[Shoshana]

Hi all -- Now that Xiomara is approaching 2 and a half (eeks!) I'm starting to read more involved books to her. I'm looking for recommendations in the following categories

adoption -- I have A Mother for Choco and I Love You Like Crazy Cakes. I prefer books that are about single parent adoption and that makes it tougher.

family structure -- Any recommendations for books that talk about the different kinds of families? (2-parent, single parent, 2 moms, grandparent, transracial, etc.). I don't want to just read books about OUR family, but to show that there are many different types of families.

racial/cultural - Any recommendations for books that talk about our rainbow world? Instilling pride, etc.

Thanks much!

[Casey677]

I just bought an incredible book called I Don't Have Your Eyes by Carrie A. Kitze. The illustrations show families of all races and racial mixes. It is beautifully done!!! This is truly the best children's book on adoption I have found yet!

The introduction of the book for parents is:
"Family connections are vitally important to children as they begin to find their place in the world. For transracial and transcultural 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 has their own story and their own special place to belong."

[AdrienneG]

Originally Posted by Shoshana

Hi all -- Now that Xiomara is approaching 2 and a half (eeks!) I'm starting to read more involved books to her. I'm looking for recommendations in the following categories

adoption -- I have A Mother for Choco and I Love You Like Crazy Cakes. I prefer books that are about single parent adoption and that makes it tougher.

family structure -- Any recommendations for books that talk about the different kinds of families? (2-parent, single parent, 2 moms, grandparent, transracial, etc.). I don't want to just read books about OUR family, but to show that there are many different types of families.

racial/cultural - Any recommendations for books that talk about our rainbow world? Instilling pride, etc.

Thanks much!

I have a suggestion. Get 10 or 12 photos from her life with you and make a book telling the story of her adoption in a childrens book format, and include the story of single parents in it. You can even include people you know you are single parents as part of thes tory such as "My mommys friend Sue adopted her son Billy just like my mommy"

I think she at 2 would LOVE seeing photos of herself and you and hear a story that goes with it that is about her.

[ruth1]

There's a good personalized adoption story site out there now that does great custom illustrations and the stories are very cute. I believe they do transracial, one parent, etc. Not sure. You may want to take a look at the site. Just google personalized adoption stories and you should get a few recommendations.

[MkMw]

Mr. Rogers did a about called "Let's Talk About It" adoption - I like it - it reinforces that it's o.k. to be sad, and sometimes happy and sad at the same time. It very clearly states that adoption is about grown up decisions and nothing that the child has done. It has real pictures.

One of his t.v. shows is also about family about adopting - we saw it once....we haven't watched Mr. Rogers in a while so I don't know how often it repeats.

[bromanchik]

My favorite is Beginnings: How Families Come to Be.

[LisaCA]

todd parr has a nice book, The Family Book, which we love, The It's Okay to Be Different Book, and a few others of his cover diversity.

[Peggy]

THere is a book called "families are different" about a Korean girl and her sister(adopted at birth). However most of the book talks about all the different types of families there are. My daughter (foster adopt at 8) loved this book. The girl in the bookis 5. THe author is Pelligrini (I think).

[redhedded]

My daughter liked How I was Adopted by Joanna Cole of dd's book obsession, The Magic School Bus series.

There is a lot of room/need for adding your child's personal story, because it does not spend any time on first family; it does however start with how adoption is different than some families but how you (the child) are the same.

[Shoshana]

Thank you all for your recommendations. I'm compiling a list and the next time I need to escape to Amazon, I'll work on a new wish list!

One of the books I have that wasn't mentioned about is "The Best Single Mom in the World." Yup, that's me! Narcissism and all. Anyway, it's about adoption and it's generic enough to work but it's still too advanced for Xiomara.

[aspenhall]

"Our Twitchy"

is about a bunny adopted by a horse and cow. How the bunny finds out about his bunnymom and bunnypop and how he tries to change then eventually accepts things as they are. It moves me to tears nearly everytime. The illustrations are great and the book is larger (12 x 12-ish) so it is easy to see.