Adoption Books

A humbling, chilling, sensitive, compassionate portrayal of a love toward a mother, and the search for the identity of a silent history, is truly extracted by the author about his experience as a child of a mother whom he wants strongly to understand.

To create a story about a culture one only has glimpses of as one is growing up because of some silence or resistence that brought the parent to carry is, in and of itself, a very difficult task to bear. Colin Chisholm in blending reality and fiction into a heart-felt document, unfolds the silent stories of many children who, like his mother, were taken away during the tuberculosis and influenza epidemic that killed so many of the Yup'ik Eskimo people at the turn of the 2oth century. In one sense Colin's mother was fortunate to be able to live; whereas so many people such as my grandparents, were not -- who knew and possibly saw Mrs. Chisholm being taken away at such a tender age, never to be seen again. A sensitive topic written with respect about a culture the author only knows a little of is truly an honorable effort. I commend Mr. Chisholm in telling part of my Yup'ik history in a way that brings out the love, the struggles, and the determination to survive that Yup'ik people faced, and continue to face.

How brave and honorable it is to learn that Colin is able to track down the side of his family he doesn't know, and in a culture that is seldom recognized or heard of. The yearning for meaning about family and the love for a mother whom Colin Chisholm pursued ends up in a stronger family relationship. Colin's mother would be so proud of a son that bravely conquered family ties.

Colin Chisholm's Through Yup'ik Eyes is a truly remarkable and ground-breaking work.

The subject of Mr. Chisholm's book is his mother, and his love and respect for her shine through on every single page of this hauntingly written book. The fact that he devoted several years to his quest to learn about his mother's past is itself a remarkable undertaking. What he produced as a result of his travels and studies is a compelling look at a woman who wanted desperately to go "home," but was unable to do so. What makes Through Yup'ik Eyes so truly inspiring is that Mr. Chisholm did in fact find a way to take his mother home. Through his efforts, she was posthumously reunited with her relatives after so many painful years of being away.

We live in a changing world, and not the least of the changes are the new ways we are finding to define our identities. Mr. Chisholm succeeded in returning his mother to her beloved Alaska, but he also made a big stride in offering a definition of family. Rather than painting an entire group of people with one brush, what Mr. Chisholm offers is a deeply moving picture of one woman and her relationship to her son.

This book, though short, has an truly inspiring message. It brings the reader in close to the anxiety and emotional roller coaster that besets those who seek their roots. Regardless of where you find yourself in relationship to the subject, searching, supporting, contemplating, or recovering, you can easily identify with the author and those whose lives were touched by her endeavor.

This is the true story of a woman on a journey to find her birth parents, but in doing so, she discovers much more than she had ever imagined. The author, Kay Cervetti, allows the reader in on a very uplifting, though at times, heart-wrenching chapter of her life. Included in the book are envelopes containing copies of the real letters that were an integral part of Kay's quest. These letters draw the reader in fully, making them feel even more acutely the intimacy of this account. This is a moving, amazing book you won't want to put down!

From an Illinois Parent -- The author's poetic style and the illustrator's pink-toned pictures portray a wonderful affection between parent and child. I highly recommend this lovely adoption story.

This whimsical book leads the reader from a discussion of how an adopted child has two birthdays to the more serious topic of what it means to be adopted. Beth waits and waits for her "real" birthday, the day she was adopted, but her mother explains that everyone has only one birthday, and that birthdays aren't really that important. What matters is how people feel about one another. Beth's mother says, "I don't love you because you're adopted. I love you because you're Beth." Beth responds by creating a heart-shaped card for her mother. Her picture is on one half, her mother's on the other. Beth says, "Together we make a heart. Together we make a family. Every day. That's what being adopted means." The light verse and simple vocabulary will engage young pre-readers and older readers will enjoy and identify with the story. The open exchanges between Beth and her mother can be a starting point to encourage dialogue between children, parents and members of the extended family.

This is an excellent resource for adoptive parents! The CD stayed in my car to listen to while I drove and I sat down with the book at night. No translation book or dictionary could give me phrases for instantly talking to my child! I nearly wore the cover off I used it so much. The other dictionaries and guides got used, but I used them mostly for looking up something food words when we were in a restaurant! Buy it! You won't be sorry!

