriate book for your child to give to a friend in order to explain adoption.

Wonderful Way That Babies Are Made, The. Larry Christenson. Illustrated by Dwight Walles. 1982. 48p. (gr ps-3). Bethany House Publishers. Sex education for young children in poetry form and from a Christian point of view. Also includes a short section on the adopted child.

W.I.S.E. Up Powerbook. Marilyn Schoettle. Illustrated by Julie Stanish. 2000. 30p. (gr 1-6). Center for Adoption Support and Education, Inc. Friends, teachers, and even strangers often ask children questions, both personal and general, about adoption. Empower your child. The W.I.S.E. Up Powerbook gives your children (and you!) the tools to cope with these sometimes uncomfortable comments from others. They learn to (W)alk away, say (I)t’s private, (S)hare something, or (E)ducate. Whether these questions come from benign curiosity, ignorance, or intended insults, this workbook will enable your children to choose the course of action that is right for them.

Your Very Own Adoption Story: A Photo Album / Story Book. Margie Mintz. 1999. Bound, ribbon tied, 16 card stock sheets. (gr ps-1). Every child ’s adoption story is unique and special. Your very Own Adoption Story allows you to personalize this general story book with pictures of you, your child, and friends and relatives. At first, your child will enjoy looking at all the family pictures, seeing where he or she fits in. After a while, the words and pictures will start to connect and your child will come to know about the love that brought your family together. The high quality bound pages, finished together with a ribbon tie, form the basis of this wonderful family heirloom.