2nd Edition

Adopted & Loved Forever. Annetta E Dellinger. Illustrated by Patricia Mattozzi. 1987. 22p. (2009. 32p. 2nd Ed. Illustrated by Janet McDonnell) (gr ps-2). Concordia. When children have questions about adoption, adults want to give them truthful answers they can readily grasp. This book explains what adoption means and why adopted children are special. It offers the Christ-centered message that we are all adopted members of God’s family. Adopted and Loved Forever assures adopted children that, just as God chooses them to be His children, their parents choose them specially. Colorful illustrations and child-friendly language make a potentially difficult subject easier for parents to explain and for children to understand. Christian concepts of adoption include:
•   why and how they were adopted;
•   why their adoptive parents are “Mom” and “Dad”;
•   why it’s okay that they don’t look like Mom or Dad; and
•   why adoption is forever, no matter what happens.

Adopted From Asia: How It Feels to Grow Up in America. Frances M Koh. 1993. 96p. (gr 5-8). EastWest Press. The range of topics in this book about Korean adoptees includes racial prejudice, friends and dates, racial/ethnic identity, self-identity/self-esteem, the relationship with adoptive parents, and concerns about birth parents. The stories are moving and insightful accounts of the issues facing Korean-born adoptees, especially during adolescence. This book is appropriate for teens as well as adults.

Adopting Princess Anastasia. Louise Adam. 2007. 33p. (gr ps-3). LifeVest Publishing, Inc. A colorful illustrated book for children about the adoption of one little girl. Proceeds from this book are donated to Petrova’s Promise, a nonprofit organization dedicated to disabled Russian orphans. To view their site, please visit www.petrovaspromise.org.

Adoption is Okay. Sylvia Rohde. 1999. 18p. Key to the Heart Publications. Adoption Is Okay introduces the concept of adoption to children from preschool through school age. In simple language the child learns about leaving Russia to join a forever family. Throughout the experience, the child is given permission to feel and express all her emotions from joy to confusion to sadness. The story ends celebrating this special child. The child’s story is written in English and Russian. This book will aid orphanage staff in preparing a child for adoption by an American family, and help the parents after placement, as they guide their child through her adjustment to a new family and unfamiliar surroundings. Though written about a Russian child going to the United States, this story is universal and will be a comforting and validating story for any foreign-born child being adopted by an English speaking family. About the Author: Sylvia Rohde is a Licensed Professional Counselor and maintains a private practice in Richardson, Texas. She provides counseling and support to individuals and families affected by many experiences including loss and grief, adoption (domestic and international), infertility, sexual abuse, and attachment issues. Mrs. Rohde has worked with both domestic and international adoptive families for several years and has presented on international adoption at numerous orientations and seminars. She has traveled to Russia and was privileged to visit several orphanages in St. Petersburg and Syzran.

All the Colors of the Earth. Sheila Hamanaka. Illustrated by the author. 1994. 32p. (gr ps). Morrow Junior Books. “Children come in all colors of love. In endless shades of you and me.” A delightfully illustrated book to help children to identify with diversity through colorful phrases and simple text.

Allison. Allen Say. 1997. 32p. (gr ps-3). Houghton Mifflin. When Allison tries on the red kimono her grandmother has sent her, she is suddenly aware that she resembles her favorite doll more than she does her mother and father. When her parents explain that she is adopted, Allison’s doll becomes her only solace—until she finds a stray cat in the garden and learns the true meaning of adoption and parental love.

American Face, An. Jan M Czech. Illustrated by Frances Clancy. 2000. (gr ps-3). CWLA. “What will my new face look like?” Jessie wondered excitedly. He stood on the plastic stool by the sink and traced his eyes with his finger. Jessie, adopted from Korea, eagerly waits for the day he will get his American citizenship and, he thinks, and American face. The big day brings more surprises than Jessie expects. Author Jan M. Czech: “An American Face is more than a book about adoption. As the mother of a Korean born daughter, An American Face is very personal to me. 11 years ago, while preparing an article for Roots and Wings, an adoption magazine, I heard about a five year old boy who wanted what he called an American face so he would look like the other kids in his kindergarten class. I wonder about him and how he is doing as a teenager now. I hope my version of his story does him justice. I also hope it raises awareness that, as Jessie finds out, looks aren’t everything and family is more than genetics.”

An Mei’s Strange and Wondrous Journey. Written & Illustrated by Stephan Molnar-Fenton. 1998. 32p. (gr ps-3). Dorling Kindersley. Molnar-Fenton has much to say about how the past can prey on the present, despite the loving attentions of others, in this story about his adopted Chinese daughter’s journey from her birthplace to a new home in the US. An Mei, now six, narrates: “I was born on a train as it passed through a long, dark tunnel ... when the train broke into the light, I saw my mother’s face for the first time.” An Mei, evidently, has a preternatural memory. She remembers her mother leaving her on the steps of an orphanage, then stealing away into the windy night. Her adoptive father shuttles her to Massachusetts, where a whole new set of sensory experiences present themselves. While An Mei makes peace with her new family and surroundings, she can still hear “the sound the wind had made against the buttons of my mother’s coat when she left me on the steps.” Children will wonder how An Mei can recall the events of her first days so clearly, while adults will only question why such a conceit was used to tell her story. Flesher’s atmospheric illustrations are made of rubbed expanses of color; delicate white lines form the scratched outlines of people and things. The core of the story is very affecting, but the piece lumbers under the weight of the sentiments and the overripe imagery. — January 15, 1998. © 1998 Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Anya’s Gift: A Tale of Two Christmases. Sandy Jones. Ilustrated by Pam Yourell. 2009. 44p. (gr ps-3). PublishAmerica. Anya’s Gift: A Tale of Two Christmases is the fully illustrated story of Anya, a dejected orphan who is sent by Father Frost, the Russian Spirit of Winter, on a magical sleigh ride with his good friend, Santa Claus. On the journey, Anya comes to understand the mother she never knew, and the life she desperately desires. She is soon to discover that dreams do come true! This is a verse-style story celebrating adoptive families and the true meaning of Christmas.

At Home in This World: A China Adoption Story. Jean MacLeod. 2003. 32p. (gr 4-7). EMK Press. “I am nine years old and someone a lot like you. Part of my life has been like a puzzle needing pieces, but I am understanding more about myself and my life everyday. This is my story...” So begins the honest, lyrical reflection of a pre-adolescent girl on what she knows of her adoption from China, and the strength she gains from her acceptance of her bittersweet experience. The book addresses the underlying feelings and emotions that color the world of the China adoptee. At Home in This World effectively describes and empowers a young girl looking for acknowledgement, empathy and emotional validation. It also enables pre-teen readers to put their early lives into perspective, while emphasizing the supportive love that encircles them within their own families. What is your life story? Everyone has a one, and with a little detective work you will be certain that no one has a life story as extraordinary as your own. About the Author: Jean MacLeod is a free-lance writer who has been published in Adoptive Families Magazine, Adoption Today and in the China adoption book Passage to the Heart. She has co-developed and facilitates a series of parent education workshops on adoptive family issues, and is a mother to three extraordinary daughters.

Aurelia’s Journey Home. Kim Oakes. 2009. 24p. (gr ps-3). Tate Publishing & Enterprises, LLC. God had worked like only he can And brought them together as part of his plan. Families are made in many ways. They are all wonderfully unique and gifts from God. Adoption is one of the special ways that families can be created. Aurelia is coming from a far away land to be with her new family, and they are very excited about it. Hop on the plane and embark on Aurelia’s Journey Home. This is an eLIVE book, meaning each printed copy contains a special code redeemable for the free download of the audio version of the book.

Beautiful Music. Sylvia Worden. Illustrated by Ira Bigelow. 2007. 36p. Trafford Publishing. The author and illustrator of this book are a mother-son team who traveled to China in 2000 to bring home a child who had been known in her orphanage as “Beautiful Music.” This imaginative children’s book takes another look at international adoption from China, this time from the point of view of the Chinese birth mother. While this book may assist adoptive parents whose children are asking more complex questions about their birth parents and country of birth, it tells a compelling story that all children can enjoy. The main character is plucky, loving and brave, while the story is of danger, bad luck, and finally bittersweet good fortune at the tale’s end.

Beauty & the Boy: How Beauty Adopted Vladimir. Laurene von Klan. Illustrated by Stella von Klan. 2009. 32p. Lulu.com. The story of the adoption of a little boy told from the perspective of the family dog.

Before I Met You: A Therapeutic Pre-Adoption Narrative Designed for Children Adopted From China. Doris N Landry, MS. 2003. 32p. (gr k-5). Xlibris Corporation. All children have questions about their beginnings. For adopted children and their families, these questions are not always easily answered. Most children adopted from China are faced with the additional difficulty that there are no facts available about their birth and early life. Before I Met You is meant to be shared with children adopted from China. It addresses the difficult issues of the “one-child policy” and abandonment in a sensitive, child-appropriate manner. Just as important, it explores the many feelings that adoptees generally experience when they think about their own history, and serves as a beginning that parents can use to discuss and validate the child’s feelings. Here is one mother’s view and use of this book… “Before I Met You has given me the tools I need to talk about my daughters’ beginnings with them. The book’s balance between guessing what might have happened in their early lives and admitting that we really don’t know is handled with delicacy and openness. The focus on feelings has given us a starting point for family discussions about all of the feelings that adoption engenders, and a way of reassuring them that it’s normal and healthy to have and express those feelings.

Bonesy & Isabel. Michael J Rosen. Illustrated by James Ransome. 1995. (gr ps-7). Harcourt Brace. Young Isabel, a newly adopted girl from El Salvador who speaks only a little English, spends much of her time sounding out words with Bonsey, her companero, who lies next to her and nuzzles her encouragingly. Bonsey loves Isabel—he waits under the dinner table for her handouts. One night Bonsey won’t take the leftovers and doesn’t respond to Isabel’s prodding toes.

Borya & the Burps: An Eastern European Adoption Story. Joan McNamara. Illustrated by Dawn W Majewski. 2005. 32p. (gr ps-3). Perspectives Press. In recent years more children have been adopted from Eastern Europe, Russia, and the former Soviet Bloc countries than from any other region of the world. Yet until now, there have been no picture books designed to tell their stories of finding a forever family through adoption. Long time social worker Joan McNamara has ably filled that gap with a new children’s book that acknowledges the sense of security and comfort that many children have with the “familiar" in their daily life in an orphanage compared to the unknowns of a new adoptive family. This delightful book gently illustrates some of the confusion children feel when they are removed from the multiple caretakers and groups of children whom they know within their (often deprived) orphanages and are moved into a loving but unfamiliar new family with a sensory-enriched (but possibly overwhelming) home environment. With their whole world turned upside down, children are still able to struggle to make sense of these changes and ultimately blossom within a new family, with a parent or parents who will be theirs forever. Although Borya and the Burps! is one of the very first books on international adoption from Eastern Europe to be widely available to families, families who have adopted from other regions of the world may find this story valuable as well. Simple comments from parents while reading about what was the same and what was different for their child can personalize this story. Adoption of children from orphanage care does share some common themes and situations in all parts of the world, and thus parents can share this story with their children irregardless of where their child’s orphanage was or will be located. A good introduction for young, recently arrived children, this unique book will also become an often-used conversation starter for slightly older children ready to talk about their prior lives, their prior caretakers and companions, and what adoption has meant in their young lives. Borya and the Burps! fills a big hole for families who adopt from Eastern Europe.

Brian Was Adopted. Doris Sanford. Deena Davis, ed. Illustrated by Graci Evans. 1989. 28p. (gr k-4). Multnomah. A boy who was adopted from Korea as an infant describes his new life in America and the love he receives from his new parents.

