Category: Adoption

Summer: Time for Dreaming, Exploring Boundaries, Nurturing Awareness

Like the other books in reviewed in this post, readers will see the value of friendship, the benefit of being open instead of limited by bias and the willingness to dare–to be stronger, braver and more open-minded. These are great lessons for all kids but especially for adopted children who throughout their lives will frequently experience being “othered” simply because they were adopted.

The conversations which this book might open can include topics like defeating fear, trying new things, and walking in the “shoes” of others.

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06/27/2016

Making Room for All: Diversity in Action

Baseball Saved Us by Ken Mochizuki and illustrated by Dom Lee is especially relevant in today’s climate of intolerance and anti-immigration. Baseball is considered by many to be our national past time. In 1942, the United States gathered Japanese Americans, stripped them of their property, forcibly

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06/20/2016

Wisdom for Life’s Journey: Be Brave. Be You.

Adopted children have real life experience with loss and grief. Yet the overarching message which the narrator (parent) conveys is that it is possible to have “more ups than downs…more tippy-toes than deep.” The message validates reality for our kids: they have had “downs” and they have struggled in “the deep.”

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06/13/2016

Daddy, Papi, Gramps–Whatever the Name, He’s Important

Gator Dad by author/illustrator Brian Lies. This delightful book depicts an extraordinary dad engaging with his children. The exuberant illustrations wonderfully fulfill the text. The story opens with dad’s shadow looming over his sleeping children. This iconic image usually evokes fear in kids but these baby gators are EXCITED not afraid. Clearly they associate dad with fun and when he invites them to “squeeze the day,” they are willing conspirators.

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05/30/2016

Is It Raining Blessings or Misery?

Events can be simultaneously happy/sad, positive and negative so these books might lead to conversations about how one can experience things in complex ways. These four stories share a common thread about how it is a “blessing to be a blessing” as well as “Things are not always what they first appear to be.”

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05/23/2016

Nurturing Empathy and Courage in Children

Three stories explore the experience of beginning a new life in a foreign land. For adoptees, these books offer a chance to draw parallels to their adoptions–their fears, challenges and emotions that children face while becoming part of their new families.

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05/16/2016

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.

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03/28/2016

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.

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03/21/2016

Love Is Always in Season

Snuggle close to your special sweetie and share this little gem. The human heart craves affirmation; sometimes a book is the perfect way to do it. Read it often. It’s a great way to get used to expressing the love in your hearts…Be intentional about the many ways in which you live the love you feel for them. Help them experience it in words as well as actions. Give them more time than stuff. Connection with you is what they really crave.

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12/28/2015