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The first 4 are a great place to start...

**Todder Adoption; the Weaver's Craft by Mary Hopkins-Best

Although this book covers toddler adoption (and is a must-read for those adopting toddlers), adoptive parents of attachment impaired infants have found that they can relate to much of the book as their babies grow.

**Attaching in Adoption; Practical Tools for Today's Parents by Deborah D. Gray

Highly recommended introduction to the attachment process


Building the Bonds of Attachment: Awakening Love in Deeply Troubled Children by Daniel Hughes

Hughes wrote this fictional story to describe the life of a child with RAD (Reactive Attachment Disorder). In it he takes you though years of failed foster homes and failed therapies until the right diagnosis is made and the child starts getting help. Commentary helps the reader to understand why some traditional parenting techniques and therapeutic methods fail while the appropriate ones can lead to immense success. It's a fascinating read and although the child is older and has more severe attachment issues than most of our families are dealing with, it aptly illustrates the principles behind good treatment.

**Holding Time by Martha G. Welch, MD

Although this book was not written to specifically address adoption, it introduces a strategy designed to promote bonding between any mother and child. For many of us, holding time was a first positive step toward attachment.

It is important to note, however, that children who are adopted may react more intensely to the holding experience than other children. This article explains some of the differences: "Holding" - Emotionally or Physically Should be One In the Same


Adopting the Hurt Child; Hope for Families with Special-Needs Kids by Gregory Keck and Regina Kupecky

Although most of the parents on A4everFamily didn't consciously adopt "special needs children", over time we have realized that our children require unique parenting due to early trauma caused by separation (often repeated.) Abuse and neglect may not have been factors for our babies (as it was for many of the children highlighted in the book), yet our children still struggle with some of the same problems.

Adoption Parenting; Creating a Toolbox, Building Connections by Jean MacLeod & Shenna Macrae

This BRAND NEW book (July 2006) is jam-packed full of information on adoption parenting. At just over 500 pages, it's all in here! Topics include: sleep, claiming, language, food, baggage, discipline, loss & grief, transitions, siblings, narratives, learning, school, race, older child adoption, challenges, support, therapy, & journey. This book is a must-read for parents at every point in the adoption journey. It is destined to become a classic.

Love and Logic Magic for Early Childhood; Practical Parenting from Birth to Six Years by Jim Fay & Charles Fay

Effective, warm approach to parenting. Techniques are especially effective with challenging children.

**Parenting the Hurt Child; Helping Adoptive Families Heal and Grow by Gregory C. Keck and Regina M. Kupecky

Lists dozens and dozens of concrete ideas to nurture adoptive children.