Bringing Asha Home. Uma Krishnaswami. Illustrated by Jamel Akib. 2006. 32p. (gr k-4). Lee & Low Books. From Kirkus Reviews: On Rakhi Day in August, Arun explains the Indian holiday to his best friend Michael and tells him that it celebrates the bond of brothers and sisters. Arun wishes he had a sister, and in October, his parents tell him that they are going to adopt a baby girl named Asha from his father’s birthplace, India. Arun loves making paper airplanes and pretends that they are flying his sister home to him. As the months come and go, pictures arrive in the mail, but telephone calls let the family know that the paperwork is not yet through. Finally, during the summer, the letter the family has been waiting for arrives. Arun’s dad flies off to pick Asha up, carrying with him a colorful airplane Arun has made for his new sister. Father and daughter arrive home with a special gift for Arun—a rakhi, a special bracelet for him to wear on Rakhi Day. Appealing illustrations and warm, clear text make this story of a biracial family—Arun’s mother is white and his father is Indian—and international adoption a good choice for any collection.

Brother-Sister Adoption Day. Linda Sakevich & CJ Sakevich. Illustrated by CJ Sakevich. 2009. 28p. (gr ps-5). CreateSpace. This book honors the day your child became part of your family. Because of this event, you too, can celebrate “Adoption Day” as a holiday each year in your family. This story is about circling the globe to make a family complete. It tells of a child’s desire for a sibling through his or her own eyes. The book is variable to apply to a variety of sibling pairings to fit your family: Brother-Brother Adoption Day; Sister-Brother Adoption Day; and Sister-Sister Adoption Day. About the Authors: The Sakeviches are a Northern Virginia couple who have been married for twenty years and decided to adopted their second child through international adoption. Their family has always celebrated “Adoption Day” for the past eight years since their daughter became part of their family. They wrote this children’s book to share with others, what they have made a family tradition celebrating their children. C.J. combined his background in illustrating and graphic design with his wife’s writing and editing skills for the past six years to bring these books to print.

Carson’s Book: A Story about Adoption from China. Richard Busby. Illustrated by Phil Mar. 2005. 32p. (gr ps-3). Authorhouse. This is a wonderful book, that is, as the etymology of the word says, full of wonder. It is told from the heart about one family’s process that is full of all kinds of twists and turns, yet is also about all of our stories. As an adoptive parent of a wonderful daughter from China myself, I found the book remarkably warm, candid, and poignant. The pictures are great, the writing superb; a wonderful combination of two people who (from the outside look as if they) obviously enjoyed the process of working together. This is a book for all those who already have or are thinking about adoption from any country. It is not the country of origin that matters in this book, but the wonderful story of the process and the resulting children who bless us and enrich our lives. I never write reviews for books for a number of reasons; this is the first exception to my policy. I could not think of a better reason to make an exception. — Kevin Conley

China Adoption Story, A: Mommy, Why Do We Look Different?. Frances M Koh. 2000. 24p. (gr ps-3). East West Press. Four year old Laura Shu-Mei was adopted from China when she was an infant. She wonders why she and her parents don’t look the same. Her mom explains about Laura’s beginnings in China and tells her the story of how she was adopted. With sensitivity and warmth, A China Adoption Story points out that a family is bound by love, regardless of whether or not its members look alike.

China Adoption Travel Journal. 2002. 37p. (gr ps-2). This interactive journal has been designed for children traveling to China to adopt a sibling. Each page features a theme such as: Let’s get ready!, Just in case I’m lonely!, My new sister and Learning to write in Chinese. There are questions to answer, pictures to color and activities to complete. The journal has been crafted of card stock to be a lasting memento of your child’s trip.

China Baby Doll. Mary Anne Miceli. 2009. 36p. (gr ps-3). Xlibris Corp. Author Mary Anne Miceli explores the issue of China’s One-Child and Son-Preference Policy in this endearing tale about a rural family’s grief to send away a blessing given to them from heaven. Two Chinese fathers arrange their children’s wedding and long for a male grandchild to carry on the family farm. Instead, they welcome a beautiful China Baby Doll with porcelain skin and silky, luxurious hair. The government mandate would not allow them to enjoy this lovely blessing so the two grandfathers put their new-born granddaughter into a wheelbarrow surrounded with fragrant flowers and abandon her in the center of town on market day. They know that government officials will take her to a local orphanage and hope an American family will adopt their China Baby Doll and provide a loving lifestyle for her. China Baby Doll is a poignant tale based on a dilemma of how to protect their own precious child as well as to protect their family’s livelihood. Parents and teachers can read this touching, illustrated tale to make all—children and adults alike—aware of familial love, human rights, and adoption needs. About the Author: Mary Anne Miceli is a Boston native of Irish extraction and has enjoyed studying her Irish ancestral roots. Mary Anne has always loved nursery rhymes and music. She so likes the beat of “rhythm in rhyme,” she thinks and composes in “rhyming rhythm.” She feels that life itself is a “rhythmic process” of highs and lows like the ebb and flow of the tides. She feels writing is the hallmark of the creative process as it “purges the soul and inspires the mind.” Mary Anne lives in a picturesque town on the North Shore of Boston and continues to write both Children’s Picture Books and Poetry. Her published books include: China Baby Doll, Confessor’s Animal Wartime Blues, and Poetry: Reflecting on the Clouds of Everyday Living. — Book Description and Author Biography © 2009 China Baby Doll by Mary Anne Miceli. Visit the Author’s website.

Chinese Daughter, The. Written & Illustrated by Eleanor Frances Lattimore. 1960. 125p. William Morrow. A little Chinese girl, who lives with her adopted American missionary parents in China, has many adventures such as being lost in a dust storm, getting a new baby sister, going to school with other Chinese girls, and meeting her real parents.

Chinese Eyes. Marjorie A Waybill. Illustrated by Pauline Cutrell. 1974. (gr ps-2). 32p. Herald Press. In this gentle, loving book, a first grader encounters prejudice because she is Korean. Though she doesn’t understand what “Chinese eyes” means, she knows that the remark is meant to be unkind. She is hurt and upset. Her mother explains how her beautiful eyes are both different and the same as everyone else’s eyes.

Coffee Can Kid, The. Jan Czech. Illustrated by Maurie J Manning. 2002. 24p. (gr ps). Child & Family Press. After knocking down a coffee can that contains mementos of her past, six-year-old Annie asks the father who adopted her to once more tell the story of how she came to America from Korea.

Colors of Us, The. Karen Katz. Illustrated by the Author. 1999. 32p. (gr ps-3). Henry Holt & Co. Lena is going to paint a picture of herself. She wants to use brown paint for her skin. But when Lena and her mother take a walk through their neighborhood, Lena sees that there are many different shades and tones of brown. Seen from an artist’s point of view, skin colors are subtle, varied—and cause for celebration! Karen Katz created this book for her daughter, Lena, whom she and her husband adopted from Guatemala six years ago. About the Author: Karen Katz has worked as a freelance illustrator and designer for over twenty years. She is the author and illustrator of Over the Moon: An Adoption Tale. Ms. Katz and her family divide their time between New York City and Woodstock, NY.

Daughter of Dreams, The: A Fable of Destiny. Beverly Barna. Illustrated by David White. 2009. 28p. (gr ps-3). The Peppertree Press. TAMPA, Fla., Nov. 11 — The book might have been called, “Why Adoption Freaks Us Out.” And that’s what one might expect from the author of Infertility Sucks! Keeping it all together when sperm and egg stubbornly remain apart. Instead, Beverly Barna’s second book, The Daughter of Dreams, is as light and bright as its title. If Infertility Sucks! goes straight for the belly laughs, The Daughter of Dreams goes straight for the heart. Where Infertility Sucks! boasts a glowing frog that brings to the infertile Browns a tadpole that might—just might—turn into the baby they long for, The Daughter of Dreams is home to a bale of magic turtles, who indeed bring a baby to her waiting mother. In this case, there is no “might;” just right. And that, says the author, is the point. “To me,” says Barna, “adoption is magic. But it’s hard to describe the experience in its scope and majesty to those who have not been touched by it in some direct way. It’s like seeing a magician move Niagara Falls from North America to the Gobi desert, and trying to relate the experience to someone who was not there.” Barna set out to write an adoption book for her daughter, whom she and her husband adopted in China in 2001. But once the writing was underway, additional inspiration took hold. “I saw this as a medium through which to communicate universally that adoption and the children it brings to their families is not a consolation prize, which unfortunately, is often the way our culture sees things.” So why does adoption freak us out? We’re conditioned to value biology over all else, the author says. She points to the story of Moses as illustrative of both perspectives. On one hand, the biblical stalwart touches on adoption. On the other, it sends a message about the primacy of biology. As for The Daughter of Dreams? “There is a baby in a basket,” Barna says. “And there are two mothers. I wouldn’t say the sea parts, but it does get crossed in a monumental and momentous way.” And therein, she says, lies the magic—of the book and of adoption itself. The moral of the story? “To tell my daughter what every mother wants her child to know: ‘You are loved, more than you can ever imagine.’ “ E-mail author and National Infertility Survival Day® founder Beverly Barna at infertilitysucks@aol.com. SOURCE: Beverly Barna Books; © 2008 PR Newswire. All rights reserved.

Dear Sam & Dani: An Adoption Journal. Cindy Roberts. 2004. 46p. (gr 4-7). Xlibris Corporation. Dear Sam and Dani is a personal adoption journal the author kept while traveling in Vietnam with her four sons. Enjoy many adventures with the boys as they chase chickens in the Mekong Delta, crawl through the Cu Chi Tunnels, visit many orphanages, and rediscover their own past. About the Author: Cindy Roberts lives in Southern California with her husband and six kids. Three of her kids were adopted from Vietnam as older children. Other books the author has written are Chinese New Year For Kids, an educational arts and crafts book; and Danielle, Where are You?, a young children’s adoption story. Cindy also enjoys writing adoption articles and lecturing at adoption conferences.

Dounia. As told by Zidrou. Illustrated by Natacha Karvoskaia. 1995. (gr ps-3). Kane/Miller Book Publishers. This Belgian import tells of a brown-skinned orphan of indeterminate age who arrives in a strange country where she “...has a new Mommy and Daddy.” As her new parents smile at her, she would like to greet them, “But she doesn’t dare”—the refrain that follows each new experience she has. Finally, she is snuggled in bed, smiling, and “Tomorrow she is sure that she will dare.” Slightly out-of-focus paintings flesh out the minimal story. While the premise is timely—biracial, international adoption-this is a simplistic tale with faults. The girl seems to be unaccompanied on her flight, although a uniformed woman is shown deplaning with her as an unleashed dog frolics ahead. It is hard to believe that Dounia would want to meet each new experience with a smile. It is equally unrealistic to suggest that “tomorrow” she will dare to overcome all obstacles in adapting to new people in a new country. — Virginia Opocensky, formerly at Lincoln City Libraries, NE (School Library Journal)

Drats! My Hair is a Rat’s Nest!. Susan Stevens. 2008. 24p. (gr 4-7). Tate Publishing & Enterprises. Drats! My Hair is a Rat’s Nest! is a silly story about messy, uncooperative hair. A young Asian girl, Kiran, is adopted into a Caucasian family and questions her differences, and how to fit in. Her world is further complicated through a divorced family, but her new extended family reaches out with advice and love to help her find acceptance. Susan Stevens tackles the topics of adoption and divorce, which are realities affecting families every day. In this humorous tale of a hairdo gone wrong, two extended families can work through anger and pain for the benefit of the children, emphasizing the needs of every individual.

Dream Come True, A: Coming to America from Vietnam—1975. MJ Cosson. 2001. 68p. (gr 4-7). Perfection Learning. From the Publisher: “One day, we visited a village high in the mountains,” Cammy’s dad said. “We knew something was wrong right away. It was too quiet. Then I heard a sound. Like a kitten mewing. The sound came from under a mat. A baby was there. A little girl. The baby never smiled. Not even a little grin. And she never cried. She just stared. I’d never seen such a sad look. I held that baby girl until the next day. Then a helicopter took her to an orphanage in Saigon. I hated to let her go. I felt like it was my job to protect her. That night, I wrote your mom about the baby. I said I didn’t think I would ever be able to forget how she looked into my eyes.”

