Tall Tales can be Telltale Windows to the Heart

These tall tales could segue into conversations that explore how they might spin a tall tale about their own lives. Adoption needn’t be mentioned but it might seep into the story at the edges. Parents can assess if it makes sense to insert it into the discussion. Adoptees have the unique experience of knowing their lives might have been vastly different had they been raised by their birth families instead of being adopted. This reality lends itself to wondering various possible scenarios of their alternate, “unadopted” lives. Sometimes these thoughts are wildly thrilling and include royal lineage, lavish wealth and indulgent parents. Sometimes these fantasies can be more conservative while other versions may include dire circumstances, and tragic figures. Continue reading →

Memories: Powerful, Evocative and Revealing

Kids recognize the signal phrase, "Once upon a time" & will intuitively prepare for a magical story. Iillustrations capture a dreamy, time-traveling mood, expand the spare text to invite further expansion of the thematic ideas. Simple rhymes lilt softly on the ear, enhance the mood & encourage readers to explore their own personal experiences. Colored font highlights key words to spotlight connection between the item in its current state back through time to a former state. For example:"Does a feather remember it once was ...a bird?" Each page offers a chance to delve deeper & discuss how change occurs in people/places/things. One could simply enjoy this wonderful chance to ride the magic carpet of imagination and fantasy. Or one could use it as a path to some simple STEM activities—science, technology, engineering and mathematics. AQ Lens: For adopted children this book can offer a path to conversations about their past. For example, the final pairing, "Will you remember you once were ... a child?" could naturally evolve into discussing their thoughts about their life story before they were adopted. Older children might wish to express any what if thoughts about how their lives might have been different had they never been adopted, or if they'd been adopted by other parents. Continue reading →
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Billy Bramble Thumps Funny Bones and Pulls Heartstrings

As the saying goes, if it weren't for bad luck, Billy would have no luck at all. The world views Billy as "trouble", an inconvenient and annoying thorn that pricks and frustrates others. He has few friends. What he does have is a constant companion: Gobber--an imaginary but very powerful companion embodied as a wild dog. Tyrannized by Gobber, Billy "wonders why no one else can see him, or hear him, or feel him." The malevolent Gobber "scares [Billy] half to death" actually. With heart-breaking honesty, Billy asserts, "I think that Gobber is my life sentence." Continue reading →

We Must Come Together in Community

in today's political climate optimism and collaboration are in short supply. Today we review four books sure to rekindle our spirits and to remind us that we share more in common than not. We rededicate ourselves to seeing the humanity in others. Through that lens, we seek to build a better world for ourselves and the people we love. Continue reading →

What Is Seen Depends on Where One Looks

Mistrust of anything perceived as "other" magnifies fears. People demean what they do not know or understand. Whether it's adoption or politics, the more comfortable we are with "difference," the more we broaden our world view to increase tolerance & harmony. We all benefit. Continue reading →

Happiness Is…

It is easy to get lost in the habit of waiting to be happy...We must teach kids to enjoy the blessings of what & who are in their lives in the present moment. We must teach our children to take the time to enjoy the blessings of what and who are in their lives in the present moment. This is not to invalidate their losses, yearnings and unfulfilled needs. Rather it is to teach them to hold a both/and mentality. Continue reading →

“Out of the Blue”

The magic of this book is the unexpected and total absence of text. The story is revealed only through exquisitely detailed illustrations which invite the reader to wonder a story line for each element. We all know how kids love to spin a tale. This brilliant book provides an awesome vehicle for them to do so. Continue reading →

Life’s Path: One Heart, One Compass

our hearts play: they help us to connect with our core Purpose and values. Our hearts have an inner knowing that recognizes the what and why of our lives. Of course, children are not consciously aware of such conceptual thoughts. Yet they have an intuitive ability to understand metaphor and the way it can explain big ideas. These books tackle the topic well. Continue reading →

My Heart Is Like A Zoo? — Talk About Love

This is not an "issues" book, rather it shows people engaging in ordinary tasks, living their normal daily activities. This sweet book easily introduces the idea that we need not look the same in order to be friends, neighbors or family. It depicts people of different races happily playing and working together. Continue reading →
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