Adoption Books

Cindy Roberts' illustrated journal of her return to Vietnam for a homeland tour, accompanied by her four oldest children, two of whom were born adopted from Vietnam. She writes back home to her daughters, sharing the tale of their travels and adventures. Families who hoping to adopt and those who are considering a return trip to Vietnam will find this book very interesting. Adult adoptees will find it interesting as well, as the Roberts visit a babylift memorial and travel with older adoptees to their orphanages.

I loved "Dear Sam and Dani: An Adoption Journal" by Cindy Roberts! It's a set of letters Cindy wrote when she took her four sons -- two born to her and two adopted from Viet Nam -- to visit the homeland and the birth family of her adopted sons. Cindy gives the reader a very real, fascinating, and honest portrayal of the reactions of all five of them -- the exciting, the strange, and the poignant. This book should be very educational for adoptive (and prospective adoptive) families, reassuring for those worried about contact with birthparents, and a great case study for people interested in multicultural experiences. Best, Margie, An Adoptive Parent

Although this book is geared toward young teens, adult readers will be enchanted with it as well.

The confusion and fears of the main character, 13-year-old Marilyn, are clearly presented and the way that Marilyn deals with them creates an entirely believable story. At times, Marilyn acts much older than her age and at other times, she seems much younger. Exactly as real-life teens do!

In "Discovering the Long Way Home", Julie Larose has created an exceptionally well-written account of how parental emotional abandonment feels from the child's perspective. This issue alone could have made this book depressing for the reader but Julie has filled the pages with hope, caring and understanding. Then, she continues the action to bring the whole issue to a most satisfying resolution.

Young teens will enjoy reading this book for Marilyn encounters many situations that they will be able to relate to but for parents everywhere, this book is a "must read" for it is truly enlightening!

Marilyn's life is not as fun and exciting as you might think. Sure, her mom and dad are famous actors, and they're rich, and she's traveled all over the world -- how could that not be amazing? Well, mostly because both of her parents are so busy working, getting randomly married and divorced, and maintaining their "images" that they're too busy to be interested in Marilyn. The reason she's seen so much of the world is because she keeps getting shipped from parent to parent, based on whose life she'll interfere with the least, or who's tired of having her around. She's had a ton of different half- and step-siblings, but never a family, and never any real friends.

Marilyn has had enough. She's taking charge this time. She's going to run away. Better yet, she's going to make it look like she's been abducted. Then her parents will have to pay attention to her. And when the press gets a hold of the story, they'll have to at least pretend that they care.

Needless to say, things don't quite work out as planned. The first person she hitches a ride with sees through some of her stories. He doesn't know who she is, or why she's running, but he takes her to a place he knows is safe. The small town he drops her off in is completely different than anywhere she's ever lived. And the people... They are unlike anyone in Marilyn's memory. They seem genuinely good and caring. It's almost too bad she'll have to leave and go back to her real world. Speaking of her world, why hasn't there been any mention of her disappearance in any paper?

Marilyn is forced to take a good look at her ideas of life and people. She eventually forges her own path to a life she almost lost, but not before she gets herself into some trouble, meets some people with much bigger problems, and finds exactly what she wasn't looking for.

This is an interesting look at the darker side of Hollywood life, as well as a view of the brighter side of humanity. It's pretty hard to find yourself when there is no one to guide you.

The book is told by Marilyn, with regular trips into her memories. She is a very real and developed character, as are most of the characters. Her history is disturbingly believable. The public knowledge of her parents is a great touch, and done very nicely. I found the very end to be a bit abrupt, but it doesn't really detract from the story itself. All in all, I was pleasantly surprised by this book.

Reviewed by: Carrie Spellman

This book offers so much, not only to couples hoping to have children, but to everyone, since we all rely on the competence and dedication of our doctors. Linda Perelman Pohl provides a wonderfully moving look into the very personal, and often very difficult experiences she and her husband lovingly shared as they were treated and often mistreated by the medical community. They clearly are dedicated with all their hearts to each other and their two daughters.

Dr. Khatamee contributes his expertise by providing critical medical information in an easy to understand, thoughtful manner.

Combined, I can't help but think this book should be one of the "essentials" for doctors, medical students and everyone interested in maintaining their own health.

With very limited spare time I have to be quite selective about the books I read but I simply could not put this one down.

I don't have adequate words to express what a thrill it was to read your book. I literally stayed up all night last night, as I couldn't put it down. Your story was compelling and it moved me to both laugh and cry inside. Your humor was excellent, and your sensitive descriptions of your trials and anguish even more so. In a way, I feel like I've been priveleged to read your diary. Your journey was very personal and your candor was remarkable. I have no doubt that women who read the book will be inspired and motivated to seek proper medical care. You will bolster the courage in women who are emotionally beaten down by their infertility. Thank you for an inspiring and important book.

I love this book! It's a very well-written, warming story about the conflict between a child and her mentally retarded adopted sister. It explores the emotions that accompany an adoption not from the parents view, but from the siblings view, an angle that is not often examined. I couldn't put this book down and finished it in two days, I definitely would recommend this book to anyone.