Dreams Come True: A Story About the Blessings of Adoption. Amy D’Elia & Lisa Clerman. 2007. (gr 4-7). Lisa Finnera. Dreams Come True: A Story About the Blessings of Adoption is geared to the thousands of children, particularly those from Eastern Europe and Western Asian counties, who have been adopted by American families. It is a story about a 6-year-old boy named Grisha who wishes for parents to adopt him. The book is written by Lisa S. Clerman and Amy H. D’Elia, whose sister Jenny Higgons is a writer for The Journal News’ magazine division. D’Elia grew up in Irvington and wrote the book with her friend Lisa. Between them, the book’s authors have five Russian and Kazakhstian children, reports Higgons, who boasts that they are “beautiful.” The book had illustrations are by Krista Weiss Tretick. All proceeds from the sale of the book, said Higgons, will go to Russian orphanages in need.

Dumplings Are Delicious. Deb Capone. Illustrated by Stan Jaskiel. 2005. 28p. (gr ps-3). As Simple As That. “As Simple As That” books feature Rain and Bo. Rain is six years old and was adopted from China and Bo is her blue hippo that has been in Rain’s family for a long time. There are two other books in this series: Families Are Forever and Tooth Fairy Tales.

Join Rain and her friends as they learn that no matter what they look like, what they are filled with or what they are called, every kind of delicious dumpling, like every wonderful child, is very special in its own way. It is as simple as that!

East to America: Korean American Life Stories. Eui-Young Yu & Elaine H. Kim, eds. 1996. 386p. New Press. From School Library Journal: One of the many consequences of the Rodney King verdict was TV images of desperate Korean shop owners during the LA riots defending their property with guns. This book is a direct result of the author’s desire to replace those images with a more complete picture of Korean-Americans, showing, through the words of the Korean-Americans themselves, that they have as many different life stories to tell as any other ethnic group. These 38 interviews include a Korean adopted as a baby by white Americans (Young Kim), a rap artist, a journalist, a gay activist, several inner-city shop owners, a widow, an abused wife, and a charity volunteer. The book’s usefulness lies in exposing students, especially those of Korean descent, to Korean-Americans’ recent history, culture, and heritage. It can also serve as background reading for multicultural issues. — Judy McAloon, Potomac Library, Prince William County, VA; Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Elephant Child. Mary Ellis. 2003. 128p. HarperCollins. This is the story of Shola, a girl brought up by a family of elephants until the age of five. She goes to live with an adoptive family in America, but when the parents are killed in a tragic accident, she returns to Africa to try and find her favourite elephants.

Elle, the Little Lost Wombat: A Story About International Adoption. Sharon Bracken. Illustrated by Joshua Nash. 2009. 32p. (gr ps-3). Child Heroes Publishing. Elle the Little Lost Wombat is about international adoption. It is written from the perspective of an orphan and focuses on the adoption of an older child, dealing with Elle’s emotions as she comes to terms with trusting and loving a new set of parents. About the Authors: Sharon Bracken is a native of Norfolk, VA. She graduated from Virginia Tech with a B.S. in Child Development. For over 20 years, she has worked as a child development specialist. Because there were no resources available for her son, who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at the age of just nine, she wrote the story, Eli the Bipolar Bear. Joshua Nash is a graphic artist in Roseville, CA. He enjoys drawing and making things up. In addition to his own work, he has worked on many exciting projects with clients such as Scholastic, Child Heroes Publishing and Hooked on Phonics. When he is not drawing, he enjoys eating Chinese take-out, and renting movies with his wife, cat and dog.

Emma’s Story. Deborah Hodge. Illustrated by Song Nan Zhang. 2003. 24p. (gr K-2). Tundra Books of Northern New York. When Emma sets out to make a cookie family with her Grandma, the happy afternoon suddenly turns sad. The cookies are meant to look like her family, but hers is the only one with licorice hair and eyes. She doesn’t look like the others; does that mean she doesn’t belong? In gentle text, Deborah Hodge tells the story of one small girl’s adoption: the hopes and prayers of her Canadian parents, their trip to the other side of the world, their meeting with the new baby, and the very long ride home to the new family waiting for Emma. Thousands of baby girls from China have been adopted by North American families. Although this lovely book tells the story of one such little girl, it is about much more than the logistics of adoption. It is about the many ways in which we can come together to form a family.

Escape from Saigon: How a Vietnam War Orphan Became an American Boy. Andrea Warren. 2004. 128p. (gr k-4). Farrar, Straus & Giroux. Over a million South Vietnamese children were orphaned by the Vietnam War. This affecting true account tells the story of Long, who, like more than 40,000 other orphans, is Amerasian —a mixed-race child—with little future in Vietnam. Escape from Saigon allows readers to experience Long’s struggle to survive in war-torn Vietnam, his dramatic escape to America as part of “Operation Babylift” during the last chaotic days before the fall of Saigon, and his life in the United States as “Matt,” part of a loving Ohio family. Finally, as a young doctor, he journeys back to Vietnam, ready to reconcile his Vietnamese past with his American present. As the thirtieth anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War approaches, this compelling account provides a fascinating introduction to the war and the plight of children caught in the middle of it. Author’s Website: andreawarren.com.

Every Year on Your Birthday. Rose A Lewis. Illustrated by Jane Dyer. 2007. 32p. (gr ps-3). Little, Brown Young Readers. In beautiful, heartfelt language, Every Year on Your Birthday tells the story of an adoptive mother’s love toward her five-year-old daughter. The story begins with the wonder and excitement she feels before she adopts her daughter from China. It then reflects each year of her life, from the activities mothers and daughter shared together to the growing love of the mother feels as each year passes.

Families are Different. Written & illustrated by Nina Pellegrini. 1991. 32p. (gr k-1). Holiday House. Although Korean-born Nico doesn’t like looking different from her adoptive parents, her mother assures her that, indeed, there are all kinds of families, “glued together with a special kind of glue called love.” Thus follows some of the many variations of modern-day families, featuring a multiracial mix of both traditional and nontraditional groupings. Single and adoptive parents, grandparent guardians, and steprelatives all receive equal attention. While neither the watercolor illustrations nor the text are particularly inspiring, both convey a clear message of the need for accepting differences among lifestyles and stress that “family” is a bond created more by love and concern among its members than by biological relationships. A definite discussion-starter and an acceptable choice for those wishing to address the issue of the changing family group. — Nancy Menaldi-Scanlan, Wheeler School, Providence, RI (School Library Journal)

Families are Forever. Craig Shemin. Based on Characters by Deb Capone. Illustrated by John McCoy. 2003. 34p. (gr ps-3). As Simple As That. Families locates the delicate balance between individuality and diversity. Lighthearted and touching, this color-bursting tale is narrated by Rain, a six-year-old Chinese-American adopted girl and her beloved stuffed hippo, who is a family legacy. Through Rain, we learn that: “A family is special and each one is different. And some sisters and brothers may not look like their fathers and mothers. But that doesn’t matter; what does matter is this: families are forever.” While the story’s main character, Rain, is adopted, Families isn’t a story only about adoption. It is about observing Rain as she discovers that despite differing physical characteristics, as human beings we are more similar than we are different. This key message of the book offers readers ways to begin the important early conversations about diversity—in race, in family formation and other areas of life. Our children are growing up in a diverse society and are faced with a large array of people and choices. As they go out into this world, they are asking tough questions. Rain’s adventures speak directly to these challenges that our children face. Other books in the series are Dumplings Are Delicious (2005), and Tooth Fairy Tales (2006).

Finding Joy. Marion Coste. Illustrated by Yong Chen. 2006. 32p. Boyds Mills Press. When Shu-li is born, her mother and father wrap her in a blanket and take her to town. The government says that a family is allowed to have only one child. So they lay Shu-li on the ground beneath a bridge. On her blanket they pin a note that reads “This is our Shu-li. Please take care of her. No room for girls.” Fortunately, Shu-li is found and taken to an orphanage. Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, a husband and wife in North America hope to adopt a baby from China.

Finding Miracles. Julia Alvarez. 2004. 272p. (gr 6-9). Knopf. Milly Kaufman is an ordinary American teenager living in Vermont—until she meets Pablo, a new student at her high school. His exotic accent, strange fashion sense, and intense interest in Milly force her to confront her identity as an adopted child from Pablo’s native country. As their relationship grows, Milly decides to undertake a courageous journey to her homeland and along the way discovers the story of her birth is intertwined with the story of a country recovering from a brutal history. Beautifully written by reknowned author Julia Alvarez, Finding Miracles examines the emotional complexity of familial relationships and the miracles of everyday life. About the Author: Julia Alvarez has written three other books for young readers, The Secret Footprints, a picture book; How Tía Lola Came to (Visit) Stay, a middle-grade novel; and Before We Were Free, a young adult novel. She is a writer-in-residence at Middlebury College and lives in Vermont.

Girl Without a Name, The. Gunnel Beckman. Illustrated by Borghild Rud. 1970. 153p. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. An Iranian orphan is adopted by a Swedish couple living next door to Sara who hope she can become “a real Swedish girl.”

Grace from China. Jacqueline A Kolosov. 2004. 179p. (gr 4-7). Yeong & Yeong Book Company. Mom turned around and smiled. Her face was bright red, and tears shone in her eyes—was it the wind? “Thank goodness you’re home.” Her breathless voice radiated excitement. “I’m planting flowers because I had to get out of the house. I haven’t been able to sit still since I got the news.” I took a step away from her. That familiar, anxious feeling took hold. “News? What news?” “The adoption—it’s finally gone through! The Chinese government has granted us permission to adopt a little girl.” Mom’s face positively glowed. She reached out a hand to me. “She’s waiting for us, Jess.” Fourteen-year-old Jess is only just coming to terms with her father’s death in a car accident. Until now she believed her mother put aside the family’s plan to adopt a daughter from China. But a year has passed, Xiao Ting is ready to be picked up from her orphanage, and Jess is having second thoughts. “No,” Emily said, laying a clenched fist on the table, “you can’t. Maybe this trip to China will be the best thing for you. You’ll face people and situations you’ve never experienced before.” Emily’s voice broke off, and she smiled, really smiled. “You’ll bring home a little sister, and maybe you’ll start to believe that good things can come out of bad ones.” Still walled up by grief, Jess doesn’t want to hear what her best friend has to say, but within a matter of weeks she’s traveling to China accompanied by her mother, seven other families, and one energetic adoption facilitator. Among her traveling companions is fifteen-year-old Winnie Moore, who was adopted from China thirteen years earlier. Like Jess, Winnie has lost a parent. Yet Jess quickly discovers that Winnie isn’t quite like anyone she’s ever met before. China, too, holds many surprises. A country with a long, complex history and an uncertain future, this strange land is the birthplace of her new sister, Xiao Ting. Until she gets there, how can Jess possibly begin to imagine that she, too, will come to feel connected to a country thousands of miles from home? How can she predict what the trip and her new sister hold in store for her? How can she understand why the Chinese birth family could not keep their daughter? How can she believe that Emily’s words just might come true?

Great Call of China, The. Cynthea Liu. 2009. 224p. (S.A.S.S. Series). (YA). Speak. Chinese-born Cece was adopted when she was two years old by her American parents. Living in Texas, she’s bored of her ho-hum high school and dull job. So when she learns about the S.A.S.S. program to Xi’an, China, she jumps at the chance. She’ll be able to learn about her passion—anthropology—and it will give her the opportunity to explore her roots. But when she arrives, she receives quite a culture shock. And the closer she comes to finding out about her birth parents, the more apprehensive she gets. Enter Will, the cute guy she first meets on the plane. He and Cece really connect during the program. But can he help her get accustomed to a culture she should already know about, or will she leave China without the answers she’s been looking for? About the Author: Cynthea Liu lives in Chicago, Illinois.

Guji Guji. Chih-Yuan Chen. 2004. 32p. (gr ps-3). Kane/Miller Book Publishers. Things are just about perfect for Guji Guji and his somewhat unconventional family until the day three bad crocodiles appear. They don’t see a family; they see “fat, delicious ducks.” They don’t see Guji Guji, the biggest and strongest duck in Mother Duck’s family, either. “Look at yourself! No feathers, no beak, no big webbed feet! What you have is blue-gray skin, sharp claws, pointed teeth and the smell of bad crocodile. You’re just like us.” Poor Guji Guji. What’s a crocoduck to do? An original in his own family, Guji Guji proves to himself and others that family, no matter where or what that family may be, is worth protecting and cherishing.

