Adoption Books

A must read for any aodoptee who is a parent or is considering parenting. Enough said!

This personal testimony is definitely worth a read for anyone whose life has been touched by adoption in any way. In simple language and with an engaging writing style, the author, Zara, tells her own story, with frankness and simplicity. In doing so, she educates us about the some of the complex feelings of adoption - feelings that, for many people and for many years, have never been acknowledged.

I `happened' across this book - 6 years into my own reunion with the daughter I lost to adoption in 1968 - and have been very moved by the open and honest way Zara talks of her own experiences and feelings about being adopted, many of which echo things I know for myself or have heard from others. Unlike many of the books out there that deal with adoption, she makes no judgements on what others should do or feel - this is simply her own story - a very personal account of how adoption has affected her life.

Though Zara has chosen to write about her journey to motherhood, I think there is much to be learned from her story outside of that. The book has helped me to understand my daughter better and from the comments I've had back from her and others affected by adoption to whom I've given copies of the book, it seems to bring new level of validations and enlightenment about the whole adoption experience.

Whether adoption is part of your life or not, you truly will not want to miss out on this newest adoption book, "Chasing Away the Shadows - An Adoptee's Journey to Motherhood," by Zara Phillips.

Zara and I had corresponded for a couple of months before I had the privilege of meeting her at November's CUB retreat in Monterey, CA. In this writer's opinion, Zara is articulate, smart, and very well spoken, possessing all the qualities needed to be a successfull writer/speaker.

Having had the opportunity to be the first test-reader for Zara's manuscript, I knew then, when I simply could not put it down it was going to be a great book - a must read, in fact. It is an honest and compelling account of the struggles one encounters in living the life of an adoptee.

Zara was born (1964) and raised in England. I so enjoyed reading and "hearing" her lovely English accent gently carressing the words upon the pages of her story, as only a "Proper English" lady can do. Zara's willingness to share the story of her troubled past so honestly and openly is a tribute to her fine, upstanding character. This outstanding book is most certainly worth the read.

To learn more about Zara, please go to her website - [...]

This was by far one of the best adoption related books I've read. Zara Phillips did a wonderful job sharing her personal story & feelings about being an adoptee. I could see myself in so many aspects of her life from the beginning of life to becoming a mother. This book should be read by ALL members of the triad. It was worth more than 5 stars in my eyes. GREAT BOOK, easy read.

A vivid and entertaining story of one determined young woman's quest to find her unique place in the world. Adopted as an infant by well-to-do parents in a London suburb, Zara Phillips felt wracked with a sense of displacement she couldn't explain -- an inner turmoil at odds with her developing persona as a cool rock singer. In secret, she decided that she must discover her truth of her identity. The cost, as turned out, would be great. Phillips takes the reader along for the whole rich ride, through rage and drugs and tours and men to the hard-earned happiness of motherhood and marriage in a home unquestionably her own. Even readers who weren't adopted will understand Phillips's driving need to uncover the truth. In direct, spare language, she unerringly locates the universal pulse beneath her personal spiritual journey. "Chasing Away the Shadows" delivers information, including a solid resource guide for adoptees and parents. But Phillips writes like a novelist. Her suspenseful search for her birth parents keeps the pages turning. And amid the drama, she lets the laughter through. One highlight: Phillips's son telling workmen that his mum is like Superman. Why? "Because she's adopted!" he says. "Chasing Away the Shadows" is a super book. Whether you're adopted or just plain human, don't miss it.

This book won both the 2001 Ruth Schwartz Award for Excellence in Canadian Children's Literature and The Mr. Christie Award for best Canadian Children's book for children ages 7 and under published in 2000.

This is a lovely story about the power, energy and wonder that love can create. It has been shortlisted for the 2001 Ruth Schwartz Award for Excellence in Canadian Children's Literature.

A truly charming story, with illustrations to match. This book is sure to capture the hearts and imaginations of children young and old. I look forward to future books by this gifted author. This book is a `MUST HAVE' for every home and classroom

The Chicken Cat is a delightful fantasy picturebook tale about an old hen adopting a lost kitten. Stephanie McLellan's charming, entertaining story is wonderfully showcased by Sean Cassidy's lively and realistic artwork. The Chicken Cat will prove a welcome and popular addition to any school or community library picturebook collection for young readers!