I had searched for an easy guide to simple Russian and Ukrainian phrases forever. I have now finally found it. This CD and the conveniently duplicated phrase books are specifically designed for traveling to Ukraine for adoption purposes. All the phrases are related to communicating with a child. You'll find comforting words like "I love you" and "my sweetie" and important questions to ask a non-english speaking child like "are you hungry?", and "do you have to use the bathroom?".
If you are looking for a guide directed at communicating with your adopted child, this is it!!! You won't learn how to get directions to the nearest hotel or how to order your borscht, however, so keep in mind that this CD is just for you and your child.
THe books are small (pocket sized) and very convenient. They are duplicated so both parents can hold on to their own. Phrases are very organized and phonetically spelled. It is really easy to find whatever phrase you're looking for.
If you are in the process of adopting from Ukraine, you NEED this guide! You'll be very happy with it, I was!

This very funny book teaches numbers, but it also entertains and surprises in a very big way. Author Lisa Wheeler and illustrator Brian Flocci are simultaneously smart and zany; they don't dumb down the humor for kids, and their septet of oddball reindeers seem like they've come from an animal-populated screwball comedy. Wheeler tosses out such wildly inventive actions and personalities that they almost hide the underlying rhythmic structure and focus on counting. Each two-page spread introduces one of young Octavia's seven uncles, with the previously counted uncles integrated within each playful illustration. As a music aficionado, I especially enjoyed Uncle Duce, the punfully introduced second uncle:

Uncle Duce from Cameroon,
Bellows out an Elvis tune.
When he sings, the girls all swoon...
And he's my loudest uncle.

He has two wigs. He has two boots.
He has two shiny white jumpsuits.
He has two roadies-Gnat and Flea.
He says his favorite niece is ME!

Other idiosyncratic uncles include a scuba diver ("my sweetest uncle"), a trick-shot basketballer ("my coolest uncle"), a stunt-deer ("my bravest uncle") and a writer ("my smartest uncle"). Uncle number four has four lassos, four spurs, and four-gallon hats, and he is shown doing a four-rope trick involving Octavia and Uncles one through three. For those who like some good values thrown in with their fun, there's a subtle allusion to the unique appeal of these disparate uncles: "They're all here now/It's quite a mix/Each uncle's cool/Each uncle's great/ And I'm Octavia-number eight." Hmmm....eight reindeer...and they gather just "once a year" --where have we heard that before? Well, I'm not going to give that way/but let's just say/they pull a sleigh! (ho ho ho, indeed!).

Flocca's ink and watercolor illustrations have the fun, casual style of Sandra Boynton. With colors spilling over his sketchy lines, Flocca's painting feels spontaneous-he's so talented that each pair of antlers seem to have its own personality. Both the author and illustrator delight in the unexpected: In one picture, a white background covering more than half of the scene is actually the bottom of a glacier. With its big surprise finish and hilarious presentation of seven very different uncles, "Uncles and Antlers" is almost certain to please (and teach something about numbers as well!).

Both my son and I really enjoy this rhyming Christmas/numbers book in which Octavia, a young reindeer, describes her seven uncles (from Uncle Uno to Uncle Sven). My personal favorite is Uncle Duce, an Elvis impersonator, while my son seems to prefer Uncle Quint, a basketball star.

The rhythm and rhyme are perfect. Extra credit to the author for using the word "tines" in a book for youngsters ("Uncle Trey is short and wide. Antler tines? Three on each side!")...the vocabulary is just sophisticated enough to be slightly challenging to young readers.

Brian Floca (for Click magazine readers, he's the illustrator of "Beatrice Black Bear") draws with a loose, Quentin Blake style. OK, maybe that doesn't help much. Let's just say his reindeer have personality...these are not cookie cutter reindeer. Floca's illustrations live up to the creativity of Lisa Wheeler's words; it takes a special artist to draw an Elvis reindeer, complete with wig and white jumpsuit.

I'm kind of sorry I didn't discover this book until after the holiday season, but really, I think it's funny enough to keep us laughing all year `round.