Happy Adoption Day!. Lyrics by John McCutcheon. Illustrated by Julie Paschkis. (Songbook). 1996. 32p. (gr ps-k). Little Brown. This is a lovely story of one happy family with their little adopted child from another continent. The author was inspired to serenade the little child by putting the words in Happy Adoption Day to music.

Heart of Mine: A Story of Adoption. Dan & Lotta Höjer. Transated by Elisabeth Kallick Dyssegaard. 2001. 28p. (gr ps-1). R&S Books. An inspiring story of the creation of a family. Once a mommy and daddy were longing for a child to take care of and love. Then one day their phone rang, and they were told that a little girl had been born in a land far away. Her name was Tu Thi. Then her picture arrived in the mail. She had spiky hair, round cheeks, and a tiny little mouth. The mommy and daddy thought of nothing but Tu Thi, and soon they embarked on a wondrous journey to bring her home. This gentle, heartwarming story promises to become a classic. About the Authors: Dan Höjer is the editor of Sweden’s largest children’s newspaper and the author of many books for young readers. He and Lotta Höjer traveled to Vietnam to bring home their daughter, Tua.

Henry’s First-Moon Birthday. Lenore Look Ilustrated by Yumi Heo. 2001. 40p. (gr ps-3). Simon & Schuster’s Children. Baby Henry is celebrating his one-month birthday, with everyone in his Chinese-American family making extensive preparations for the festivities, especially his big sister, Jenny, and their grandmother, Gnin-Gnin. Look (Love as Strong as Ginger, 1999) tells the story in present tense with Jenny as the narrator describing all the special foods and decorations, guests, and presents that make the traditional celebration part of her family heritage. Her grandmother skillfully involves Jenny in all the preparations and gives her the extra dose of love any new big sister needs. The story is rather flighty and episodic, but since a bright, take-charge little girl is the narrator, perhaps that is just realistic fiction. Heo’s (Yoshi’s Feast, 2000, etc.) delightfully naïve illustrations perpetuate the notion that Jenny is in charge of this story, both in words and in pictures, and the flat perspective and whirling background details of the pencil, oil, and collage illustrations offer a cheery, child-like view of Jenny’s world. Bright, colorful, busy, and jumpy (just like real life in any happy household with a healthy newborn), this story will be of special interest to Chinese-American families and to parents of adopted Chinese children, but has universal appeal. — From Kirkus Reviewsa

Her Own Song. Ellen Howard. 1988. 160p. Atheneum. When her adoptive father is hospitalized after an accident, Mellie is befriended by Geem-Wah, owner of a Chinese laundry, who holds the key to the events surrounding Mellie’s birth eleven years ago.

Home for Sita, A. Julie T Grab. Illustrated by Pam DeVito. 1995. (gr ps-3). Windswept House. The story of the adoption from India of a little girl named Sita.

I Am Jungle Soup. Rinnie Levine Schindel. Illustrated by Tom Hall. 1967. 32p. LW Singer. Story of a Korean orphan who is adopted by a U.S. family.

I Don’t Have Your Eyes. Carrie A Kitze. 2003. 32p. (gr ps). EMK Press. I don’t have your eyes, but I have your way of looking at things... So begins this beautifully illustrated and uplifting book that helps to create the intimate parent/caregiver and child bond that is so important within a family. While others may notice the physical differences, there are so many ways we can celebrate the commonality that makes us truly family. We don’t look the same on the outside, but in our hearts, we are the same. Family connections are vitally important to children as they begin to find their place in the world. For transracial and transcultural adoptees, domestic adoptees, and for children in foster care or kinship placements, celebrating the differences within their families as well as the similarities that connect them, is the foundation for belonging. As parents or caregivers, we can strengthen our children’s tie to family and embrace the differences that make them unique. Each child will have their own story and their own special place to belong. This beautifully illustrated and uplifting book will help to create the intimate parent/caregiver and child bond that is so important. While others may notice the physical differences between us on the outside, inside we are the same.

I Love You Like Crazy Cakes. Rose A. Lewis. Illustrated by Jane Dyer. 2000. Little Brown. Based on the author’s own experience, this heartfelt story follows a woman on her journey to adopt a baby girl from China. From paperwork to plane flight, the narrative chronicles the baby’s trip from a crib in a big room shared with many other babies to her own crib in her own room in her new room. Jane Dyer’s delicate watercolors perfectly complement this charming text, a celebration of the love and joy a baby brings into the world.

If It Hadn’t Been For Yoon Jun. Marie G Lee. 1993. 134p. (gr 4-7). Houghton Mifflin. Alice, who is Korean but who was adpoted as a baby, considers herself 100 percent American. So, when her father insists that she be friends with Yoon Jun, a geeky-looking Korean kid who’s just come to America from Korea, Alice is very upset. How can she risk her friends and popularity by befriending Yoon Jun?

Jade Dragon, The. Carolyn Marsden & Virginia Shin-Mui Loh. 2006. 176p. (gr 2-5). Candlewick. Ginny is sure the new girl in her second-grade class will be her best friend. After all, Stephanie is Chinese, just like Ginny. But Ginny soon discovers some puzzling things about Stephanie: she doesn’t like Chinese food, she hates her straight black hair, and even more surprisingly, her parents are not Chinese. At Ginny’s house, MaMá cooks delicious Chinese dishes as the family prepares for their big holiday party and Stephanie spies Ginny’s most prized possession—a hand-carved jade dragon—and asks to take it home. Much as Ginny yearns for a best friend, is it worth the risk of losing her special keepsake and angering MaMá? Drawing on Virginia Loh’s real life story, the authors poignantly capture Ginny’s dilemma as she navigates with difficulty between her culture and her friendship. About the Authors: Carolyn Marsden is the author of The Gold-Threaded Dress and its sequel, The Quail Club, as well as Silk Umbrellas and Moon Runner. She lives in La Jolla, CA. Virginia Shin-Mui Loh is a former elementary-school teacher who is currently a doctoral candidate in education. The Jade Dragon is her debut novel. Like Ginny, the story’s heroine, she was born and raised in Virginia. She lives in San Diego, CA.

Jin Woo. Eve Bunting. Illustrated by Chris K Soentpiet. 2001. 32p. (gr ps-3). Clarion Books. David likes his family the way it has always been, just him and Mom and Dad. He never wanted to be a big brother. And he certainly didn’t want Jin Woo, the little baby from Korea, to join the family. Now Jin Woo is getting all the attention, and David feels as if no one cares about him anymore. But then a surprising letter helps him to understand that being a brother can mean being surrounded with more love than ever. Eve Bunting and Chris Soentpiet bring the same deep emotion that distinguished their previous collaboration, So Far from the Sea, to this moving story of an adoptive family that has love to spare. About the Author: Storytelling and the magic of words have always been important to Eve Bunting. She grew up in Northern Ireland, where storytelling is a tradition, and came to America as a young mother. Eve writes every day and her ideas come from what excites and interests her. She has the unique ability to address contemporary social issues, from homelessness to illiteracy, in a sensitive manner, and at the same time to explore the dynamics of family relationships. Eve Bunting is the author of more than 200 beloved books for young people, from preschoolers to teenagers.. Among her many popular picture books for Clarion are The Wall, Fly Away Home, and Train to Somewhere. Ms. Bunting lives in Pasadena, California. Illustrator Chris K. Soentpiet was born in Seoul, Korea. When he was eight, he and his older sister were adopted by an American family and moved to Hawaii, then later to Portland, Oregon. He received a B.F.A. in illustration from Pratt Institute. Mr. Soentpiet lives in Brooklyn, New York, with his wife.

Journey Home. Lawrence McKay. Illustrated by Dom Lee & Keunhee Lee. 1998. 32p. (gr. ps-3). Lee & Low Books. This enormously touching book from McKay (Caravan, 1995) tells the story of Mai and her mother’s journey to Vietnam in search of the mother’s birth family. Mai narrates as her mother, left at an orphanage in Saigon when she was a baby, searches the records and attempts to find a clue to her family—a thread she can follow to her source. Their search pivots on the design of a kite, similar to the one that was Mai’s mother only possession when she came to the US. As their journey continues, Mai finds herself busy with issues of identity and belonging: Her father deserted the family when she was a baby, her mother seems serene about her search; Mai notices that she looks more like the people in this new country than she looks like those back home. Adding to the poignancy of the story is the immediacy of its context, its near history, and its palpable expression of the madness and carnage of war. The Lees’ soft artwork is especially expressive in the depiction of faces; in the scene in which Mai’s mother meets an old friend of her father’s, who bestows upon her her real name and explains the circumstances under which she was left at the orphanage, there won’t be a dry eye among readers and listeners. — © 1998 Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Journey Home, The. Carol Raikes. Illustrated by JW Raikes. 2002. 40p. (gr ps-3). Sleepy Gnome Pub. The Journey Home is the real life story of the adoption of Misha and Ilia from Russia. The story takes place in a magical land with fantasized characters. It is a journey of the heart, mind and soul for the characters; just as it has been in real life. J.W. Raikes, Misha and Ilia’s older brother illustrated the book. The illustrations were digitally rendered, utilizing J.W.’s freehand expertise. About the Authors: Carol Raikes grew up in Southern California. She is married and has five children, three of which are grown, and Misha and Ilia. She currently lives in Tucson, AZ with her husband, menagerie of animals, and the two boys. She enjoys writing for children, and is presently planning her next book. J.W. Raikes has many talents. He paints, sculpts, plays guitar, illustrates, and has many other interests he pursues in his free time. He lives in Tucson, AZ with his dog, Jasmine.

Journey to Mei, The. Freddie Remza. 2007. 164p. (gr 4-7). Outskirts Press. Ten-year-old Shelly is upset when she discovers that her parents plan on adopting a child. Shelly enjoys her “only child” status and is not willing to give it up without a little struggle. As she becomes more aware and lets go of her selfishness, we see her evolve into a caring person anxious to become a big sister to a child far away.

Just Add One Chinese Sister. Patricia McMahon. Karen A Jerome. 2005. 32p. (gr ps-3). Boyds Mills Press. This story of an American family’s adoption of a Chinese toddler is storytelling at its finest. The narration in two voices begins as the mother shares a scrapbook she compiled with Claire. Big brother Conor reveals his thoughts through journal entries printed in italics in the wide right margins. The omnipresent dog is a humorous and appealing fourth presence. The composition mimics a scrapbook, with multiple images on a page (sometimes designed as photographs) and other travel paraphernalia, e.g., ticket stubs, receipts, and postcards. Jerome’s imaginative approach to color and style attracts and sustains interest. A snowy scene in China is impressionistic, bathed in purple. Family scenes are highly saturated with vivid color blends and dramatic contrasts between light and dark areas. The generous white space and lean text allow readers to pace themselves through the moving emotional content. Author and artist are equally adept at creating multidimensional portraits of the children. Conor is, by turn, curious (about how to become a brother), worried, patient, frustrated, and annoyed, but ultimately elated. It is his antics playing “Hotel Ball” with a sock that elicit his sister’s first laugh. Claire registers the anxiety of a toddler leaving familiar territory, the giggly countenance of play, shyness in the face of the second round of relatives, and naughtiness when she’s comfortable in her new role. All children will recognize and empathize with these delightful people.—Wendy Lukehart, Washington DC Public Library (From School Library Journal; Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information).

Just Ask. Melody Carlson. 2005. 250p. (Diary of a Teenage Girl Series: Kim #1). (gr 7-up). Multnomah Publishers, Inc. Whom do you ask when you don’t have the answers? What’s a girl to do when caught between a rock and a hard place? The “hard place” is losing the use of her beloved car, and the “rock” is her immovable dad. In order to regain driving privileges, Kim Peterson’s dad talks her into writing an advice column for teens in his newspaper. Kim (a Korean-born adoptee) reluctantly agrees and writes under a pen name. But as she reads letters from peers and friends, she becomes keenly aware of two things: (1) Some kids have it way worse than her, and (2) she does not have all the answers! Whom can she turn to?