I have 8 grandchildren and am constsntly looking for books they will enjoy. What a pleasure Chicken Cat is! My grand children insist it be read constantly and the older ones read it to their younger siblings. They love the magic of it all and realise you can do anything you really want to.

I hope this author continues to provide us all with her imaginative stories. The illustrations are fun!

Excellent resource for anyone wanting to better understand the feelings and behaviors of children who have experienced early losses, and how their experiences of loss effect relationships as an adult. This is a must read for therapists who deal with children. Sandra S. Thomas, Ph.D.

Colors of Grief covers current research, strategies, and in depth analysis of how children, ages 0-25 deal with grieving and significant loss. Dr. DiCiacco provides specific suggestions for developmental stages. A neccessary book for all adults who are involved with children.

The Colors of Grief: Understanding a Child's Journey Through Loss from Birth to Adulthood This book is the best! My husband and I have adopted 3 children. Parenting for everyone is challenging. For parents who have adopted children, there are many factors that go beyond the "normal" parenting responsibilities. Dr. DiCiacco's book is a great source of knowledge for me in trying to understand the "why is my child behaving like that?" What happens during a child's developmental years is so important. For an adopted child, grieving is already a part of their makeup. So to have a readable book full of knowledge that makes sense to my many questions is exciting. Our children have struggled in making good decisions and have difficulty in "connecting dots". I recommend all adoptive parents and professionals working with children to have a copy of this book to read and use as a resource. I guarantee you will be enlightened. DRM - Denver, Colorado

The Colors of Grief is an excellent resource for both parents and professionals. It is written in a clear and concise manner and offers excellent information when working with both children and adolescents. It offers therapeutic activities as well as transitional tools that are an exceptional resource. This book is a must!

This book is an absolute must for caregivers and professionals working with children. It is a compassionate, thorough, developmental look at loss through the eyes of a child. This book has been invaluable for me working with familites of loss.

Wow! What a lovely story about a 9 year-old boy, a "hoper" (full of hope, optimism and imagination) who wants to know why his name is Dillon Dillon! I got the book at the library (title caught my eye; my oldest son is named "Dylan", and the cover photo looked like him!) and loved it so much I bought a copy to keep! My 12 and 9 year-old sons loved it. The author nails the voice of Dillon Dillon and his thoughts perfectly. Her prose is lyrical. Wonderful dialogue. Despite the sad news Dillon hears on his 10th birthday (reason for his name), the story becomes inspirational and sweet as Dillon bonds with a family of loons, and copes with the revelation of his name. A perfectly delightful read that will leave you smiling! What an unforgettable character! A great read-aloud book too!

Did you ever think that you were an animal? The book I read was called Dillon Dillon by Kate Banks. In this book Dillon, the main character, thought that he was a loon because two loons became his friend and he thought that he could talk to them when they talked to him.
In the beginning of the story, Dillon was being made fun of because of his name, Dillon Dillon. He didn't like it when they made fun of him. So when he got really mad he would do mean stuff, like put pencil shavings in the kids' milk.
Every summer Dillon and his family go to their cabin on Lake Waban. This summer it was Dillon's 10th birthday. So he asked his parents why they gave him that name. That's when he found out that he was adopted. His real parents died in a plane crash and the family that had been taking care of him were really his aunt and uncle and his two cousins, Daisy and Didier.
While they were driving to the cabin, they stopped at a gas station and Dillon met a really nice girl named Eunice. While he was talking to her he noticed that he liked the same things that she did. So then Dillon asked her where she was going and she said Camp Tanglewood on Lake Waban. He was really surprised that she was going to be close to him all summer. But you will have to read the book to see if they meet at Lake Waban.
Now about the loons: While Dillon was at Lake Waban he met two loons that soon became his friends. He could talk to them when they were talking to him. One day, the loons took his shoe and made it into a nest. A couple of days later there was an egg in his shoe. A few months later the egg hatched and that baby soon liked Dillon. But one day something horrible happened to the mother and the father loon.
I think you should read this book if you like books full of adventure. I really liked this book and I hope you will like it too.

This book is a book to read over and over. The many metaphors make it a meaningful book for adults as well as a great book for children. I read it after the death of my mother and found it helped with the grief process.

