Finally – a HIT for my question about adoption books for the school library!
I had asked for suggestions re: must-have books about adoption in school libraries
for an article I'm writing for Adoption Today.
I’m not sure which 10 books I’m going to include in my list. I did notice that
a lot of the titles people suggested are a little older, and I want to focus on
newer books. Then again, a great book is a great book, so I obviously need to think
about it a little more.
Books for younger readers that I would recommend (based on my own family’s
experience/loves/and what works for us) are:
A Mother for Choco, by Keiko Kaska
Mishka: An Adoption Tale (by me! Adrienne Ehlert Bashista) – this is about
adoption from Russia/EE, a topic I noticed was left off of most of these lists; my
son is adopted from Russia so of course this would be on my radar
The Forever Friends Club, an easy reader chapter book – puts a fun twist on
adoption, and good for general readers, not just for adopted kids
Over the Moon: An Adoption Tale, by Karen Katz, which is about adoption from
another "place" - a good stand-in for any kid adopted internationally
And my very good friend, who is part of a transracial adoptive family, really
likes: Brown Like Me, Noelle Lamperti
For older kids:
20 Things Adopted Kids Wish Their Parents to Know, Sherrie Eldridge
Pieces of Me, Who do I want to Be – an anthology written by adopted teenagers
~~~~~~~~~
Here are what other people have recommended:
The Sea Chest, a picture book by Toni Buzzeo, has been embraced by the adoption
community and is an excellent choice for the library collection.
My children are adopted I'm listing pictures books just because that's what we read
the most and we loved Horace by Holly Keller and
Our Twitchy / Kes Gray
Happy Adoption Day by John McCutcheon was not my favorite but several of our
friends loved it.
Tell me again about the night I was born by Jamie Lee Curtis
Bringing Asha home / by Uma Krishnaswami
I love you like crazy cakes / by Rose A. Lewis
Little lost bat / Sandra Markle
The White Swan express : a story about adoption / by Jean Davies Okimoto and Elaine
M. Aoki
We are fortunate to live in a community of mixed races and BONUS lots of adoptive
families. It has not been an issue for my children. We stopped pusing "Adoption is
great and wonderful" when they got past the picture book stage :) Susan
I just wrote a book reviewing 115 works of children’s literature (K-8) having
themes related to adoption or foster care. I’ve also included an Appendix
listing numerous other children’s stories with adoption and foster care themes
not reviewed in the book. You might find this a helpful resource for your article.
The books is entitled: Family Matters: Adoption and Foster Care in Children’s
Literature and it’s available through Libraries Unlimited/Teacher Idea Press.
The intent of the book is for teachers/parents to understand how to safely handle
adoption/foster care related issues which arise when children are reading books or
stories with these themes. I’d love to see libraries make use of this….and I
still consider my book a work in progress as additional literature becomes
available! Let me know if I can be of help in your article for Adoption Today!
Ruth Meese
How it feels to be adopted / Jill Krementz.(1994)
Krementz, Jill.
Checked In
WT
362.7 P
So you're adopted(5261)
Powledge, Fred.
Checked In
WT
E B
Jin Woo.(9500)
Bunting, Eve.
Checked In
WT
E C
Tell me again about the night I was born.(9060)
Curtis, Jamie Lee.
Checked In
WT
E D
Bullfrog and Gertrude go camping.(1123)
Dauer, Rosamond.
Checked In
WT
E L
Every year on your birthday. (21125)
Lewis, Rose A.
Checked In
WT
E L
I am adopted.(12704)
Lapsley, Susan.
Checked In
WT
E Turner
Through moon and stars and night skies (10491)
Turner, Ann Warren.
Checked In
WT
F MYE
Me, Mop, and the Moondance kid.(1912)
Myers, Walter Dean.
Checked In
WT
F PAT
Lucky breaks. (14103)
Patron, Susan.
These are both lovely books:
Allison by Allen Say
The red thread: an adoption fairy tale by Grace Lin
Tell Me Again about the Night I Was Born by Jamie Lee Curtis
A New Barker in the House by Tomie dePaola
A Blessing from Above by Patti Henderson
Over the Moon by Karen Katz
The Day We Met You by Phoebe Koehler
Through Moon and Stars and Night Skies by Ann Turner
A Mother for Choco by Keiko Kasza
I Wished for You by Marianne Richmond
Rosie's Family by Lori Rosove
This is a topic that is near and dear to my heart! I am the adoptive mom to 11
children, now ranging in age from 14-39. Years ago I wrote the book Adoption
Literature for Children and Young Adults
(http://www.amazon.com/Adoption-Literature-Children-Young-Adults/dp/0313276064
<http://www.amazon.com/Adoption-Literature-Children-Young-Adults/dp/0313276064> )
when my own young children complained that they couldn't find books about families
like ours.
Here are a few of my personal favorites (the titles should link to Amazon):
Tell Me Again About the Night I Was Born
<http://www.amazon.com/Tell-Again-About-Night-Born/dp/0064435814/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1271418219&sr=1-5>
We Belong Together: A Book About Adoption and Families
<http://www.amazon.com/We-Belong-Together-Adoption-Families/dp/0316016683/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1271418219&sr=1-6>
Horace <http://www.amazon.com/Horace-Holly-Keller/dp/0688098312/ref=cm_lmf_tit_7>
Through Moon and Stars and Night Skies
<http://www.amazon.com/Through-Stars-Night-Reading-Rainbow/dp/0064433080/ref=cm_lmf_tit_8>
Adrienne Ehlert Bashista
Media Coordinator
Virginia Cross Elementary School
234 Cross School Rd.
Siler City, NC 27344
agbashista@chatham.k12.nc.us
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