Just Waiting For My Family. Terry M Mandeville. 2005. 52p. YourBook.com. A children’s book for children adopted from Eastern Europe, this full-color book is illustrated by the author from first-hand knowledge of Eastern European “Children’s Homes” (orphanages). It is an emotional and real adoption story for children. Just Waiting For My Family describes life in an ex-Soviet-style Children’s Home as a child waits for a real family and the beginning of an adoption journey. The author was united with her sons in Bulgaria. She has written this tale of adoption from the child’s point of view. This is the often requested story she used to tell her boys when they first came home with her. From these words they seemed to gain some measure of reassurance and peace during those stressful times, and learned that they were not, by any means, alone in their feelings. This is a story you can read to children over and over again, through many stages of development, providing an ideal opportunity for open discussion with children who were adopted, as well as their siblings, friends, and family. It is one to which most children adopted from Eastern European and Ex-Soviet style Children’s Homes can relate. About the Author: Terry Mandeille is a Psychiatric RN in the Greater Seattle area. She has worked with children and families for several decades. Terry and Bob were united with their sons Velizar and Anton in Bulgaria. “This is the tale I used to tell our boys when they first came home with us,” says Terry. “From these words they seemed to gather some measure of reassurance and peace during those stressful times. I hope that this story may help other children who were adopted from ex-Soviet style ‘Children’s Homes’ realize that they are not, by any means, alone.” This is Ms. Mandeville’s first children’s book. Visit the Author’s Website to purchase a copy.

Katie-Bo: An Adoption Story. Iris L Fisher. Illustrated by Miraim Schaer. 1987. 56p. (gr ps-3). Adama Books. Relates the adoption of a Korean baby girl into an American family as seen through the eyes of her brother-to-be.

Kids Like Me in China. Ying Ying Fry & Amy Klatzkin (Photography by Brian Boyd & Terry Fry). 2001. 44p. (gr 4-7). Yeong & Yeong. In this first view of China adoption from a child’s perspective, eight-year-old Ying Ying Fry returns to her orphanage to remember what it is like and to write a story so that other adopted children will understand where they came from. Kids Like Me in China combines real-life photos with the forthright observations and complex feelings of an adopted child as she meets caregivers and befriends children in the city where her life began. This book will inspire all adopted children to take charge of their own life stories. Eight-year-old Ying Ying Fry is a Chinese American girl growing up in San Francisco. But her story didn’t begin there. Like lots of kids she knows, Ying Ying spent her first months in China—in a birth family she cannot remember and an orphanage in Changsha, Hunan province, where her American parents adopted her when she was a tiny baby. When Ying Ying goes back to visit Changsha, she can’t wait to see her orphanage caregiver—someone who knew her and loved her when she lived in China. Meeting Li Ayi is just the beginning, as Ying Ying discovers points of connection with all the orphanage children—babies, toddlers and school-age kids. Outside the orphanage she visits children at home, at playgrounds and at school, and these friendships too help her see her life story in a new light. A child of two countries, Ying Ying is determined to claim both as her own. Kids Like Me in China combines real-life photos with the forthright observations and complex feelings of an adopted child as she ponders what her early life might have been like. The first view of China adoption from a child’s perspective, Kids Like Me will inspire all adopted children to take charge of their own life stories.

Letter of Love From China. Bonnie Cuzzolino. Illustrated by Jaz Bennett. 2006. 32p. (gr 4-7). Plum Blossom Books. Inspired when the author’s daughter asked her what she thought her birth mom might say to her if she could speak to her, the book is written from the perspective of a Chinese birth mother in the form of a letter that seeks to explain the child’s own story to her. Letter of Love From China reflects part of the author’s own daughter’s story about finding her own place and knowledge of her actual birth date. Written to reflect one scenario of how a letter from a birth mother might read, it is based upon the author’s belief that her daughter was loved and is still in her birth family’s hearts. The story imagines what a Chinese birth mom might write to the daughter she relinquished, explaining her love for her, the reasons for her relinguishment, the beauty of scenic China and the holidays, and her daughter’s adoption by a family from a foreign land. It ends by using the moon as a mirror to envision each other’s faces whenever each of them thinks of the other. About the Authors: Bonnie Cuzzolino and her family live in New Jersey. Bonnie and her husband Ray are the parents to a beautiful daughter adopted from Hubei, China in November of 2001 at 12 months old. She and her husband are now waiting for a referral for their second daughter from China through Holt International Children’s Services. Bonnie has had a lifelong passion to write children’s books. This book is her first and is dedicated to her daughter, Jillian Mei. Jax Bennett earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from the Rhode Island School of Design in 2004. In addition to freelance illustration, Jax paints murals for private homes and businesses and is an Art Instructor at the Matheny Medical and Educational Center. She plans to continue her education in the Fall of 2006, attending Graduate School for her Masters in Art Therapy.

Lily. Keri Campbell. Illustrated by Bonnie Lemaire. 2009. 32p. (gr 2-5). BookSurge Publishing. Lily is the story of a young girl, adopted from China as a baby. The book tells about Lily’s adoption experience and that of her new family, who travel to China all the way from America to adopt her. Lily not only gets a family of her very own, but inherits a group of very special friends in the process. These friends are referred to as her China sisters; other babies adopted at the same time as Lily, from the same orphanage. Lily’s red thread is linked to many people, not just her new family. You can follow Lily’s adventures in a special series of books. Lily’s adventures are a mix of her life in American with it’s own special traditions and heritage, and that of her birth land, China. About the Author: Keri Campbell has three daughters. One of which is adopted from China. Traveling to China to adopt a baby prompted her to learn more about China’s rich and wonderful culture. She felt that it was important for her daughter to learn about her birth land, it is an important part of her heritage. The Lily series was inspired by her desire to share with her children, and others, the culture and traditions of China.

Little Girl, The. Phil Wong. Illustrated by Fenlin Lee. 2008. (gr ps-3). New Earth Enterprises. One little girl can change your life forever. In The Little Girl, a Chinese bachelor adopts an abandoned baby. He raises her, experiencing the joys and trials of fatherhood. As the girl comes of age, the father realizes that he can’t take care of his daughter forever, so he arranges a marriage for her. He suffers through a deep time of loneliness but in the end is rewarded. Each vignette, beautifully illustrated by Fenlin Lee, moves the reader through the rhythms of ordinary life: work, play, mealtime, gift-giving. When viewed over the characters’ lifetime, the extraordinary comes to light and father and daughter show themselves to be heroic. Hovering nearby, usually out of sight, is the greater hero who assures children everywhere that someone is always watching over them. About the Author: Author Phil Wong’s personal experience with orphans inspired The Little Girl. The son of Chinese immigrant parents, Wong adopted two boys from Vietnam, and was indelibly moved by the orphans he had to leave behind. He also wrote the book in response to China’s sociological crisis: millions of baby girls in China are abandoned due to the one-child policy and a cultural preference for sons. This has led to a gender imbalance that threatens China. New Earth Enterprises plans to market The Little Girl in China, hoping to turn the hearts of mothers and fathers to their daughters and to equalizing the gender imbalance in coming generations. The Little Girl is intended for a variety of audiences. Adoptive families will find the story unique among children’s books about adoption because it is set entirely in China, seamlessly affirming adoptive children without forcing upon them the anxieties that multiracial families often expect. Educators will value the depiction of everyday Chinese life. Parents will resonate with the story’s poignant pictures of loss and redemption. Children will see themselves reflected in the daily adventures of the little girl.

Little Lucy’s Family: A Story About Adoption. Eleanor Gormally. Illustrated by Orla Roche. 2006. (gr k-4). Veritas Books (Canada). Little Lucy’s Family, is a story to be read to children and is told in the first person. Lucy feels loved and wanted in her new family while coming to terms with a sense of confusion and loss. One night in bed Lucy wonders what her birth parents were like, and if being no longer with them means they did not love her. When her mother comes to say goodnight, the child is afraid to ask this, but later plucks of up courage to tell Dad how she feels.

Long Ride, The: A Child’s Search. Don Regier. Illustrated by Karen Pritchett. 2004. 32p. (gr ps-3). Kregel Publications. One side of this flip-book introduces two orphaned Chinese girls and the other tells the story of a family searching for two girls to adopt. In the middle, the two stories unite the two groups and they become one special family.

Made in China: A Story of Adoption. Vanita Oelschlager. Illustrated by Kristin Blackwood. 2008. 30p. (gr ps-3). Vanita Books. Made In China touches on two seemingly unrelated subjects—adoption and sibling relations. As told in this story, these subjects are intertwined and very important to one young child who literally was “made in China.” The story begins when the child is told by her older sister, in a teasing manner, that she is adopted from China, and “marked” just like the broom and their toys. Upset, she goes to her father who tells her the story of how she came to be their child but “you’re not made like a toy, you were made in China to give us joy.” And, he also reminds her that “you are much more than what people say about you.” The story is resolved with her older sister and she is reassured that, “In all the wide world we couldn’t love you more.” About the Authors: Vanita Oelschlager is a wife, mother, grandmother, philanthropist, former teacher, current caregiver, author, and poet. She is a graduate of Mt. Union College in Alliance, Ohio, where she currently serves as a Trustee. Vanita is also Writer In Residence for the Literacy Program at The University of Akron. Her first book, My Grampy Can’t Walk, was widely praised. It’s an uplifting story about the wonderful relationship between her husband Jim, who has multiple sclerosis, and their grandchildren. Vanita has also supported Jim as he built Oak ssociates, ltd. into a highly respected investment management firm. Kristin Blackwood is an experienced illustrator whose other Vanita Books include: My Grampy Can’t Walk, Let Me Bee, Big Blue, Made In China and What Pet Will I Get?

Magical Friendship Garden, The. Rebekah Barlow Rounce. Illustrated by Carla Golembe. 2008. 28p. (gr 4-7). Xlibris Corp. The joyous and mystical adoption of a precious baby from Ethiopia is the theme of this story, played out in a magical garden. It explores the wonder and beauty of families coming together with all their differences through the incredible gift of adoption and how beautiful those differences can be when founded in love. Unique interactive spaces in the book allow children the opportunity to explore their own relationships as they answer questions by designing and coloring their own pages, becoming co-authors/illustrators! Lines for them to sign their name and the date of their illustrations are included to become very special memories for years to come. Creating even more fun is the little yellow kitten hidden throughout the book. Can you find her? Proceeds from these books will be donated to Kids Care Orphanage in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The proceeds will be used to build a school and library for the orphanage. For more information on Kids Care Orphanage or to donate directly towards the school for the orphanage in Ethiopia, you may contact:
America World Adoption Association
School and Library fund for Kids Care Orphanage, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Attn: Duni Zenaye
Director Ethiopian Program
6723 Whittier Ave., Suite 202
Mc Lean, VA 22101

Mama’s Wish / Daughter’s Wish. Debbie Blackington (Mama’s Wish) and Brynne Blackington (Daughter’s Wish). Illustrated by Debbie Blackington. Translation by Xiaolan Z Sommer. 2004. 48p. (gr ps-3). Pebbleton Press. Two books in one! The mother’s story and the daughter’s story and both meet in the middle of the book. The Story: Somewhere in the world there was a woman who wanted to be a mother, but she didn’t have a child to love. Somewhere in the world there was a child wishing for a family and to be taken home. Mama’s Wish/Daughter’s Wish are two stories told by both the woman and the child of how their wishes take them on a miraculous journey, a journey that realizes their hopes and dreams of making their two stories into one. With gentle illustrations and language a child can understand, Mama’s Wish is a story for all ages that shows how much an adopted child is waited for and wanted. Daughter’s Wish, told by a 4-year-old of her wait for a new family, tells how wonderful it is to be chosen. The Translation: A Chinese proverb states that there is an invisible red thread that connects those destined to meet regardless of time, place or circumstances. The thread may stretch or tangle, but never break. In Mama’s Wish/Daughter’s Wish, the thread of love between mother and child weaves throughout the book with Mandarin translation so their story can be shared around the world for all families and those who wait.