This book blew me gently away and a sense of piece descended on me. This is a beautiful written sensitive story of a warm and loving family and a very special boy. This writer has feelings and the courage to question life. The loon material added beauty and wonder and left me filled with a renewed appreciation of the world and our place in it. I recommend this book to anyone and everyone who shares this earth!

This book blew me gently away and a sense of piece descended on me. This is a beautiful written sensitive story of a warm and loving family and a very special boy. This writer has feelings and the courage to question life. The loon material added beauty and wonder and left me filled with a renewed appreciation of the world and our place in it. I recommend this book to anyone and everyone who shares this earth!

Easy reading, good personal story of Operation Babylift. I had previously read "War Cradle", a very wordy, messy retelling of the story. This one is much more elementary and not as detailed, but follows one boy through his life. Fascinating.

I also could not put this book down and had to read it straight through. Andrea Warren does a compelling and balanced job in telling Long's story. Not only do we gain real insight into how the war affected families and children in Vietnam, but we also learn the thoughts and hopes of children living in orphanages. As an adoptive mom, I found this to be a valuable book on many levels.

I read this straight through on an airplane and had to turn away from my seatmates so they wouldn't see me cry. As usual, Warren has written a compelling, evocative story about one child's experience, and in it has distilled an era and a place. The main character, Long, suffers through poverty and loss, then winds up in an orphanage where he vaccilates between grief over the loss of his own family and hope for a new mother. I got tears in my eyes as he said good-bye to his grandmother, who was his last surviving family member, and then again when he learned he had a new home in America. As a reader I felt his excitement and anxiety as the day approached when he would see his new family, and then his fear as the war moved from the countryside to the streets of his city. The drive to the bombed airport and the flight on the transport plane were terrifying, followed immediately by the joy as Long ran into the arms of his new mother. This story will stick with readers, both adults and children, leaving a personalized image of an otherwise hard-to-comprehend world event.

Once you start reading, you probably won't be able to put it down. This is an amazing story, with wonderful photographs. I cried twice and made my husband read it. He loved it too!
Teachers will find this useful in the classroom, for teaching about the war in Vietnam, and Long/Matt is a role model we'd be delighted to see any kid follow.

If you've loved Warren's earlier books about children surviving in difficult new circumstances (the two Orphan trains books, Surviving Hitler, and the one about the girl growing up on the prairie) you'll love this one, too. In this one, Long, the young hero, is half Vietnamese, half American. His survival depends on a pivotal airlift of Vietnamese orphans "tainted by the blood of the enemy" as the North Vietnamese are about to take over Saigon. But even before that the reader is caught up in the story of Long's mother and grandmother struggling to survive in a wartorn country.

The story works on one level for children and on another for adults -conveying how America's withdrawal from Vietnam affects the family of a boy whose young life is shaped by war. It has all the virtues of nonfiction wrapped up in a charming, moving, and compelling story. Adults and children may want to read this one together. It's a tribute to parenting, in whatever form it comes, and to the resilience of children.

It's all in there: Friendship and hope, anguish and tears, reconciliation and joy. Mary Ann Thompson, the mother of my daughter, has told our story with candor and sensitivity. She gave me our daughter. This book is another gift. A true story of how love and courage restore brokeness. I highly recommend it. You will not want to put it down until you read the very last chapter.

THIS BOOK IS THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING. MARY ANN THOMPSON OPENED HER HEART TO FIRST GIVE HER FRIEND A CHILD, AND THEN AGAIN TO WRITE ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE WITH SUCH HONESTY AND DEEP FEELINGS.
THE GIFT OF A CHILD IS ONE OF THOSE TREASURE CHESTS THAT YOU WILL WANT TO DIP INTO AGAIN AND AGAIN ONCE YOU HAVE READ IT, WHICH YOU WILL PROBABLY DO IN ONE SITTING. I DIDN'T WANT TO STOP ONCE I OPENED THE LOVELY COVER.
BUY TWO - YOU'LL WANT TO GIVE ONE TO A CLOSE FRIEND, BUT YOU WON'T WANT THE BOOK TO LEAVE ONCE YOU HAVE BROUGHT IT HOME.

