Books About Adoption for Children

In recent years, adoption has become a much more open process than it used to be, and adoptive families are speaking with their children about how their family came to be at earlier ages. This is a list of our favorite books, written about adoption, for children of all ages.

Photos and product descriptions courtesy of Amazon.

Family is about love no matter how different parents and children may be, adopted or not.

Choco wishes he had a mother, but who could she be? He sets off to find her, asking all kinds of animals, 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 and still fit together.

Keiko Kasza’s twist on the “Are you my mother?” theme has become one of the most highly recommended stories about adoption for children.

Mother Bird is looking after her baby bird in the forest, when a huge storm scatters her nest. Try as she might, she just can’t give him the protection he needs. She faces a choice: continue to struggle on her own, or give her precious baby bird to another family who can care for him in their strong, secure nest.

In this classic adoption picture book for children, common issues in adoption are addressed―from the enduring force of a birth parent’s love and contact post-adoption to the importance of nurturing an adopted child in his or her new environment. It is a timeless and enduring tale of sacrifice, wisdom and love.

This book is ideal for reading aloud with adopted children aged 5–10 and their siblings, whether at home or in school.

All Bears Need Love, an award-winning Adoption Picture Book by Atlanta-based author, Tanya Valentine, is beautifully illustrated by Adam Taylor and addresses the comments, questions, and curiosities that often accompany multicultural adoption.

A child’s review: “Most adoption books only talk about the good part of adoption. ABC shows adoption from the kid’s side.”

ABC, Adoption & Me expresses their complicated feelings in a way that makes them feel normal and which makes it easy for them to discuss with their families.  Includes a parent guide. ABC, Adoption & Me celebrates the blessing of family and addresses the difficult issues as well. Exuberant, multicultural illustrations depict a wide range of families.

Tell me again about the night I was born . . Tell me again how you would adopt me and be my parents… Tell me again about the first time you held me in your arms . .

In asking her mother and father to tell her again about the night of her birth, a young girl shows that it is a cherished tale she knows by heart.

Jamie Lee Curtis and Laura Cornell come together once again to create a unique celebration of the love and joy a baby brings into the world. Tell Me Again About the Night I Was Born is a heartwarming story, not only of how one child is born but of how a family is born.

“Mama,” said Barley. “Tell me again how I’m your wish come true.”

Thus begins this beautiful story for adoptive families. I Wished for You: An Adoption Story follows a conversation between a little bear named Barley and his Mama as they curl up in their favorite cuddle spot and talk about how they became a family. Barley asks Mama the kinds of questions many adopted children have, and Mama lovingly answers them all.

With endearing prose and charming watercolor illustrations, I Wished for You is a cozy read that affirms how love is what truly makes a family.

Marmee, Meema, and the kids are just like any other family on the block. In their beautiful house, they cook dinner together, they laugh together, and they dance together. But some of the other families don?t accept them. They say they are different. How can a family have two moms and no dad? But Marmee and Meema?s house is full of love. And they teach their children that different doesn?t mean wrong. And no matter how many moms or dads they have, they are everything a family is meant to be.

Here is a true Polacco story of a family, living by their own rules, and the strength they gain by the love they feel.

For the child who already understands the concept of adoption, this work provides a deeper understanding of how the adoption process works and the feelings that many children have about being adopted. Topics include why children are given up for adoption and why adoptive parents want to adopt.

A Tale of Two Daddies is a playground conversation between two children. The boy says he heard that the girl has two dads. The girl says that is right. She has Daddy and Poppa. True to a child’s curiosity, practical questions follow. “Which dad helps when your team needs a coach? / Which dad cooks you eggs and toast?” To which she answers: “Daddy is my soccer coach. / Poppa cooks me eggs and toast.”

A Tale of Two Daddies is intended for 4-8 year olds.  It becomes clear that the family bond is unburdened by any cultural discomforts. This book introduces a type of family increasingly visible in our society. Neither favoring nor condemning, this book reflects a child’s practical and innocent look at the adults who nurture and love her.

Children are sometimes upset to discover that they have been adopted. This book helps them understand how lucky they are to have to have loving, adoptive parents—and how lucky their parents are to have them! A First Look At… is an easy-to-understand series of books for younger children. Each title explores emotional issues and discusses the questions such difficulties invariably raise among kids of preschool through early school age. Written by a psychotherapist and child counselor, each title promotes positive interaction among children, parents, and teachers. The books are written in simple, direct language that makes sense to younger kids. Each title also features a guide for parents on how to use the book, a glossary, suggested additional reading, and a list of resources. There are attractive full-color illustrations on every page. (Ages 4-7)

When a male goose longs for a chick of his own, he borrows an egg and ends up with a baby dinosaur!

This “unusual adoption tale will delight young readers.” (The Horn Book Guide) We’re pleased to present The Little Green Goose to a new generation of readers, fresh with sparkling new illustrations.

Cocoa, tan, rose, and almond-people come in lots of shades, even in the same family. This exploration of one of our most noticeable physical traits uses vibrant photographs of childen and a short text to inspire young children both to take notice and to look beyond the obvious.

Heart-warming and playful, Forever Fingerprints shows how adoptive parents can use a common occurrence–a relative’s pregnancy–as a springboard for discussions about birth parents.

Lucie is excited to feel a baby moving in her Aunt Grace’s tummy but it makes her think about her adoption story in a different way. The tools offered in this book help adoptive parents assist their children in creating a unique connection to them and her birth parents. By helping their daughter feel safe to share upsetting feelings, they reinforce their love for her while honoring her past.

This book is ideal for adopted children aged 4-8.

Check back from time to time for more recommended books for children.