Adoption – For Children

Adoption is a hard topic to approach with children. Talking to children about adoption can be tough, and can raise more questions than answers, but it is a very important discussion to have. We have put together a list of resources that can help to introduce the topic of adoption and help to explain all about adoption. Whether your child is adopted, knows someone who is adopted, or just wants to learn more about different families, we have collated a list of resources which are ideal to help you approach the subject with children.

Books

1. A Gift for Little Tree, by Colleen D.C. Marquez (book) A great book for kids with a simple analogy on adoption, through the story of an apple tree unable to bear fruit until a farmer finds a way. Available here.

2. A mother for Choco, by Keiko Kasza (book) Choco sets off to find a mother, but he doesn’t meet anyone who looks just like him. He doesn’t even think of asking Mrs. Bear if she’s his mother-but then she starts to do just the things a mommy might do. And when she brings him home, he meets her other children-a piglet, a hippo, and an alligator-and learns that families can come in all shapes and sizes. Available here.

3. Blanket Bears, by Samuel Langley-Swain (book) This book helps readers understand what adoption is today and gently covers the complete adoption journey to permanence from a child’s perspective. Available here.

4. Dinosaur Egg Day, by Maggie Testa (book) Based on the Dinosaur Train TV show, Buddy the T Rex and his adoptive pteranodon family learn all about dinosaur eggs. Will they get to see one hatch? Available here.

5. Eddy Finds a Family, by Sarah McGeough and Stephanie Lidbetter (book) This adorable book follows Flossy and Frank Flamingo, who are unable to have a chick of their own. With the help of Stella Stork, they become a forever family when they meet Eddy Emu, who is in foster care and in need of a loving home. Available here.

6. Finding a family for Tommy, by Rebecca Daniel (book) A charming picture book aimed at 2 to 5 year olds, this story gives the opportunity to discuss the meaning of family and belonging, and can be used to help reassure children at every stage of the process. Available here.

7. Gus Becomes a Big Brother: An Adoption Story, by Heather S Lonczak (book) This book follows Gus, an older sibling, as he deals with the experience of becoming a big brother through adoption. Available here.

8. Katie Careful and the Very Sad Smile: A story about anxious and clingy behaviour, by Sarah Naish and Rosie Jeffries (book) This book follows Katie Careful, who has just moved in with her siblings and their new parents. She tries to hide her wobbly feelings, but luckily, her mum understands why Katie is feeling a little bit wobbly. Written by a mum with adopted children who practices therapeutic parenting. Available here.

9. Little Storks New Home, by Carolyn Robertson (book) A young stork is unable to care for her hatchling and her hatchling is eventually moved from her nest, to a foster family and then to an adopted family. The story follows the entire adoption process and is great at helping children to understand the adoption process. Available here.

10. Our Twitchy, by Kes Gray (book) A great and funny book, not only for adopted/fostered children, that explores the value of being yourself. Available here.

11. Rainbow Remembering by Bryony Irving (book) Suitable for adopted children aged 5-11, to help them understand that the foster carers do not forget them when they move into their adopted homes. This book celebrates adoption, written in poem form. Available here.

12. The Blanket Bears by Samuel Langley-Swain (book) This is a beautiful picture book telling the story of two little bears who have no-one to look after them. Their social worker takes them to stay with foster care bears until she can find them a forever family. A lovely, easy to read book to explain the adoption process to children. Available here.

13. The Family Faries, by Rosemary Lucas (book) This rhyming children’s book aims to highlight the importance of social workers and foster carers (the family fairies)involved in the adoption process in a playful way. Available here.

14. The Invisible String by Patrice Karst (book) This children’s book is a perfect way for helping children to deal with all kinds of separation anxiety. The book follows a mother teaching her children that they are all connected using an invisible string, which reaches as far it needs to, it even reaches to their uncle in heaven. Available here.

15. The Lambaroo by Diana Kimpton & Rosalind Beardshaw (book). A fun-filled picture book that explores the topic of adoption, and how important it is to be yourself. Available here.

16. The Odd Egg by Emily Gravett (book) A charming and witty book that discusses adoption through the story of a duck finding an egg and taking care of it. Available here.

17. The True Adventures of Esther The Wonder Pig by Steve Jenkins, Derek Walter and Caprice Crane (book) A beautiful book about the adoption of a mini pig that was not so mini after all, proving that families can come in all different shapes and sizes. Available here.

18. We Belong Together: A Book About Adoption and Families, by Todd Parr (book) Aimed at 3 to 6 year olds the books colourful art explores the meaning of family, and has representations of different families on each page. Available here.

19. Star of the Week: A Story of Love, Adoption, and Brownies With Sprinkles, by Darlene Friedman (book) Star of the Week follows Cassidy-Li, who was adopted from China as a baby, as she prepares an assignment to teach her class about her life. Inspired by author Darlene Friedman’s own family, the book includes Cassidy-Li’s concerns about missing her birth parents and her creative way of including them in her project. Available here.

20. King & King & Family, by Linda De Haan and Stern Nijland (book). Aimed at 5-6 year olds, this sequel to ‘King and King’ sees Bertie and Lee adopt a child. The two men go on their honeymoon and see all sorts of animal families in the jungle. When they get back they find a surprise in their suitcase- a stowaway who they make their princess! While the book doesn’t give justice to the complexities of the adoption process, it is a great book for introducing same sex families and adoptive families. Available here.

Films

1. Big Hero 6 (Film)- Hiro has lost both of his parents (before the movie) and he is being raised by his aunt Cass. Aunt Cass is very loving, even when she is frustrated at Tadashi and Hiro. The film follows Hiro as he recovers from a very hard loss. Rated PG.

2. Coco (Film)- this film isn’t about adoption, but is very relevant for adopted children. Coco is a story of search, reunion, secrecy, and identity. Rated PG.

3. King Fu Panda (film)- Po is a panda bear. His father is a goose. Po’s father points to portraits of various ancestors, and they are all geese. While Po’s adoption is not directly addressed in the first movie, it is hinted at lightheartedly; Po expresses that sometimes he “can’t believe” that he is the son of his father. Rated PG.

4. The Tigger Movie (film)- This film follows Tigger (from the Winnie the Pooh series) as he tries to find his birth family. The issues of loss and identity are prevalent in the movie as Tigger follows his dream about being surrounded by Tiggers who look and act like him. Tigger has a good support system around him and his friends help him on his journey. Ultimately, the question of where the other Tiggers are is left unanswered but there are important lessons to be learned by looking at the support that his friends offer him throughout the process. Rated U.

5. Meet the Robinsons (film) Twelve years after being left by his birth mother at an orphanage, Lewis has sat through 124 adoption interviews, none of which resulted in his adoption. He almost gives up hope.  Through the magic of Disney, Lewis travels twenty years into the future to meet the loving family that will eventually be his. He returns to his regular life with his hope restored. Rated U.