Mishka: An Adoption Tale. Adrienne Ehlert Bashista. Illustrated by Miranda R Mueller. 2007. DRT Press. Mo lives high on a shelf in an airport gift shop. All day he watches as families walk past. He can’t help but feel lonely. Mo wants a family. He wants a home. Then one day Mo’s wish for a family comes true as a special couple take him on a marvelous journey to meet his new best friend, Yuri. Mo has lots of questions once he gets to his destination. Where is he? What’s a mishka? And most importantly, will the man and the woman who brought him and Yuri together come back? Will Mo ever have a family of his own? About the Author: Adrienne Ehlert Bashista is a writer, school librarian, and the mother of two boys, one of whom was adopted from Russia as a toddler. In addition to Mishka, An Adoption Tale, she is also the author of When I Met You: A Story of Russian Adoption. She wrote both stories for all the families created through adoption from Russia and Eastern Europe.

Molly By Any Other Name. Jean Davies Okimoto. 1990. 276p. (gr 9-12). Scholastic Inc. A teenage Asian girl who has been adopted by non-Asian parents decides to find out who her biological parents are.

Mommy Far, Mommy Near: An Adoption Story. Carol Antoinette Peacock. Illustrated by Shawn Costello Brownell. 2000. (gr ps-3). Albert Whitman & Co. Although Elizabeth, a young Chinese girl, is secure in the love of her adoptive Caucasian American family, she still has questions. Why, if China is such a big country, wasn’t there room for all the babies? Didn’t her mother love her? Such questions surface in games with her younger Chinese sister, in loving give-and-take with her American mother, and in hurt feelings after seeing a Chinese mother and daughter at the playground. Decorated in floral patterns and colored in lush, velvety hues, the thickly stroked, realistic artwork expands on the text while heightening the emotions it conveys. Elizabeth’s misgivings are met head-on by her adoptive mother’s reassurance, love, and thoughtful responses. The mother’s tender support not only reassures Elizabeth but will also benefit other adoptees, especially those from Third World countries, as it reinforces the efforts of all loving, adoptive parents. — Ellen Mandel. © 2000 American Library Association. All rights reserved.

Mom with the Red Lipstick, The: An Adoption Memory of a Little Bulgarian Boy. Lydia M. Kordalewski, as told by Nicholas to his mother on the way home from the orphanage. 2008. 36p. (gr ps-3). AuthorHouse. The Mom with the Red Lipstick is an emotional and moving story told by a little adopted boy’s memories of his earlier life in an Bulgarian orphanage on the way home to the United States with his new mom. His mom shares her emotions, struggles and unconditional love of a little boy who became her beautiful son on a wonderful spring day in Bulgaria. Her adoption is truly a blessing and she encourages other families to adopt. This deeply moving book is likely to be one of the most-read adoption stories of our time. About the Author: About the Author: Lydia M. Kordalewski is a freelance writer for several publications and an author of a crime novel, Inside the Humidor. She started writing at an early age on topics ranging from social events to famous people. She has traveled the world extensively and enjoys photography. She has received many awards for her work with ethnic groups and her civic activism. Lydia is working on several book projects and a screenplay.

Mommy Mole, The. John Medler. 2005. 54p. (gr ps-3). Dorrance Publishing Co. This is a heart-warming story about international adoption. Molly Mole was feeling a great void in her life without a child to love. On the other side of the world, baby Natasha searched for a new mommy. Maybe, if Natasha can overcome her small size, foreign lands, and scary predators, she can find her new mommy mole. The Mommy Mole helps adopted children understand that they are not only a great treasure to their new parents, but that their birth parents love them, too. A simple yet powerful story, written in clever verse, The Mommy Mole affirms in us the belief that love will conquer all. About the Author: John Medler, Jr., is a trial lawyer in St. Louis, MO, where he lives with his wife, Tammy, and six children, two of whom were adopted from foreign countries. He is very active in his community volunteering with youth groups. Medler’s other writings include a legal fiction novel entitled Breach of Duty and a regular legal humor column for the St. Louis Bar Journal. In addition to writing, he enjoys spending time with his family and beating his son at Scrabble.

My China Workbook: A Lifebook Tool for Kids Adopted From China. Beth O’Malley. 2007. “What do my birth parents look like?” “Did I do something wrong?” “Why are so many Chinese girls put up for adoption?” Adoption expert, Beth O’Malley, provides you with an excellent tool that helps you answer these and other sometimes awkward questions. With fill-in-the blank questions, places for artwork, checklists and adoption homework, you and your child can work through the issues specific to being an adoptee from China. Convenient spiral-bound pages take you step-by-step through your child’s history in China, explaining about his/her biological parents, the adoption process and more. When your child asks questions, it opens the door for communication. That’s one of the most important benefits of this lifebook. With open communication is established, you can help your child feel more loved, wanted and accepted for who he/she is so they can continue to thrive. About the Author: Beth O’Malley is an adoptee, adoptive mom and professional in the field of adoption. With a Masters in Counseling, Beth relies on her instincts and experiences as an adult adoptee as much as her skill when preparing foster children for adoption. In 2000, she wrote Lifebooks: Creating a Treasure for the Adopted Child. This book has helped thousands of parents and children connect and successfully work through the issues of adoption including understanding why kids don’t live with their biological families. Beth’s latest work, My China Workbook, offers parents and children adopted from China new ways to talk about their inner concerns and build upon their attachment to their family.

My Family Is Forever. Nancy L Carlson. 2004. 32p. (gr ps-3). Viking Books. Some families look alike, some don’t. Some families are formed through birth, and some families are formed by adoption. But as the little girl in this heartwarming book makes clear, being a family isn’t about who you look like or where you were born—it’s about the love that binds you together. Adoptive families are sure to delight in the special story of the narrator’s adoption—from her parents’ excited preparations and long journey by airplane to meet her, to their life together as a family. Nancy Carlson’s thoughtful, straightforward text and cheerful illustrations combine to create a reassuring look at how one little girl came into her parents’ world—and made them a family forever. About the Author: Nancy Carlson has written and illustrated many beloved books for young readers.

My Mei Mei. Ed Young. Illustrated by the author. 2006. 40p. (gr ps-3). Philomel. More than anything else in the world, Antonia wants a Mei Mei, little sister, to call her own. But when she and her mother and father fly all the way to China to get her little sister and Antonia finally meets her, she is not at all like Antonia imagined her: She can’t walk. She can’t talk. She just cries and steals attention. But is her Mei Mei all that bad? This charming personal story from Ed Young follows a little girl as she learns what being a big sister is all about, and discovers the real meaning of family.

My Mother Doesn’t Look Like Me. SL Jones. Illustrated by Linnette Tompkins-Johnson. 2009. 32p. Tembo Publishing Co. After the relationship to her Caucasian mother is questioned, a young African-American girl learns the truth about her birth and that unconditional love transcends race. About the Author’s S.L. Jones was born in Oakland, CA. She has been a public school educator since 1993. This is her first children’s book. Linnette Tompkins-Johnson grew up in Queens, NY. She received her B.F.A. in Illustration Art from Pratt Institute.

My New Mommy: I Got Adopted!. Lauren Barrett. 2009. 24p. (gr ps-3). Tate Publishing. Little Han Fumei is only a baby, but she is about to encounter some big changes. Han Fumei is a Chinese baby chosen to get a new mommy. But she’s afraid to leave the comfort of the orphanage. See what’s it like as nannies get her ready to leave China for her new life in America. Read My New Mommy: I Got Adopted! with your child today! This is an eLIVE book, meaning each printed copy contains a special code redeemable for the free download of the audio version of the book.

Nikolai, the Only Bear. Barbara M Joosse. Illustrated by Renata Liwska. 2005. 32p. Philomel Books. There are one hundred orphans at the Russian orphanage, but Nikolai is the only bear. He growls when he speaks and claws the air when he plays. “Play nice, Nikolai,” the keepers say. No one wants to take Nikolai home. Until one day, when a fur-faced man and a smooth-faced woman come to visit from America. They growl with him and play with him, and sing songs that make him feel soft-bearish. And when it’s time for them to go home, Nikolai knows that he has found the right family at last. Charmingly illustrated by newcomer Renata Liwska, this is an adoption fable that any child who’s ever felt like an outsider will easily relate to. About the Author: Barbara Joosse lives in Cedarburg, Wisconsin.

Nisha’s Story. Lorraine Demers. 2006. 28p. (gr ps-3). Trafford Publishing. The origins of this book go back to 1989 when my daughter was about to celebrate the 1st anniversary of her arrival in Canada, which we called her “Homecoming.” I wanted to give her a children’s picture book on the subject of adoption, but I could not find a single one in any of our bookstores or libraries. I decided to write my own book and that was the beginning of Nisha’s Story. Nisha’s Story follows my daughter’s first year in Canada. It begins with her arrival in the spring as a frightened 14-month-old, and then progresses through the seasons. Slowly she becomes more comfortable with her new family, and slowly her health improves. The book finishes with the realization that there has been true bonding between the mother and child, and that a deep love and attachment has grown between them. Although the book was originally written for a two-year-old, it has been proudly presented to all of my daughter’s teachers, childhood friends, and to every new person who entered her life. Many people were moved to tears when they read it, and I began to realize the universal appeal and powerful affect the book had over people of all ages. Children hear the story on one level, but adults read between the lines. There are no gruesome details on the effects of severe malnutrition and protein deficiency, but the pictures trace the physical, social and emotional progress made by a child eating good food and living in a loving home. The brittle orange hair gives way to shiny, dark curls just as the fear gives way to laughter and song. Everyone learns that love has the power to heal broken hearts in moms, dads, and kids alike. No matter how rough the start, every child has the potential to be a loving, joyful family member, with no limit to what they are capable of achieving. I strongly believe that all adoptive children need the opportunity to celebrate their journey and to be proud of who they are. They need to grow up knowing what a gift they are to their families, and what a blessing they are to the universe. I believe Nisha’s Story is the perfect book with which to begin the dialogue, no matter how old the adoptive child is. We all have an inner child that longs to be cradled on a loving parent’s lap, and it’s never too late to start. When you purchase this book, you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you were personally responsible for helping a Nepali child living in poverty. 100% of all profits from the sale of this book will be used for Charities in Nepal, including Serve Nepal and World Accord. Each book is also accompanied by a music CD. It contains one lullaby, Nisha’s Song.

Our Baby From China: An Adoption Story. Nancy D’Antonio. 1997. 24p. (gr ps-2). Albert Whitman & Co. Although this book will be of most use for families involved in overseas adoption, it should appeal to other adoptive families as well. Certainly, it is easy to fall in love with little Ariela Xiangwei, the child whom the author and her husband went to China to adopt and whose journey to the U.S. is chronicled here. The format is that of a photo album, with each picture receiving a caption that is a paragraph or two long. Too many of the color photographs are pictures of places that have no real relevance to the story (the Great Wall, for instance), but once the couple gets to the orphanage where Ariela and other babies are waiting to be adopted, the pace picks up; the book ends with the new family’s arrival home. Since the picture of Ariela on the front cover shows her to be three or so, it would have been nice to see some of her acclimation to her new home, but this still works as a where-did-I-come-from tale. — Ilene Cooper. © 1997 American Library Association. All rights reserved.

Over the Moon: An Adoption Tale. Karen Katz. 1997. 32p. (gr ps-1). Henry Holt & Co. A loving couple dream of a baby born far away and know that this is the baby they have been waiting to adopt.

Pablo’s Tree. Pat Mora. Illustrated by Cecily Lang. 1994. 32p. (gr ps-3). MacMillan. Each year on his birthday, a young Mexican- American boy looks forward to seeing how his grandfather has decorated the tree he planted on the day the boy was adopted.

Poor Marta. Claire Boggs. 2004. 36p. (gr ps-3). BookSurge Publishing. This book is a true story of a little girl in Guatemala rescued by missionaries and placed in a Christian home in the USA.

