Adoption Books for Preschoolers and Toddlers
Picture Stories about Adoptive Families for Young Children
Jul 13, 2009
Storybooks are often one of the first resources adoptive parents use when explaining adoption to their preschooler or toddler. Written in simple and often poetic language, most preschooler books about adoption highlight the excitement of a child joining his forever family.
Many adoption stories written for young children are complemented by eye-catching artwork to help hold interest. It is also common for adoption-themed books for kids to have animals as main characters to provide universal appeal to all kinds of adoptive families.
General Books about Adoption for Preschoolers and Toddlers
Filled with gentle and positive language, general adoption books for young kids affirm the adoptive family’s love for the child and reinforce his permanency in the family.
- And Then You Arrived by Anette Hildebrandt [Zerwas Press, 2005]
- Families are Forever by Craig Shemin [As Simple as That, 2006]
- Heart of Mine by Dan Hojer [R.& S., 2001]
- I Wished for You by Marianne Richmond [Marianne Richmond Studios, 2008]
- Mother’s Day in March by Antonella Valeri [AuthorHouse, 2006]
- My Adopted Child, There’s No One Like You by Dr. Kevin Lehman [Revell, 2007]
- My New Family by Pat Thomas [Barron’s Educational Series, 2003]
- My Parents Picked Me! by Pat Thomas [Hodder Children's Books, 2003]
- Oh, How You Make My Heart Sing! by Beverly Wright [AuthorHouse, 2007]
- Our Twitchy by Kes Gray [H. Holt, 2003]
- Talking about Fostering and Adoption by Sarah Levete [Franklin Watts Ltd., 2007]
- We Belong Together by Todd Parr [Little, Brown Young Readers, 2007]
- Welcome Home, Forever Child by Christine Mitchell [AuthorHouse, 2007]
These general adoption books make great gifts for families who have just adopted a child and can be read to children of all ages.
Children’s Books about Diversity in Adoptive Families
Several children’s books about adoption focus on the fact that people do not have to look like each other to be a family. Some of the stories overtly discuss the issue of diversity and others highlight physical differences between family members through the illustrations.
- A Blessing From Above by Patti Henderson [Golden Books, 2004]
- In My Heart by Molly Bang [Little, Brown Young Readers, 2006]
- Little Miss Spider by David Kirk [Scholastic Press, 1999]
- Rosie’s Family by Lori Rosove [Asia Press, 2001]
- The Family Book by Todd Parr [Little, Brown & Company, 2007]
- You’re Not My Real Mother by Molly Friedrich [Little, Brown Young Readers, 2004]
As these stories do not focus on an adopted child’s ethnicity, race or country of origin, these books are relevant for all families who adopted their children internationally as well as transracially.
Preschool Books about Domestic and Open Adoptions
When children join a family through open adoption or foster care, books are a great way of bringing up complex topics with preschoolers and toddlers.
- Logan’s Journey by Kathy Heath and Karla Martin [bPlus Books, 2007]
- Pugnose Has Two Special Families by Karis Kruzel [R-Squared Press, 1997]
- Tell Me Again About the Night I Was Born by Jamie Lee Curtis [HarperCollins, 2000]
- The Star by Cynthia Miller Lovell [Spartan Graphics, 2005]
All of these titles are simply written giving adoptive and foster parents the opportunity to add in details unique to the child.
Books about adoption can be read to a child even in infancy and often stimulate conversations about adoption early in his life. These stories about the unconditional love and diversity that exists in adoptive families help set the stage for a child’s positive feelings about adoption.
Related articles
General Adoption Books for School-Age Kids
Books about Non-Traditional Adoptions for Kids
Children's Books about Asian Adoption
References
Adoptionbooks.com website
Amazon.com website
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