Writing to Connect is a blog dedicated to helping parents and children build deep, enduring connection through the medium of books. All parents need to share conversations about tough topics, for example, bullying, climate change, protests, illness, national tragedies. Consider how you feel when your spouse or partner says, We need to talk. Your body launches full alert mode, right? So too, our kids will probably be as wary about a direct request to explore tough topics. The lap of a parent—or another significant adult— makes the best place for learning, sharing, and educating children.

My secondary goal is to reveal ways any book— not only those intent on reflecting adoption themes— but how any book can serve adoptive families. They must add discussions about adoption to ensure that provide the support, context, and insight children need to process their adoptions. Yet, beginning these conversations can feel awkward, even difficult. Suggestions like, Would you like to talk about adoption? They will probably be met with an assertive response. Thus, the value of an indirect approach can be easily recognized.