"When any child is born, many are born. A father is born, he who a moment earlier was only a man. A mother is born, who for months had been merely a pregnant woman...And beyond that: cousins, aunts, grandparents, perhaps the whole world is changed by one moment of emergence, that draining out of water and drawing in of breath. She is born, and we are born, too, changed by the startling, wavering announcement of life, of autonomy, of existence...." (The Gift of a Child, p.3)

This book is itself remarkable journey, as much as it is the telling of one. From the conception of the idea--to carry a child for a friend who is unable to conceive--to the birth of her daughter, the author's luminous writing invites us to share this experience as it unfolds in all its intensity. As her tiny daughter leaves her birth mother to begin life with her parents, we see, too, how a wounded friendship is made whole again. This is a must-read for those considering surrogacy, there is much to be learned in its pages. More than that, however, it is a book for anyone exploring what it means to love with an open heart....A lovely gift for anyone who has been a mother, or who has had a mother. In other words, a splendid gift for all of us...

I'm so happy I stumbled across this book. What a story--a 41-year-old woman decides to carry a child for her best friend who cannot conceive, and then as the pregnancy progresses they unexpectedly grow further and further apart. At the end of the book, the author tells you how they finally came back together after the baby was born, and you see that this difficult project was truly a succeess, a wonder, a gift.

It's written beautifully. No holds barred, everything you want to know about how they did it, what everyone was thinking, how it went. I was so impressed with this woman who wrote the book. What a gift she gave her friend (and the world). And what a book she later wrote about it. She's a talented writer and it's a heartfelt book that I highly recommend.

Human childbearing surrogacy is an odd concept -- how does one bear a child for someone else? This emotionally naked memoir tells one woman's life-changing story, and of the child given and the friend and mother immeasurably blessed. A gift beyond friendship, a tale enacted without lawyers or contracts or insurance or social agencies. Bravery and trust. A gift from a woman to herself, from a woman to her friend, from the child to both women. Next to the clear honesty is the lustrous storytelling. Copies of this book will by my gifts to my family and friends.

This book provides helpful information and insights for owners of greyhounds as well as to those thinking about getting a greyhound. It contains first aid tips and obedience training guidelines that aren't available in most other greyhound books. It also has beautiful photos of the breed. There are only two drawbacks I have found about this book; it does not fully emphasize the need to keep greyhounds on leashes or in enclosures and the reading continuity is interrupted by the "How To" sections (not that they're not helpful but they seem misplaced).

This book was recommended to me by Greyhound Friends. A concise and accurate discussion about adopting and caring for Greyhounds. Covers in detail virtually everything you need to know for your dogs entire span - even a small and touching section on dealing with the eventual loss of your pet. I read and re-read this book leading up to adopting my greyhound, Gromit, and things have gone quite well (of couse, Gromit is wonderful, even for a greyhound). A few nits: I would have liked more information about training your dog to climb stairs (Gromit figured it out in about a week with a lot of help from me). The book is very pro lure coursing (a non-gambling kind of greyhound racing); many sources on the net feel that lure coursing is very dangerous for ex-racers due to injuries the racers encounter during their careers. Still, a fine and useful book.

There have been several thorough resources published about adopting and caring for greyhounds with the caveat that greys are "different from other dogs". They include technical paragraphs about the physical and psychological sensitivity of these dogs, but don't give many examples about how greys differ from other dogs emotionally and psychologically. This book fills that gap, bringing a realistic and focused perspective to what it is REALLY like to have a greyhound in your house. It does this with a friendly, companionable voice rather than a clinical one, although the technical information is included as well. If you love greyhounds, you will love this book. It is obvious from the text that Coile loves her greyhounds.

I recieved this book as a Gift from a friend shortly after getting a greyhound. I found it very helpful and informative, what to look out for, what to do, what not to do, and it even gave me a head-start to finding recreational activities to participate in with my greyhound, such as lure coursing , which my greyhound will be participating in once she gets settled in.

This is the book the Greyhound rescue in my area suggested. It's a great book, full of pertinent information pertaining to Greyhounds. I recommend it without reservation to anyone considering adopting, in the process of adoption, or already in possesion of one of these magnificent creatures.

Adopt a GREYHOUND! SAVE a LIFE and get a GREY-T dog to boot!!