Quilt of Wishes, A. Teresa Orem Werner. Illustrated by Nathan Tremlin. 2005. 22p. Lifevest Publishing, Inc. A Quilt of Wishes is a story about a tiny orphan in China who is waiting for her parents to arrive to bring her home. Her mother worries that she could be cold and alone. She decided to make a quilt for the tiny baby and sends it to her while they have to wait for the adoption papers to be completed. This quilt takes on a new meaning when it arrives in China. It no longer just has the purpose of keeping her warm, it now has a meaning. It represents the love from her heritage melding with that of the love from her forever family.

Rain Forest Girl. Chalise Miner. 1998. 64p. (gr 4-10). Mitchell Lane Publishers. The true-life cross-cultural adoption story of Diana Miner. Author Chalise Miner details her adopted daughter’s last few years in her primitive homeland to her arrival in the United States in late 1990. The story is told through the eyes of a child who didn’t really understand why her life was suddenly turned upside down. The tale of a little girl beating the odds was composed to capture the attention and imagination of children everywhere—especially those who were adopted at an older age from a foreign country by American parents.

Rebecca’s Journey Home. Brynn Olenberg Sugarman. Illustrated by Michelle Shapiro. 32p. (gr ps-4). Kar-Ben Publishing. Mr. and Mrs. Stein and their young sons Gabe and Jacob adopt a baby girl from Vietnam. A picture book story of a little girl’s journey to a new land, culture and family.

Red Blanket, The. Eliza Thomas. Illustrated by Joe Cepeda. 2004. 32p. (gr ps-3). Scholastic. This is a story about a little girl who needed a mommy and a forgotten blanket that needed a little girl and a woman who needed them both. This is a journey about the forming of a family. It is as lyrical as a love letter from a mother to her daughter, as honest as the struggles they encounter, and as comforting as a cozy red blanket. Eliza Thomas went to China in 1994 to adopt her daughter PanPan, who was then 5 months old. This is their story.

Red in the Flower Bed: An Illustrated Children’s Story About Interracial Adoption. Andrea Nepa. Illustrated by the Author. 28p. (gr 4-7). Tribute Books. The journey of adoption is beautifully depicted with the comforting imagery of a poppy flower who is welcomed into a garden family. It is a charming story of seeds being planted in the perfect place—exactly where they belong. Children and adults will enjoy this simple yet meaningful story and homespun illustrations. The book’s loving approach helps children to understand adoption. Andrea Nepa has captured the essence of adoption and family, and has illustrated it beautifully with images and poetry that even a small child can comprehend and enjoy. About the Author: Andrea Nepa is the mother of an adopted Vietnamese daughter named Leah. In 2001, Adoptions from the Heart assisted with the international adoption. Andrea dedicated her book to her daughter: For my dear Leah, whose journey in her young life has already taken her to far away and unexpected places. In 2006, Leah was diagnosed with cancer. She is currently in remission. Andrea lives with Leah and her husband, David, in Haddonfield, NJ. She is a registered dietician at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

Santiago. Ann Nolan Clark. 1955. Illustrated by Lynd Ward Santiago. 189p. Viking. Lynd Ward Santiago is a 12-year-old Guatemalan Mayan adopted by aristocratic Spanish family. Despite protests, an old Indian “burden bearer” comes and takes the boy back to his own Indian people. Santiago learns more about his ancestral people that he has known from his sheltered life in Guatemala City. The book, then tells of Santiago growing up and deciding who he must be in the world.

Secret Language of the SB, The. Elizabeth Scarboro. 1990. 129p. (gr 3-7). Viking. Eleven-year-old Adam is not happy when he learns his family is temporarily taking in a Taiwanese girl his own age until her adoptive family is ready for her.

Seeds of Love: For the Brothers & Sisters of International Adoption. Mary E Petertyl. Illustrated by Jill Chambers. 1997. 32p. Folio One. When my husband and I were preparing to travel internationally to adopt our daughter Anna, I worried about how our four-year-old daughter Carly would handle our extended separation. I looked for, but could not find, a book like Seeds of Love. As a professional writer and editor, I naturally felt compelled to address this void in the children’s adoption literature—and Seeds of Love was born! — Mary Ebejer Petertyl

She is Not Your Real Mommy!. Tricia Keierleber. 2010. 24p. (gr ps-3). Tate Publishing. One day at school, Ann Marie is teased for being different from the other kids because she was adopted. Author Tricia Keierleber weaves a wonderful story that shows how adopted children are loved the same by their parents in She is Not Your Real Mommy! About the Author: Tricia Keierleber has a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, with a focus on Child Development. Tricia and her husband, Paul, are in the process of adopting their first child. They live in Rosenberg, Texas.

Sister for Matthew, A: A Story About Adoption. Pamela Kennedy. Illustrated by Amy Wummer. 2006. 32p. (gr ps-3). Ideals Publications. The book explores the emotions a boy experiences when he learns he will soon have a sister from China

Sisters. Judith Caseley. Illustrated by the Author. 2004. 32p. (gr ps-3). Greenwillow. Kika has just been adopted—and she’s worried. There’s so much that’s new to her: a different language, new friends to make, and something she’s never had before—a family. Melissa has a new sister—and she’s excited. There’s so much to share with Kika: trips to the playground, afternoons at the library, and birthday parties. Through each new experience, Kika and Melissa discover that sisterhood can be fun, challenging, and sometimes unpredictable, but always rewarding. Best of all, a sister is a friend for life.

Sky Princess, The. Jon Spangler. 2007. 24p. (gr ps-3). Outskirts Press.. We went to China to find our daughter. And we found love beyond our imagination. Someone who is teaching us every day the power of love.

Star of the Week: A Story of Love, Adoption, & Brownies with Sprinkles. Darlene Friedman. Illustrated by Roger Roth. 2009. 32p. (gr 1-4). HarperCollins. It’s Cassidy-Li’s turn to be Star of the Week at school! So she’s making brownies and collecting photos for her poster. She has pictures of all the important people in her life—with one big exception. Cassidy-Li, adopted from China when she was a baby, doesn’t have a photo of her birth parents. But with a little help from her family, she comes up with the perfect way to include them! Using their own family’s story as a model, Darlene Friedman and Roger Roth celebrate the love of families everywhere through this straightforward and insightful book. About the Authors: Darlene Friedman, an award-winning writer and editor, works for an international women’s organization in Philadelphia. She lives with her husband, Roger; their daughter, Eden; and their dog (“The Dobo”) in Springfield, PA. This is her first book for children.

Su An. Doris Johnson. Illustrated by Leonard Weisgard. 1968. 30p. Follett Publishing Co. Although Su An had lived in a Korean orphanage for a long time, she held to her dream that her mother was alive and would come to take her home. Her vivid memory of her mother and her longing to see her again make her reluctant to be adopted by an American couple. In sparse, poetic prose, Doris Johnson tells of Su An’s thoughts as her feet touch American soil and what happens when she sees her foster parents for the first time. — Dust Jacket Copy

Tall Boy’s Journey. Joanna Halpert Kraus. Illustrated by Karen Ritz. 1992. 47p. (gr 2-5). Carolrhoda Books. When Kim Moo Yong, a Korean orphan boy, is adopted by an American couple and makes the long journey by plane to their house, he finds it a strange and terrifying experience, until he begins to adjust to his new life.

Ten Days & Nine Nights: An Adoption Story. Yumi Heo. Illustrated by the Author. 2009. 40p. (gr ps-3). Schwartz & Wade. How many days until a little girl’s adopted sibling is brought home? Follow a little girl as she and her family prepare for the new baby that will soon be joining them. And simultaneously, watch the girl’s mother fly off to Korea, meet the new baby, and bring her home. Here is an utterly simple, sweet, and child-centric look at the adoption process through the eyes of a soon-to-be older sibling. From cutting a red paper heart and taping it above the new baby’s crib to telling her best friend about the adoption, the young narrator counts down every day and night with growing anticipation, marking them with a big X on her calendar. Unlike other adoption books which are aimed only at the adoptive child, Ten Days and Nine Nights is also perfect for older children who are about to become big sisters and brothers. About the Author: Yumi Heo is the author and illustrator of many acclaimed books for children. Among the books she has illustrated are Knopf’s own The Lonely Lioness and The Ostrich Chicks by Verna Aardema; and Henry’s First-Moon Birthday and Uncle Peter’s Amazing Chinese Wedding, both written by Lenore Look and selected as ALA Notable Children’s Books. She is also the author of The Green Frogs: A Korean Folktale. She was born in Korea, and currently lives in White Plains, NY, with her husband and their two children.

This is Me: Memories to Gather & Keep. Susan L Pierce. 2002. 118p. (China). Adoption Option Memory Books.

This is Me: Memories to Gather & Keep. Susan L Pierce. 2002. 118p. (Russia). Adoption Option Memory Books. Finally, an adoption life book for a child adopted from Russia. The pages of this book are bordered with colorful handprints. All the pages you would expect to find in a high quality baby book are included along with an information page on Russia and a map and flag in color—plus pages to document your trip to Russia and information about your child’s life in Russia before the adoption! Although this book has the look and feel of a traditional bound baby book—even with a padded cover—it is held together with Chicago screws which allow you to add and remove pages easily, yet retain the look of a bound book. Of course the paper is acid free and photo pages are included that are archival quality. A lot of work and research went into this charmer. It will be treasured by your child forever.

Three Blessings From China Adopted. Rose Mary Schaumberg. Illustrated by Emily Rose Schaumberg. 2007. 28p. (gr ps-3). Authorhouse. This story is written by a single mom that has adopted three daughters from China. It is written by mom and Emily, the oldest daughter, and told from Emily’s perspective. The story is based upon their own experience of international adoption, adding one child at a time to their family. It relates how a single mom adopts first one daughter, then another and then finally a third daughter. It describes personalities, their playtime, school time and how they get along as a family. It is colorful and written in rhyme with great illustrations. A delightful little book.

Three Names of Me. Mary Cummings. Illustrated by Lin Wang. 2006. 40p. (gr ps-4). Albert Whitman & Company. Ada has three names. Wang Bin is what the caregivers called her at her Chinese orphanage. Ada is the name her American parents gave her as the three traveled home. And there is a third name, a name the infant Ada only heard whispered by her Chinese mother. That name, unknown but treasured, is someplace in Ada’s heart.

Through Moon & Stars & Night Skies. Ann Turner. Illustrated by James Hale. 1990. 32p. (gr ps-3). HarperCollins Children’s Books. This Reading Rainbow selection describes a little boy’s flight “through moon and stars and night skies” to his new home in America. He’s scared at first, but then he recognizes some things from the pictures he was sent—his new parents, the white house, the green tree, and the red dog. The illustrations are charming in this delightful book for the younger reader.

Throwaway Daughter. Ting-Xing Ye. 2004. 320p. (YA). Seal. A dramatic and moving novel by Ting-xing Ye, the internationally acclaimed author of A Leaf in the Bitter Wind, working with her husband, William Bell, author of the award-winning novels for young adults Forbidden City, Zack, and Stones. Throwaway Daughter tells the dramatic and moving story of Grace Dong-mei Parker, a typical Canadian teenager until the day she witnesses the Tiananmen massacre on television. Horrified, she sets out to explore her Chinese ancestry, only to discover that she was one of the thousands of infant girls abandoned in China since the introduction of the one-child policy, strictly enforced by the Communist government. But Grace was one of the lucky ones, adopted as a baby by a loving Canadian couple. With the encouragement of her adoptive parents, she studies Chinese and travels back to China in search of her birth mother. She manages to locate the village where she was born, but at first no one is willing to help her. However, Grace never gives up and, finally, she is reunited with her birth mother, discovering through this emotional bond the truth of what happened to her almost twenty years before.

Tooth Fairy Tales. Deb Capone. Illustrated by Stan Jaskiel. 2006. 29p. (gr ps-3). As Simple As That. “As Simple As That” books feature Rain and Bo. Rain is six years old and was adopted from China and Bo is her blue hippo that has been in Rain’s family for a long time. There are two other books in this series: Families Are Forever and Dumplings are Delicious.

