[dtltbaby]

I would love to by my son to be the collection that Bill Cosby has out. I can only find a few books scattered about.

They have nothing to do with adoption, I just love the clean fun stories he writes.

Anyone know where I can get the entire collection? Thanks!

[Jensboys]

HI! I too love those books - the originals though not the Nick Jr knockoffs. Actually I have cut up a few of them and have the artwork framed in our living room (I am sure that stretches the copyright laws ) The kids love Little Bill. We are cauc and two of our sons are aa. My husband laughed the other day and said we really should get some "white people" on our walls for our caucasion sons as well. Its true! I work so hard at celebrating aa culture, art, music and literature that I need to remember to bring in some balance. When our boys came to us at ages 3 and 4 their self esteems were very poor -- I spent many hours and months telling them how beautiful their skin was, their hair etc... How God had made them just they way they were in HIS image etc... and it worked great until one day when bio son was 3 and I found him in the bathroom staring at his blond hair and blue eyes saying it was ugly and why couldnt he have "nice black curly hair like my brothers and a big tan!" ooooops ... had to work on him then too We also really enjoy the biographical series of "10 Black Scientists", "10 Black Inventors" etc its full of information. I would also love to hear any other suggestions for good kids books.

[dtltbaby]

That is so encouraging to know that you are aware of the importance of raising a black child, especially a boy self esteem and awareness. But yea, sounds like you need to spend some time on your other boys

I think this is what some cauc. parents fail to realize when you bring an aa child into a home of an all cauc. family with the blue eyes and blonde hair that society tends to recognize and respect, that it can be a challenge to make aa children feel welcomed!

Good for you!

[Jensboys]

I do lots of training here in my community with pre-adoptive couples ... and I attempt to make sure that they realize that when you adopt transracially that you are not becoming the white parents of a black child - rather you and your ENTIRE family are now becoming multi-racial. And that means that you are required to support your new multicultural family in any way that you can. It is work - and some times lots of it - to be a white parent of an aa son BUT I wouldnt trade it for a minute of "normal" parenting - It was only enriched our lives and those of our other family members and I hope that one day our sons can say that we did an okay job of it. We have one son who is very very intuned with being aa and one who just doesnt seem to get it - different personalities I suppose. He also though doesnt care a bit about being adopted where as the other one obsesses about it alot The wierd thing is that when I am with my sons I have access to the "aa world" (I hope that makes sense and doesnt offend - meaning people understand what I am doing) but when I am without my sons although my heart doesnt change people's perception of me does and I am just some weird white chick. You are right about sons self esteem (and I do understand the increased importance of that for our aa boys) it is so important ... we make sure that we involve in our house and family other aa role models that can balance out the media and other people's perceptions -- my boys are now almost 7 and almost 8 -- usually the age that aa children begin to have some problems with a change in perspective from being "sooo cute" to someone to fear.
My one wish is that for African-Americans who disagree totally with trans-racial adoption (and I certainly understand that some people SHOULDNT be allowed to do it and the reasons for the concerns) that they could "see" my heart .. that when I see or hear of some young man being shot down or falsly arrested or or or or or or.... all the things we hear ... just the same as an aa mom my heart breaks for my sons ... that cause becomes my cause because it is MY family. Does that make any sense? I can never be their birth mom - and raise them in that place or with that life experience but I will do my BEST with what I can.

[Julie Randolph]

To respond to dtltbaby about where to get the Little Bill books -- if you're having a hard time finding them in your local store, call us at Pact and ask for Mesha to order books. We have a HUGE selection of books for AfAm kids, as well as other kids of color. The number is 510-243-9460. My boys love those books, too!

[dtltbaby]

Thanks. Is there a website?

[Julie Randolph]

The website is www.pactadopt.org, but we haven't yet put our whole book catalogue online so people can order that way. At this point, you have to call the office to order. Hope this helps!