The book Healing Parents is a great resource for parents of a RAD child. The book is aimed at children between 5-12 yrs old although it has some useful tips for younger children too. This is the first book I have found that has some very real, practical guidelines for dealing with attachment disorders in children. The author provides an accurate description of the problem, especially important since many fathers do not witness the troubling behavior which is aimed at the mother. My husband & I have found the book to be incredibly helpful and contains some wonderful ideas for parenting and helping to heal a RAD child.

This book is pack full of information. I enjoyed it very much. It explains alot of the behaviors and helps to not take anything personally. Overall it is very long but worth the read and to keep for reference. I highly recommend it.

Many thanks to Dr. Levy and Dr. Orlans for producing an outstanding user-friendly book. This is an essential tool for anyone who is a foster or adoptive parent and for professionals working with children and families involved in the Child Welfare system. The book begins by describing the core concepts of child development and attachment, the three pillars of assessment, attachment patterns, and traits and symptoms of a compromised attachment. The book then goes on to describe how parents can become "healing parents" by getting to know themselves in order to create a healing environment where wounded children can learn to trust. The book provides the basic practices of Corrective Attachment Parenting and how the practical skills and strategies caregivers use can lead to positive change in your child and family. I highly recommend this book to the families I am working with.

As an adoptive parent, adoption professional, trainer and author, I found Healing Parents to be one of the most practical and insightful books curently available to deal with traumatized children. The book's readability and practical use will benefit both professionals and parents dealing with the hearts and minds of traumatized children. I now recommend it in all my workshops.

Jayne Schooler
International adoption educator

Written by therapists, teachers, consultants and researchers Michael Orlans and Terry M. Levy, Healing Parents: Helping Wounded Children Learn to Trust & Love is a guide written to give parents and caregivers the information, tools, support, and positive outlook they need to help emotionally wounded children heal and improve themselves behaviorally, socially, and morally. Chapters discuss the core phenomena of attachment - the deep connection that children and parents or caregivers establish early in life - the importance of knowing both one's child and oneself, basic principles of corrective attachment parenting, attachment issues in an adoptive or foster care family, and much more. "You cannot change others - not your spouse, children, parents, other family members, friends, coworkers or employer. You can influence others and create opportunities for others to change, via your attitudes, actions, and reactions. By creating a healing environment you can have a positive impact on your child, resulting in learning, growth, and motivation to succeed." Highly recommended especially for parents or caretakers of any type raising a child who has suffered trauma or deprivation.

We just recently purchased this book from Amazon.com and it's a wonderful guide for those just beginning the adoption process or those currently involved in adopting internationally. This guide is now currently (October 98) aiding us to expedite our adoption via the comprehensive information and step by step guide to fulfilling all international requirements. A great find!

This book provided an explicit course for the adoption of our children from Russia. We worked with an agency that provided the help we needed for the Russian side of the adoption. We largely guided ourselves, with the aid of this book, through the US/INS international requirements. Following the adoption, the guidance for the readoption procedure in the States, and the procedure for obtaining citizenship for the children was almost the only guidance we could find without paying an attorney. We came across only one discrepancy. The guidance in the book reads to mail all INS-required paperwork to the nearest major INS office (offices listed in an appendix). We learned that the paperwork was to be turned over to our local INS office, and not to a major INS office. Overall, we are AMAZED that such a clearly defined path for international adoption procedures has been laid out by the authors. We did compare this book to other "how to adopt" books and found that this book clearly stands out in its field; the procedures are numbered and examples of what the forms look like are published. To the authors...Thank you!

I had been searching for a book that would spell out all the information I needed to adopt internationlly. This book does the trick! Now, I know where to go, who to contact, and exactly what to expect in the process! I was so thrilled to read this book that I want to pass on my recommendation to anyone who is looking to adopt internationlly. The Erichsen's really know their stuff and show it

"How To" is most appropriate for this useful guide. I discovered this book at the very beginning of our international adoption process and it has been a wonderful guidebook. It is extremely well organized and explains the process and the paperwork required. It provides a lot of information but is not a thick, wordy volume that is intimidating to read. It is a source of information complementary to what my agency provides, and has increased my confidence that things are proceeding as they should. Tips like what kind to expect in a home study and what questions to ask when that important referral call comes makes this book compare to a knowledgeable friend who has been through the process.

