Most of my readers won’t be surprised to learn that I love to read—kids’ books, adult books, nonfiction, picture books—anything. But even I was surprised to learn that I’ve reviewed over 45 books this year. Since many bookstores have post-holiday sales, and since many of us were fortunate enough to receive bookstore gift cards, I’m challenging myself to pick my favorite “top twelve” of the adoption books I’ve reviewed this year.
I began the year by starting a series: Adoption Books with Great Art. Although I’m a “word person”, I’ve become increasingly moved by the beautiful ways some artists can convey the experiences and emotions of adoption. My first entry in this series was Over Land and Sea: a Story of International Adoption. I loved the beautiful oil paintings of children from around the world shown doing everyday things in their adoptive families. (I especially appreciated the families showing siblings of different races, and a child with a slight scar from a repaired cleft lip—not uncommon among children placed for adoption in other countries.) I also loved the simple but elegant prose that tells children how “your family began as a seed too—a seed of love in the hearts of your mom and dad”.
Also in the Great Art series was I Love You Like Crazy Cakes. Based on author Rose Lewis’ own story, this tale of a single mother adopting from China is illustrated with delicate watercolors by Jane Dyer.
Another favorite book from this series is Megan’s Birthday Tree. The artwork and words work together well to convey young Megan’s feelings. The book shows a positive relationship between a birthmother, adoptive mother and father and their daughter in an open adoption. It also demonstrates sensitivity on the part of the adoptive parents and their attempts to support Megan in taking action on her concerns.
Did My First Mother Love Me? This picture book is notable for having been written by a birthmother for her daughter. It can help reassure children that their adoption happened out of love.
My other favorite picture book, A Quilt of Wishes, tells the story of a group of Chinese foster parents and community members who care about children, and about the waiting parents and their encouraging community waiting to welcome a child to America.
I found a few offerings for pre-teens and early teens, a group which has been difficult to find adoption stories for. Kimchi and Calamari is a wonderful story about a fourteen-year-old Korean-born child adopted into an Italian-American family. At first his family is unsure as he begins to explore his heritage and search for his birthmother, but later it draws the family closer. A local Korean immigrant family is likewise divided in their acceptance of an adopted child. They also grow through the experience of knowing Joseph.
The Ocean Within tells a story from the perspective of Elizabeth, who has been in multiple foster homes between ages five and eleven and doesn’t really believe that the family who says they are adopting her will in fact keep her. She has trouble adjusting to the accustomed rituals of the close-knit extended family of cousins who visit their grandmother for a month at the seaside each summer. Her new cousins are as frustrated by her seeming detachment as she is by not knowing what they expect from her. The sequel, Tides, takes place the following summer, after Elizabeth’s adoption is complete. Paradoxically, her experience as an outsider enables her to be the one supporting her cousins as they go through tough times.
My next blog will round out my “top twelve” by revealing my favorite nonfiction adoption books I’ve discovered this year.