In Tooth Fairy Tales, Rain and her friends learn about the fun and unique ways in which cultures from all over the world celebrate new teeth. In other countries, the tooth fairy may be anything from a moon to a sparrow and teeth may be put in a mouse hole or be thrown above the roof of a house. But no matter what cultural customs are practiced, celebrating new teeth is always a blast!

Tuck Triumphant. Theodore Taylor. 1991. (gr 4-7). Doubleday. Fourteen-year-old Helen, her blind dog Friar Tuck, and her family face some dramatic challenges when they discover that the Korean boy they have adopted is deaf. Sequel to The Trouble with Tuck.

Voices from Another Place: A Collection of Works from a Generation Born in Korea & Adopted to Other Countries. Susan Soon-Keum Cox, editor. 1999. 152p. Yeong & Yeong. This collection of fiction, memoirs, poetry and art from the first generation of Korean adoptees who are now grown to adulthood, but never completely removed from their roots in Korea. The writings and artwork contained in Voices From Another Place reflect the experiences and emotions of those who began life in Korea, but were raised by adoptive families in America, Europe and Australia. From childhood they grew into their adopted cultures, but the reflection in the mirror, the whispers of strangers, and the quiet beating of their hearts perhaps reminded them of the land of their birth.

Voyager II: Back in a Flash. Charles Mills. 1991. 192p. (gr 5-8). Review & Herald Pub Association. Tony tries to help Tie Li’s troubled brother Kim deal with his emotionally scarring memories of the Vietnamese war by taking him back in his time machine to witness God’s love in a series of Biblical episodes.

Waiting for May. Janet Morgan Stoeke. 2005. 32p. (gr ps-4). Dutton Juvenile. From Kirkus Reviews: Based on her own family’s experiences in the two years it takes for the adoption of their daughter to become final, Stoeke of Minerva Louise fame limns a lovely story of longing for a baby sister. Her soon-to-be older brother describes the research, the paperwork and all the many questions his family must answer before they can bring his baby sister home from China. He wants to know who takes care of her while they wait and work, and if she misses them. Since mei can mean either little sister or beautiful woman in Chinese, and the boy has a grandmother named May, that’s what they call her as soon as the agency displays her picture on the Web. Finally, the boy and his parents take the long flight to China-and the first day, the exhausted baby cries all the time. Soon, fascinated by a turtle button on his shirt, May clings to her brother. The pictures are warmly detailed and in clear, bright colors and strong, graceful lines. A welcome point of view in this expanding genre.

We Adopted You, Benjamin Koo. Linda W Girard. Illustrated by Linda Shute. 1989. 32p. (gr 2-6). A Whitman. Nine-year-old Benjamin Koo Andrews—adopted from Korea as an infant—describes what it’s like to grow up adopted from another country.

We See the Moon. Carrie A Kitze. 2003. 32p. (gr ps-5). EMK Press. Many adult adoptees have gone through life wanting to ask questions about their birth parents, but felt the thoughts they have might make their parents uncomfortable. Then, these questions have remained unasked and unanswered. We See the Moon opens the adoption dialog at an early age by allowing the questions in your child’s heart to be asked and discussed, creating the foundation for conversations to come. This is a story written from the child’s perspective, asking the questions that dwell in their hearts about their birth parents. What do you look like? Where are you now? Do you think of me? It will help children use the moon as a private tool to connect with a family that is always with them in their hearts. This book has received extensive praise from parents who have read it to their children, commenting on how this has opened up channels of communication for them. While the images present with the text are from China, the sentiments expressed in We See the Moon are universal for all those who were adopted, regardless of country of origin. It also is not a book that will be outgrown. Adoptees at many stages in life have been touched by this book. About the Author: Carrie Kitze is the owner of an award winning packaging and strategic marketing consulting firm where she has written for a variety of media for the last 15 years. The adoptive mother of two daughters, she is active in adoption affairs. This book came from listening to adult adoptees and hearing what her own daughters might say. An elegant and evocative book for adopted children to open the birth parent and adoption dialog between parent and child.

We’re Different, We’re the Same. Bobbi Jane Kates. Illustrated by Joe Mathieu. 1992. 32p. (gr ps-3). Random House. Who better to teach young children about racial harmony than the colorful crew from Sesame Street? Rhyming text celebrates the racial rainbow, without which the world would be so much less interesting and wonderful. Full-color illustrations show that, while the body parts of various human and Muppet characters may look different, they have similar uses.

When I Met You: A Story of Russian Adoption. Adrienne Ehlert Bashista. Illustrated by Christine Sykes. 2005. 38p. (gr ps-3). DRT Press. Based on the author’s family’s experience, this book describes a child’s life before and after she was adopted from Russia. From scenes in the orphanage to the child’s Russian birthmother, this is one of the first children’s picture books to chronicle the special background of children adopted from Russia. Delicate watercolor illustrations perfectly compliment this poetic and heartfelt text, a celebration of the joy that adopting a child brings to a family. About the Author: Mishka: An Adoption Tale.

When You Were Born in China: A Memory Book for Children Adopted From China. Sara Dorow. Photos by Stephen Wunrow. 1997. 42p. (YA). Yeong & Yeong. With sensitive text and touching photography, this book about adopting from China brings the whole process to a personal scale. It is a moving photo-essay that provides a child’s-eye view, helping to explain some of the “whys” and “hows” that have brought these children to their new families. When You Were Born in China is an invaluable book for adoptive parents who are looking for just the right words to help their child understand some of the factors that brought them together. It makes a lovely and thoughtful “welcome home” gift.

When You Were Born in Korea: A Memory Book for Children Adopted From Korea. Brian E Boyd. 1993. 44p. (YA). Yeong & Yeong. Children adopted from abroad often wonder what it was like before they came to America. Who took care of them when they were little? How did they come to leave their birth mother? Why were they given up for adoption? Where did they live? What was it like in an orphanage? How was their adoption arranged? How did they get to America? This book tries to provide answers to all of these questions—and more. It is sure to become a keepsake for many Korean-born adoptees.

When You Were Born in Vietnam: A Memory Book for Children Adopted from Vietnam. Therese Bartlett. Photographs by William Bartlett. 2001. 44p. (YA). Yeong & Yeong. When You Were Born in Vietnam is the third book in the thoughtful series of adoption photo-essays published by Yeong & Yeong Book Company (see also, When You Were Born in China and When You Were Born in Korea, above). Speaking directly to adopted children, this book offers a clear and straightforward explanation of how children in Vietnam are placed for adoption. When You Were Born in Vietnam brings to life through superb, emotion-filled full color photography the story of an adoption from an orphanage in Vietnam. Accompany a child from arrival at the orphanage, witness the loving care that is given there, and follow the journey through to placement in a new, forever family. The Bartletts offer a brief overview of Vietnam and together with stunning photography capture the richness of the people and their culture while offering a view of the many hardships their birthparents may have faced that ultimately led them to make the decision to find loving families to raise and care for their children. A touching keepsake for all children adopted from Vietnam, the book is a must for school-aged children who are becoming aware of their own unique adoption stories as well as for the adults who love them. Social workers and adoption agencies will find it a useful tool for themselves and for sharing with adoptive families. Families waiting to adopt from Vietnam will be especially delighted with this book, as they gain a fuller understanding of the joy that waits for them across the ocean. About the Authors: Therese Bartlett (a graphic designer) and William Bartlett (a commercial photographer) work and reside in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area and are the proud parents of a daughter and a son, both adopted from Vietnam through Children’s Home Society of Minnesota. The Bartletts are active members in the agency’s Vietnam Families Group and developed and chaired Catalyst Foundation’s Annual Family Portrait Fundraiser.

White Swan Express, The: A Story About Adoption. Jean Davies Okimoto & Elaine M Aoki. Illustrated by Meilo So. 2002. 32p. (gr ps-3). Clarion Books. In China, the moon shines on four baby girls, fast asleep in an orphanage. Far away in North America, the sun rises over four homes as the people who live there get ready to start a long, exciting journey. This lovely story of people who travel to China to be united with their daughters describes the adoption process step by step and the anxiety, suspense, and delight of becoming a family.

Why Am I Brown?. Jacqueline Meissner. 2009. 22p. (gr 3-7). PublishAmerica. This book is a look at multi-cultural adoption from a child’s viewpoint. I am the adoptive mother of a beautiful black five-year-old girl. The idea for this book came from an actual conversation that we had when she started to recognize that our skin colors were not the same. Although adoption is very fulfilling for each member of the family, the difference in cultural characteristics and the questions that go along with being different do arise in the young mind of the child. However, this book shows that even though there are differences on the outside, on the inside we are all the same. I feel that this book is fun and realistic and easily understood at any age.

Youn Hee & Me. Carole S Adler. 1995. 183p. (gr 3-7). Harcourt Brace. Caitlin already has a Korean sibling, her brother Simon. So when her mother discovers that Simon has an orphaned sister, Youn Hee, in Korea, Caitlin applauds the adoption. She looks forward to company and fun, but readers can feel a disappointment coming. Youn Hee comes across as a complex character (Korea was not a wonderful place for her, but at least she knew how to be a Korean), and Adler’s depiction of differing cultural attitudes towards behavior and discipline may inspire discussion. The story ends predictably as the girls become friends, but there’s interesting character exploration along the way, with Adler skillfully weaving Caitlin’s feelings about her parents’ divorce into the matrix. Mary Harris Veeder. Synopsis Copyright © 1995 American Library Association. All rights reserved.

Your Forever Family. Amy Parker. Illustrated by Neal Wooten & Rosita Schandy. 2008. 28p. (gr ps-3). Mirror Publishing. This book is about an adoptive Guatemalan girl who is adored by her forever family. She has a mom, dad, and two big brothers who cannot wait to be by her side enjoying all the firsts in her life. Although the family has missed some of those firsts such as first tooth as the adoption process has been quite long, they have grown to love her. They have constantly prayed for her and can hardly wait to be her forever family. Not just a family for a little while, but her family for the rest of her life.

You’re Not My REAL Mother!. Molly Friedrich. Illustrated by Christy Hale. 32p. (gr ps-2). 2004. Little, Brown. A little girl looks at herself in the mirror one day and notices that she does not look like her mother. The adoptive mom thinks quickly and lovingly begins to run down all the things she does as a mom that, in fact, makes her a “REAL” mom. What are some of the qualities of a real mother? She ís nurturing—she’ll let you put twenty Band-Aids on a bruised knee when you only need one; she’s dedicated—she’ll drive miles out of her way to retrieve your beloved bear left behind; she’s playful—she catches fireflies with you after bedtime. . . and much, much more. Drawn from the author’s everyday life as an adoptive parent, this cheerful yet tender parent-child conversation offers a response to children who’ve ever asked an adoptive parent why they don’t look like one another. Gentle, lighthearted watercolors by Christy Hale complete the picture of a very special relationship. Here is an invaluable companion for adopted children—and the adults who love them—as they explore the emotional realities of a different kind of family. About the Author: Molly Friedrich has four children, two who are internationally adopted. You’re Not My REAL Mother! is based on an actual event that occured in her life as an adoptive mother. Between the covers of You’re Not My REAL Mother! is the conversation Friedrich had with her own daughter, P-Quy, when P-Quy announced that she wasn’t her mother. Molly Friedrich is a literary agent who lives in New York with her family. This is the first book she has ever written.

Yushi & the Tall Man. Tami Staut. Illustrated by Colleen Comer. 2009. 26p. BookSurge Publishing. Tender and heartfelt, Yushi and the Tall Man by newcomer Tami Staut, shares the real life journey of an abandoned baby who is adopted from her native China by a family in the United States. Left tightly swaddled near the steps of a hospital, this precious child is like thousands of babies abandoned each year in China. The baby is found by a police officer and taken to an orphanage. There Yushi must share a crib with several other babies until her “forever family” arrives. After fourteen months, a loving father and tender brother take Yushi home to their family where they promise to love and care for her forever. About the Author: Tami Staut is an elementary school teacher living in Englewood, CO. She is married with three sons and is currently in the process of adopting a daughter from China.