ADOPTION BIBLIOGRAPHY
Adoption: A Handful of Hope
by Suzanne Arms (Berkley, California: Celestial Arts, 1990) gives personal accounts of adoption and what it means to those individuals touched by adoption today.
Adoption Without Fear
by James L. Gritter (San Antonio, Texas: Corona Press, 1989) includes the experiences of 17 couples who tell their accounts of open adoption, how they overcame their fears and came to embrace this new form of adoption.
Children of Open Adoption
by Kathleen Silber and Patricia Martinez Dorner (San Antonio, Texas: Corona Press) present two pioneers in the field of open adoption with evidence on how children in open adoption are doing. Examines actual adoption experiences and follows children from infancy to teens.
Dear Birthmother Thank You for our baby
by Kathleen Silber and Phylis Speedlin (San Antonio, Texas: Corona Press, 1991, updated since) is a classic collection of letters passed back and forth between birthparents and adoptive families.
The Open Adoption Book
by Bruce M. Rappaport (New York: MacMillan Publishing Company, 1992) is a comprehensive guide to the experience of open adoption. It has been called an exciting exploration of the most modern form of adoption today and a view into adoption practices of the future.
Open Adoption: A Caring Option
by Jeanne Warren Lindsay (Buena Park, California: Morning Glory Press, 1988) speaks about the practice of openness in adoption, citing real-life experiences. Helps everyone understand this trend toward more openness, honesty, and trust among those participating in adoption.
The Open Adoption Experience
by Lois Melina and Sharon Kaplan Roszia (Harper Collins, 1993.) Two leading experts provide an authoritative and reassuring guide to the issues and concerns of adoptive and birth families through all stages of the open adoption relationship.
The Spirit of Open Adoption
by James L. Gritter (San Antonio, Texas: Corona Press, 1997.) A candid, intensely personal and highly readable account of an agency that switched from closed to open adoptions in 1980. The author, an outspoken and ardent advocate for openness in adoption, warns that adoption seems to be moving from a professional service to a moneymaking business.
The Family of Adoption
by Joyce Maguire Pavao. Reveals and normalizes the predictable developmental stages for adopted persons, emphasizing the importance of connections for children to lifelines from their past.
Openness in Adoption: Exploring Family Connections
by Harold D. Grotevant & Ruth G. McRoy. Provides recent longitudinal research findings about the practice of open adoption and the impact on participants.
TRANSRACIAL ADOPTION BIBLIOGRAPHY - Books for Children
Real for Sure Sister
by Ann Angel (Perspectives Press). A story about a family of three adopted children adopting a fourth child, as told from a nine-year-old's point of view. Answers adoptees questions about the adoption process, adopted sibling adjustments and fears.
The Mulberry Bird Story of an Adoption
by Anne Braff Brodzinsky (Perspectives Press). A book for ages 5 to 10, with the story of the love for her baby that led a birthmother to make difficult decisions. Designed to answer children's questions about why they were adopted.
Susan and Gordon Adopt a Baby
by Judy Freudberg and Tony Geiss (Random House). Aimed at pre-schoolers, the book uses Sesame Street characters to talk about the arrival of an adopted child.
The Day We Met You
by Phoebe Koehler (Bradbury Press). An affectionate and personal story about the first homecoming of an adopted baby. The warm, textured full-color crayon-like drawings and simple text make this the perfect first adoption book to read to a very young child. A wonderful gift to give first-time adoptive parents.
Twice Upon a Time: Born and Adopted
by Eleanora Patterson (EP Press). A book to be read to adopted children using text and pictures in a simple, direct way to explain conception and adoption. Confidence building and affirming for the uniqueness of each child.
Through Moon and Stars and Night Skies
by Ann Turner (Harper Collins). Written in simple, beautiful words with gentle watercolor drawings for children ages 4-8. Told by a little boy of his airplane ride to his new home. Touches the emotions about arriving in his adoptive family.
Is That Your Sister?
By Sherry and Catherine Bunin. "We share the story of our family in the hope that it will help more people understand adoption as a chosen way of life that is positive, compassionate and civilized." About a racially mixed family. Ages 5-12.
Chinese Eyes
by Marjorie Waybill. Becky, an adopted Korean girl is teased about the shape of her eyes. Her mother's sensible, light approach helps Becky to feel good about the differences. Ages 5-9.
We Don't Look Like Our Mom and Dad
by Harriet Langsam Sobol. How two boys adopted from Korea feel "special" but also a "little different". Their different appearance from their adoptive parents allows for opportunities to acknowledge their biological heritage and talk about the way in which their family was created. Covers many questions and concerns that all adopted children have.
Hairs Pelitos
by Sandra Cisneros (Random House).
The Crayon Box That Talked
by Shane DeRolf (Random House).
Everyone Serves Soup
by Norah Dooley (Carolrhoda Books, Inc).
In My Family
by Carmen Lomas Garza (Children's Book Press).
New Press Guide to Multicultural Resources for Young Readers
ed. Daphne Muse (The New Press).
The Skin I'm In
by Pat Thomas (Barron Educational Services).
Jalapeno Bagels
by Natasha Wing (Simon and Schuster).
Families Are Forever
Locating the delicate balance between individuality and diversity. Follows a one girl's heartwarming, fascinating journey from China to America into the arms and life of a loving mom and her extended family.
Does Anybody Else Look Like Me?
By Donna Jackson Nakazawa (Perseus Publishing). Offers advice from both parents and children with multiracial or transracial adoption backgrounds, and from children themselves.