I work with hopeful adoptive couples, so I ordered this book for them. Unbeknown to many of them,I am also a birth grandmother. The book was a delightful read that brought tears of joy, and sorrow, to my eyes. I want to send a special copy to my daughter (the birth mother), the adoptive parents of her child, as well as to my mother, because I think it's a book we can all relate to as a way of understanding what we've gone through these past 7 months. We have an "open adoption" so can see/write/talk to each other whenever we want. It's amazing to even imagine what it would have been like 20 or 30 years ago; we have much to be thankful for. But that doesn't take away from the losses that everyone brings to the adoptive table. Everything about the book was enjoyable--even the cover of the book, a soft pastel/water color print of violets, was pleasing to look at. And I loved all the quotes from those great songs of the 60's and 70's (with a few earlier ones thrown in)!

This true life story about a young woman who faced a life-giving decision (all alone) has made a great impact upon many readers. I know, because I have given several copies of "Violets" to friends. Beautifully written, Jacqueline Ramthun allows the reader into her very soul. Her recall of simple, yet difficult memories are woven throughout her story. Readers will share along with the author, the feelings this young woman felt along her decision-making path. I would describe this book as inspirational and hope giving for a world filled with so much tradegy and despair. The author's choice at a time so filled with remorse and sorrow is rewarded with love and new lives, she could not imagine. I highly recommend this book for both young men and women, parents and grandparents. It will leave you feeling better about the gift of life.

This story reminded me of how precious a child can be...and how children truly are a "dream." I loved the book, and I can not wait to share it with my nieces and nephews!

I found this book to be very enjoyable. It is a book that as an adult you must remind yourself the target audience and what they might enjoy. I appreciated the lessons that were brought out using the fictional characters of our youth. I think that children will enjoy this flight of fantasy and also will get its point. A must read for every child and adult that has been adopted

What a lovely book. Well written and a "fast read"! I couldn't put it down!

Becky did a great job of telling their story on the adoption process and of all the emotional ups and downs, I don't think I would have been as strong. A friend of mine gave me this book and told me that the Foremans go to the same church as we do. She has read it twice and had given it to another friend to read. We all agreed that it is a good book and is a tough one to put down. The latest with Doug and Becky; they have recently adopted 3 children from Russia!

This is the book to purchase if you have a teenager in the house. Be it an adopted teenager or non-adopted teenager.
As a teacher, cousellor og school advisor it is a must.
Both the youngsters, their parents and who ever else is around our teenagers during the difficult years of youth may profit from this book.
The book treats the feelings and thoughts of teenagers in a very straight forward way as does it give suggestions on how to survive the maturing years, for teenager as well as for his/her parents. Had I had such advise on talking to my parents, a "users manual" to their thoughts about my growing up, a book that told me what my peers think and why they do it, I sure would have had an easier life from 13 - 19 years. This book is definately going to be among the presents on my daughters birthday gift table when she turns thirteen - it may well be that her non-adopted cousins get a copy too on their 13th birthdays.
In addition it is easily read with the caring love for teenagers very obvious between the lines.

Though this book is aimed at teenage adoptees, older adopted persons, birth parents and adoptive parents, not to mention "official helpers" too, will gain insight into what it is like to be cut off from one's own roots. It is easy to read and puts many of the issues around the normalacy of the right to know into perspective, especially for the non-adopted who all too often have no frame of reference and just don't "get it." -Holly Kramer, President, Parent Finders, Toronto Canada

As wards of the state of Oklahoma, Linda Lakoe (Okee-Chee) and her sister Jackie arrive at the predominately indian Murrow orphanage. As Apaches, they are met with suspicion, fear, and aggression from the other children. Linda struggles to become respected by the others, while Jackie, the younger of the two focuses on finding the adoptive family she has never known.

The book depicts their year together at the orphanage, and the challenges that they endure as orphans, and as sisters with different goals. Linda finds comfort and meaning as an aspiring artist, while her younger sister can only find such comfort with the prospect of having a mother.

This is one of the most tear-jerking, thought provoking books I have read in recent years. It depicts a journey of self realization and discovery. Linda's self discovery, brought on by her prospective adoptive mother, is thrilling and uplifting - provoking anyone who reads it to believe that no matter what, there is always a mother figure in life who can make right, teach, nurture and provide a basis to understand one's own culture.

The entire book consists of chapters that begin with dream like narrations - An excellent method of recalling what should be, and probably are shady memories of a past that is understandably blurry.

Still, this is one of the best books I've read so far... I would highly recommend it to anyone - especially those who have interest in learning about native american identity in the 20th century.

This book helped bring back my inner child and rediscover the relationship I had with the earth as a child. Remarkable insight was present in the author when she described her past.