Welcoming a new baby or child into a home is an exciting time! Celebrate families of all shapes and sizes with these books featuring adopted children.
Adoption Books
I’m Adopted! By Shelley Rotner and Sheila M. Kelly Holiday House, 2011, hardcover, $16.95, Ages 3-6
Happy kids across the globe proudly tell readers, “I’m adopted!” The authors touch on reasons children leave their birth parents and find their forever families. Photographs show that while adopted children may not look like their mom or dad, they still enjoy the same things as other families. A picture book full of love and life.
A Thirst for Home: A Story of Water Across the World Written by Christine Leronimo & Illustrated by Eric Velasquez Walker, 2014, hardcover, $17.99, Ages 5-8
Why would a girl’s mother send her from Ethiopia to America to start a new life? So she can live where water isn’t scarce and she can thrive. This thoughtful picture book portrays an ultimate parental sacrifice through emotive illustrations. The global story is based on the author’s own family and rings tender and true.
The Year of the Fortune Cookie Written by Andrea Cheng & Illustrated by Patrice Barton Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2014, hardcover, $15.99, Ages 8-12
Anna Cheng loves her adopted baby sister and is excited to travel to Beijing when her teacher goes to adopt a girl of her own! Will Anna overcome her homesickness and learn about the city where her mother and sister were born? With sweet illustrations and a smart main character, this sequel to The Year of the Baby is pitch perfect.
Half a World Away By Cynthia Kadohata Atheneum, 2014, hardcover, $16.99, Ages 10-14
At age eight, Jaden was adopted from Romania and had trouble adjusting to America. Now at age twelve, he accompanies his parents to Kazakhstan to adopt a baby. There he bonds with a toddler who he feels that he could love. This emotional novel about family and the process of international adoption is beautifully written. Tears may flow by the end.
Counting By 7s By Holly Goldberg Sloan Dial, 2013, hardcover, $16.99, Ages 10-14
Family is who you make it. This is what Willow learns after her adoptive parents are killed in a car crash and she is taken in by an unexpected cast of friends. The multiple points-of-view in this middle grade novel give the characters depth, and the ending is what the reader hopes for. A solid read with an unique, lovable main character.
The Bridge From Me to You By Lisa Schroeder Scholastic Point, 2014, hardcover, $17.99, Ages 12-18
After her mother kicks her out of their home, Lauren moves to a small town to stay with her aunt, uncle, and cousins. There she meets Colby, a football star who dreams of something more after high school. Each character is bound by love for their families and plans for their futures. A sweet romance that will make readers think about the definition of family.
Year of Mistaken Discoveries By Eileen Cook Simon Pulse, 2014, hardcover, $17.99, Ages 14-18
Nora’s quest is to find her birth mother. Avery’s is not. But after Nora dies, Avery decides to complete her former friend’s mission with the hope that she’ll gain insight into who she is. This young adult novel delves into suicide and adoption in an accessible way. Teen readers will enjoy the friendships and drama.
More Reads
Read on for some tried and true picture books on adoption:
- And Tango Makes Three Written by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell & Illustrated by Henry Cole
- Bringing Asha Home By Uma Krishnaswami
- I Love You Like Crazy Cakes Written by Rose A. Lewis & Illustrated by Jane Dyer
- Mommy Far, Mommy Near Written by Carol Antoinette Peacock & Illustrated by Shawn Brownell
- My Mei Mei By Ed Young
- Over the Moon By Karen Katz
- Sisters By Judith Caseley
- Star of the Week Written by Darlene Friedman & Illustrated by Roger Roth
- Tell Me Again About the Night I Was Born Written by Jamie Lee Curtis & Illustrated by Laura Cornell
- Ten Days and Nine Nights By Yumi Heo
- Waiting for May By Janet Morgan Stoeke
- We Belong Together By Todd Parr
DEENA VIVIANI is a Rochester-based Young Adult Services Librarian. Read more reviews on her blog www.deenaml.livejournal.com or send her a note at
De**********@ho*****.com
– she loves to hear from readers!
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