Adoption And Foster Care

How I Was Adopted;  Joanna Cole 1995; ages 3 to 6; fiction. As the cover reads, "This story is a happy one.... It is not a 'problem' book." Includes a nice description of how babies are born.

Susan and Gordon Adopt a Baby;  Judy Freudberg and Tony Geiss; 1986; ages 3 to 6; fiction. Using the Sesame Street characters, a nice story of welcoming a new baby. Not the most eloquently written, but kids will recognize the television characters.

Over The Moon;  Karen Katz; 1997; ages 3 to 6; fiction. Parents' dream about the baby they are waiting for. Chagall-like illustrations; text contains lots of emotion with less content.

An Mei's Strange and Wonderful Journey;  Stephan Molnar-Fenton; 1998; ages 3 to 7; fiction. Gorgeous illustrations of China and New England tell the story of An Mei's travels from birth to her new home in America.

Real Sisters;  Susan Wright; 1995; ages 6 to 10; fiction. Claire, adopted from China, doesn't look like Jenny. A heartwarming examination of what it means to be a sister.

We Don't Look Like Our Mom and Dad;  Harriet Langsam Sobel; 1984; ages 6 to 14; nonfiction. Two Korean boys have questions about their adoption. Warm, but factual tone; realistic photos depicting kids from 6 to 14 years of age.

Journey;  Patricia MacLachlan; 1991; ages 8 to 12; fiction. Two preteens struggle to understand why their mother has left them forever. Heartbreaking and hopeful.

The Pinballs;  Betsy Byars; 1977; ages 10 to 14; fiction. Three children, rejected by their parents, learn to trust each other in an accepting foster home. Humorous and poignant.

The Great Gilly Hopkins;  Catherine Patterson; 1988; ages 12 to 14; fiction. A classic story about a preteenager's acceptance into a foster home.

How It Feels To Be Adopted;  Jill Krementz; 1983; ages 14 to adult; nonfiction. Twenty adopted children tell their stories with honesty and insight.

Parents At Last: Celebrating Adoption and the New Pathways to Families;  Cynthia Peck and Wendy Wilkinson; 1998; adults; nonfiction. Vignettes celebrate 32 couples and individuals who persevered to adopt, often in the face of formidable odds. Many varieties of families are exemplified: traditional, single, gay, cancer survivors, international, and multiracial.

Adapted from:  Ellen C. Perrin, MD Susan Starr, MEd Addressing Common Pediatric Concerns Through Children's Books. Pediatrics in Review. 2000;21:130-138. © 2000 American Academy of Pediatrics