Did My First Mother Love Me?
By Kathryn Ann Miller.
Tell Me Again About the Night I Was Born
by Jamie Lee Curtis.
A China Adoption Story: Mommy Why Do We Look Different?
Adoption Is For Always
by Linda Walvoord Girard.
Mommy, Did I Grow In Your Tummy?
By Elaine Gordon.
TRANSRACIAL ADOPTION BIBLIOGRAPHY - Books for Adults
Making Sense of Adoption
by Lois Ruskai Melina (Harper & Row). This timely guide offers sample conversations and activities for families that helps respond to adopted children's concerns in ways to build self-esteem.
Raising Adopted Children: A Manual
by Lois Ruskai Melina (Harper & Row). A thorough manual offering realistic insights of each stage of the adoptive family life-cycle. A must for all prospective and adoptive families.
Filling in the Blanks: A Guided Look at Growing Up Adopted
by Susan Gabel. A lifebook/workbook designed for use by 10-14 year olds with an adult helper. Helps parents prepare for issues that are a part of the pre- and early-adolescence "search for self" in adopted kids.
Our Baby: A Birth and Adoption Story
by Janice Koch. An accurate yet simple book for 3 to 7 year olds which help parents deal with the difficult issue of sex education for children who joined their family by adoption.
Mixed Families
by Joyce A. Ladner, Ph.D. (Anchor Books, Doubleday, 1978). Research and personal accounts of adoptions across racial boundaries.
Transracial Adoption
by Simon and Alstein. First precise sociological study of children involved in transracial adoptions. Authors conclude that the majority of trans-racially adopted children adjust well in their adoptive homes and perceive themselves accurately as black.
The Color of Man
by Robert Cohen. Helpful information for the inter-racial family. Easy reading.
Judy and the Moons of Korea
by Audrey McKin. Easy to read. Describes a different holiday and custom for each month. Positive image book.
Adoption From Russia
by Teresa Kelleher. This book smoothes the process by helping parents prepare for adopting a child who speaks Russian. Includes a follow-along CD or cassette with words and phrases.
Russian Adoption Handbook
by John H. Maclean. Addresses a wide range of questions and issues about Russian adoption and details the entire international adoption process from Russia, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan. You'll also learn about medical issues and travel requirements.
Dim Sum, Bagels, and Grits
by Myra Alperson. A sourcebook for multicultural families. Provides guidelines on how families can prepare for their exciting journey toward becoming multicultural.
Inside Transracial Adoption
by Gail Steinberg and Beth Hall. Strength based, culture-sensitizing parenting strategies for intercountry or domestic adoptive families that don't "match."
Intercountry Adoption From China
by Jay W. Rojewski. Addresses Chinese culture and heritage, race, discrimination, and reaction of strangers. Philosophical issues and concerns surrounding intercountry adoption. Attachment and adjustment issues.
The Lost Daughters of China
by Kathy Evans. Abandoned girls, their journey to America, and the search for a missing past.
In Their Own Voices
by Rita J. Simon and Rhonda M. Roorda. Transracial Adoptees Tell Their Stories.
How to Adopt Internationally
by Jrean-Nelson Erichsen & Heino Erichsen. Covers everything from learning about the international adoption process, organizing a home study, choosing a country, working with immigration, traveling abroad and more.
Therapeutic Parenting: It's A Matter of Attitude
by Deborah Hage.
Holding Time
by Martha G. Walch, M.D.
Self-Esteem: A Family Affair
by Jean Illsley Clar
When Friends Ask About Adoption
by Linda Bothun. Friends and family often have questions but are embarrassed to ask. This book answers unasked questions and shows friends and family how to be supportive of the adoptive family.
A Child's Journey Through Placement
by Vera Fahlberg. Provides the foundation, resources and tools to help professionals and parents support children who may have been in and out of foster care.
Helping Children Cope with Separation and Loss
by Claudia Jewett Jaratt. All adopted children have suffered a loss - the loss of their birth parents. Some have also been separated from one or more foster parents. This book offers a compassionate, step-by-step guidance to anyone who wants to help a child cope with loss.
Raising Adopted Children
by Lois Ruskai Melina. Parents guide to raising children in an adoptive family.
Attaching In Adoption
by Deborah D. Gray. This book helps understand how prior experiences and changes in caregivers, culture, language, and more can create challenges for children trying to form attachments to their new family.
Talking With Young Children About Adoption
by Mary Watkins. This books is for parents with children ages 2 to 10 and answers questions such as what to say to children about adoption, when to say it, what do they comprehend, what worries do they have etc.
INFERTILITY BOOKS
Adopting After Infertility
by Patricia Irwin Johnston. Examines the lifelong impact of building a family by adoption after experiencing infertility.
Taking Charge of Infertility
by Patricia Irwin Johnston. This book offers solace and guidance to couples dealing with infertility. Johnston herself knows the loss many feel being denied biological parenthood. She recognizes the emotional aftershocks that often rattle partners after a diagnosis of infertility.
The Wedded Unmother
by Halvorson, Kaye and Hess, Karen, Augsborg Publishing. The personal story of a woman who struggles to understand and accept infertility.
- Check out these websites about information on Adoption Books:
- www.tapestrybooks.com
- www.adoptivefamilies.com
- www.perspectivepress.com
- Check out these sites that offer information on Openness:
- www.adoption.org
- www.adoptioninstitute.org
- www.cwla.org