As the Adoptive Parents of Vietnam listowner, I recieve questions about the complex process of international adoption on a daily basis. The Erichsen's guide will be a great resource to anyone interested in international adoption. I reviewed this book in detail on our website, but here is a quick synopsis. "How to Adopt Internationally is the best guide now available to the complex and sometimes frustrating experience of the paper chase required for adopting internationally from any country. The Erichson's include a step by step guide to every requirement and procedure, starting with the U.S. required home study and INS's I-600 all the way through post placement and final adoption requirements. For every major step, they include the actual or example forms, along with suggestions for completion. For anyone involved in international adoption (or even contemplating an international adoption), this book will get you started and be a welcome resource through the process. It provides an overview of the reasons and requirements of the international adoption process that is duplicated nowhere else. If your agency is less than helpful with the paperwork requirements, this book will be worth its price many times over."

If you are having this issue please get the book it will help you see clearly.

No! Neither of my teens are going to have a baby! Just to get that immediately out of the way. :) The publishers of How to Survive Your Teen's Pregnancy by Linda Ellen Perry sent me a copy and asked me to review it, because while I haven't been a parent whose had to face this, I was a teen mom myself. I'll never forget the way I had to tell my parents that I was pregnant; I had hoped to procrastinate as long as possible. But Mom had made an appointment for me to get my MMR booster shot the next day, and I was afraid that there may be birth defects if I went ahead with the shot, so I had to drop the bomb on them two weeks before school started. I wish now that they had a book like this to turn to for advice, and that we had a better support system through our church and community. While Dad tried to remain calm and talk sensibly, Mom was broken and couldn't bear to discuss the details.



If I could go back and change things, I wouldn't change the big stuff (getting married, keeping my baby), because if I did, I wouldn't have the two beautiful older kids I have, but I would change the way that my parents and I interacted in the two weeks before I was quickly married and moved out. Perry has years of experience counseling teens and their parents, and she uses that knowledge to create a workbook for parents that takes them step by step through the first discovery through the birth of the baby with stops along the way for forgiving their daughter, the baby's father, and the themselves. She encourages with Scripture and uses different Bible stories and some Christian fiction to help bring deeper understanding to the situation. Perry urges parents to really listen to their daughter to help her come up with a viable plan for her and her child. She supports both adoption and parenting with the pros and cons of both laid out neatly. This is a Christian book, so while abortion is mentioned, she encourages every other option and includes statistics about possible outcomes if a teenage girl has or is forced to have an abortion.


The book includes resources for parents with places to find Christian and pro-life doctors, adoption agencies, pregnancy resource centers, and more. While some of the activities for dealing with the emotions were a little artsy for me (I can't imagine drawing pictures or making a collage to express myself), for others it may be just what's needed. It took my parents and I several years to repair the damage done by my pregnancy and my attitude toward them during it. While a parent can't change their child's reaction to the pregnancy, mothers and fathers can change how they react, hopefully bringing healing and growth. This book is a fantastic resource for helping them to work through the grief, anger, and guilt that follows a teen's pregnancy.

This is a wise book full of practical and biblical advice for steering your family through the crisis of a teen pregnancy. There is an emphasis on forgiveness and restoration throughout as the author addresses issue such as secondary virginity, adoption, marriage, etc. Recommended Scripture reading, application questions, guidance for prayer, and helpful checklists for preparing for the baby are also included, as well as personal stories from those who have walked through this situation before.

Linda Ellen Perry has not only written a book, she's written from years of experience from guiding teens who found themselves pregnant before they were ready. Perry gives real-life advice to help parents work through all the issues they will face. The book is practical and Biblical, helping you work through things such as forgiveness, adoption possibilities, your teen parenting alone and what she needs from the adults in her life, welcoming a new baby into your home, and tons of resources. This is only a partial list for Perry has addressed every angle of the challenges faced when your daughter says those words, "Mom, Dad, I'm pregnant".

This is not an easy situation to find yourself in - the pregnancy of a teen - but this book really helps you look at the situation and consider steps to take. It also provides encouragment to the parent and gives you a chance to focus on your hurt in the midst of the situation, while still helping you help your daughter make smart choices. A fantastic resource for any parent who is going through this difficult time. Pastors would also benefit from reading and having this book on hand for when the situation arises.