Great Adoption Books for all Ages
By: Julie Armstrong
Having adopted two of my children, this topic holds a special place in my heart. Here are some of my family’s favorite books about adoption.
A Mother for Choco by Keiko Kasza is a delightful picture book about a little yellow bird named Choco who is all alone. He longs for a mother and sets out to find her. My children absolutely love Choco and can sympathize with his long journey to find someone to call his own. This book tackles the subject of multi-racial families in a soft and loving way.
I’ve Loved You Since Forever by Hoda Kotb is a sweet story of a parent and child longing and searching for each other. Hoda Kotb, host of the Today show, tells the story in a sing-song prose that is beautifully crafted. Suzie Mason does a fabulous job illustrating these enchanting animals with vibrant colors. This is a must-read adoption story for any family with young children.
Newberry Award medal winner, The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill, is a fantasy fiction book for older children (grades 4-9) with a magically told adoption story. This book would be great for lovers of fairy tales as it has witches, swamp monsters and dragons…oh my! The adoption story, while a little unconventional, is crafted in a way that acknowledges the fears and insecurities of being adopted in spite of being a part of a loving family. And what child doesn’t dream of having a dragon as a best friend?!
Finally, the historical fiction novels by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, The War that Saved my Life and The War I Finally Won, are heartbreaking, poignant stories of a sweet unloved child, her disability that defined her and the war that saved her. This story takes place during World War II as children in London are being evacuated to the countryside. While parts of the young heroine’s life are pretty tragic, the story of how a family is made from the most unimaginable circumstances is beautiful. This book is appropriate for grades 4-7.