I’m sure you know that not every family is the same. Some families live far apart, some live close together. Some families are big, and some families are small. And some families get bigger by choice through adoption! During the month of November, we like to celebrate these families with Adoption Awareness Month. This special month was established by President Bill Clinton in 1995 and serves to educate, inspire, and mobilize communities to support adoption efforts. This means finding loving, permanent homes for children who need one. We’ve put together a list of great books about adoption to help you out! If you’re having trouble explaining the concept of adoption to children or just want to introduce the idea, try one of these great books that kids will love!
Book Picks:
Great titles to explain what adoption is why it is important.
Just Right Family: An Adoption Story by Silvia Lopez
When Meili learns her parents are adopting another child, she must accept the role of big sister and realize a new addition can be just right too.
Eyes That Weave The World’s Wonders by Joanna Ho with Liz Kleinrock
A young girl who is a transracial adoptee learns to love her Asian eyes and finds familial connection and meaning through them, even though they look different from her parents’. Her family bond is deep, and their connection is filled with love. She wonders about her birth mom and comes to appreciate both her birth culture and her adopted family’s culture, for even though they may seem very different, they are both a part of her, and that is what makes her beautiful. She learns to appreciate the differences in her family and celebrate them.
The Story I’ll Tell by Nancy Tupper Ling
A mother weaves a magical web of tales to explain how her child came to be a part of the family.
All The Babies: A First Book About Adoption by Kate Rietma
All the Babies is a child’s first book about adoption. Author Kate Rietema introduces readers to eleven different kids who all entered their families in unique ways. With sweet illustrations of diverse families and children, kids will see people who remind them of themselves and their own families.
When You Joined Our Family by Harriet Evans
From first meetings to settling in together and creating new traditions, this book gently explores the adoption experience and shows that it is love that binds a family together most of all.
Star of the Week: A Story of Love, Adoption, and Brownies with Sprinkles by Darlene Friedman
As her turn to be “Star of the Week” in her kindergarten class approaches, Cassidy-Li puts together a poster with pictures of her family, friends, and pets, and wonders about her birthparents in China.
Tell Me Again About The Night I Was Born by Jamie Lee Curtis
A young girl asks her parents to tell her again the cherished family story of her birth and adoption.
The Best Family in the World by Susana López
Carlota is anxiously awaiting the arrival of the family who is adopting her. She imagines that they might be astronauts, pastry chiefs, or even pirates. And then Carlota finds out that the Lopez family is the best family in the world.
The joy of adoption and bringing families together is presented in this tale.
Miles Comes Home by Sarah S. Brannen
Miles is excited and scared on adoption day, but when his new dads, Teddy and David, arrive at the foster home, they bring warmth and understanding, plus he now has a sibling, in a book celebrating gay parents.
Adopted Sibling Point of View
Harper Becomes a Big Sister by Seamus Kirst
Harper is excited at the idea of being a big sister, but she becomes frustrated when the baby boy her parents adopt proves to be a lot of work, and her parents never seem to have time for her.
Whistling for Angela by Robin Heald
Daniel loves birds and wants to learn how to whistle as a gift for his new adoptive baby sister, Angela. On the day of her adoption, Daniel still can’t whistle. It is through meeting Jessie, Angela’s birthmother, that Daniel may learn the trick to whistle like the birds he loves.
Babies Come From Airports by Erin Dealey
Tells about the adventures of a boy when his mommy brings home his new sister. Calling that special day the “Gotcha Day”. He knows just exactly what to say: “We met you at the airport.” He waved at planes above. But right now, all she needs to know is … Babies come from love.
A Most Unusual Day by Sydra Mallery
Caroline is anxious all day at school, nervous about her newly adopted sister’s arrival from far away.
Real Sisters Pretend by Megan Dowd Lambert
As they play, Mia and Tayja confirm that there’s one thing they don’t have to pretend: They know in their hearts that they’re real sisters, even though others don’t always recognize this since they’re adopted and don’t look alike. Safe in the knowledge that adoption has made them “forever family,” the sisters end their make-believe journey with a joyful homecoming to a real home with their two moms.
