Books That Heal Kids: adoption

Showing posts with label adoption. Show all posts
Showing posts with label adoption. Show all posts

Book Review: My New Mom and Me

Author/Illustrator: Renata Galindo

From the Book Jacket: My new mom does all the things that other moms do. She makes pancakes with me, pushes me on the swings, and patches me up when I fall. And even though we look different, she loves me just the way I am. 

Why It's On My Bookshelf: What a wonderful book for children who are adopted or in foster care. But I also would advocate that ALL children read this book. Not all families are the same and they also don't start the same. And to take it even further - not all families look the SAME. This is a comforting book for children going through family transition but also a helpful book to kids who have not been in this experience. This is not a heavy book. It does talk about adjustment issues but it's presented in a very loving and reassuring tone. 

A Link to This Book:

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Book Review: Three Names of Me





Author: Mary Cummings
illustrated by Lin Wang
Interest Level: Ages 8-11


From the Book Jacket: Ada has three names. Wang Bin is what the caregivers called her at her Chinese orphanage. Ada is the name given by her American parents. And there is a third name, whispered by her Chinese mother. That name, unknown but treasured, is someplace in Ada's heart.

Written for all girls who, like Ada, are both Chinese and American, Mary Cummings''s lyrical text speaks of love remembered and love present. Lin Wang's beautiful paintings evoke China and America.

Additional pages based on Ada's scrapbook will inspire readers to collect their own drawings, photos, and thoughts.

Why It's On My Bookshelf: Even though I was adopted here in the United States. I wish there had been a book like this when I was younger because I probably would have read it a hundred times. As a child, I remember my mom telling me the story about how they adopted me and all the little details of how we became a family. I hung onto her every word! Those stories are an important part of healing our self-identity and a helpful way to embrace adoption. Three Names of Me is written to perfection. I always tried to relate to the children in the books when I was a little girl. Ada is someone I would have felt connected to because of her story and the wording used. It's doesn't matter that we were adopted from different countries - we share the same experience and feelings. I highly recommend this gem.

A Link to This Book:
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Book Review: We Wanted You

Author: Liz Rosenberg
Interest Level: Ages 5-9

About This Book: Beginning "From the moment you were born-and even before that moment-we knew we wanted you," a poetic text and Catalanotto's glowing illustrations distinguish this book on adoption. As the parents explain how they waited and searched and hoped for Enrique, the illustrations show the boy during several milestones of his life, beginning with his high school graduation on the title page and moving back through his life with his adoptive parents: catching the school bus, getting measles, fishing with his father. Text and art work perfectly together; the pictures show the child getting younger and younger as the text culminates with the parents receiving their baby and ending, "We wanted you so much, back then. And we still do." The endpaper shows Enrique entering a new stage of his life: college. Although there are quite a few good books on this subject for parents to use with their children, this one is a lovely choice.

Why It's On My Bookshelf: Bibliotherapy books on adoption hold a special place in my heart because I am an adoptee. As I continue to blog my favorite books that help heal kids, I will be adding many books on adoption. This book is precious. If you are an adoptive parent, introduce this book to your child. Every adopted child wants to hear the words in this book - and they will want to hear it over and over again. The words are so healing. I smiled the first time I read this book because it made me feel so good inside. If you are looking for healing books on adoption for your shelf, We Wanted You is a wonderful choice.

A Link to This Book:
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