This is a great book to teach children how to accept different people. Marda, an elementary school child must learn to live with a retarded child that her parents adopt. It is a "heart-warming" tale of how she herself adapts to this new and strange situation. Highly Reccomended.

I loved this story!! Thank God there are people who will adopt these handicapped children. I donated the book to our church library.

Jeannie has written a fun, personable, easy flowing book about life and faith. This inspiration testamony of her life keeps you laughing and crying, sometimes all on the same page. I recommemend this book to all who believe that life is an adventure in and of itself.

It's a story starts in the kitchen of Emma's grandma one day while making cookies. Emma notices her cookie is different looking that her brothers and asks why. Emma and her grandmother sit down and look at Emma's very own life story book. This is a book that I hope my daughter will enjoy and help her understand there are other girls and boys who have been adopted, have similar questions and maybe feel the same way.

It does not mention birth parents or abandonment so this is a good book to start to introduce your child to the fact that other babies have been adopted from China. The pictures in the book do not look like actual photos so your child will not get confused that this is actually her story but a little like her story.


This book is very special to us, especially since I found this book after we'd named our daughter the same name as in the book before even knowing about this book.

This is a lovely adoption story for children from China or other Asian countries. The story begins with a young preschooler enjoying cookie making time with her grandmother. But as she makes cookies representing her family, as children do, she is feeling sad because she looks different than the other people in her family. Her grandmother lovingly takes her into her lap and retells the story of Emma's adoption from China. Most of the book is about her adoption and journey home, with the joy that this brings to her family. It has a loving ending, where she plays in the park with her family and knows sometime she will return to China to visit. Song Nan Zhans's colorful illustrations illuminate the story with warmth.

In easy-to-read language that even children can manage, this book tells the story of an adoption from all sides, and is extremely positive. The artwork is wonderful, as well. I look forward to more from Kimberly Kane.

This little GEM of a book will touch the heart of every mother (and father) especially those moms who have adopted a baby! It is simply written, creatively done,with beautiful illustrations. It was a creation from the heart of the author. The reader will read this precious book over and over and be able to share with her child-born of her heart!
This gem would be an ideal gift for all those who have ever adopted a child.
Joan Alford
Fort Worth, Texas

This book certainly tells our story, of how we waited and waited for a baby, and how everyone around us was also very excited when we got him. Maybe it's because our adoption is still so recent, but this mommy cries when she reads this book. When our child is old enough, I think it will be a very positive book for him.

The best book on adoption ever written! I'm an adoptive mother and an adoption professional, so I've read hundreds of adoption books, many of them also very good. This one is something special. It's been my daughter's favorite adoption book since she was a baby. She asks for it over and over, even though she knows every word by heart. I keep it on our agency's required reading list, despite it being so hard to get, to show families they can present adoption to young children in a manner that is sensitive to the feelings of the child, parents and birth parents. The book is truly a love story. I hope it will become available again soon!

My daughter, adopted at four, really liked this book. She was excited to see some of the similarities between Leanne's story and hers. As we read it, particularly the part where Leanne joins her adoptive family, my daughter said "I feel like crying happy tears".

Although she became sad a bit later thinking about her own birth siblings, I think it is a good book for her. Kids adopted from foster care rarely see themselves portrayed in children's books, and I believe it is helpful for them to realize that other kids have bee through this as well.

I felt like the story accurately represents the foster adopt process, from age-appropriate descriptions of neglect in the birth family, to the child entering foster care (through a receiving center first), to the role of the social workers and foster families, and finally to the adoption finalization.

Books are a great tool to start discussions about adoption issues and the child's feelings. I like that Shelby includes questions for discussion at the back, and we did this kind of informally while we read the book the first time.

Another thing my daughter really liked was that the author had been adopted herself at age four and that she is an adoptive mother as well. She also liked the child-like illustrations.

I can really relate to Shelby's desire to create a story for children adopted at older ages. That is what motivated me to write my first book, Welcome Home, Forever Child: A Celebration of Children Adopted as Toddlers, Preschoolers, and Beyond

Other good children's books with foster/adopt themes include: Zachary's New Home: A Story for Foster and Adopted Children and Nutmeg Gets Adopted, both featuring animal characters.

This book tells the story of one little girl, but it is the story of many children's lives around the world. This book is a valuable resource for parents and kids alike. The questions at the end of the story are especially helpful, and are a great way to get parents and their foster/adopted kids to open up and communicate with each other. 5-Stars for sure!

This book is great for little kids! It teaches love, patience, compassion and hope. Even being an adult, I can relate to the story having been in public school growing up and being made fun of or feeling left out. I wish I had a story like this when I was younger that could have kept me going on the rougher school days. My daughter is only 7 months old but I will definitely be reading this to her as she grows older and can understand it and then she can read it on her own later on and enjoy it like I just did! I definitely recommend this book! Like the previous commenter said, it's very well written and you can't help but plow through chapter after chapter because its so engaging and you want to find out what happens next! I, too, am excited for the second book to come out and will be ordering it for sure!

Very cute book, well written. Each chapter draws you to the next. The book is hopeful and keeps kids engaged. I look forward to the next one to see how the story continues.