Earlier today I posted about the print and online adoption magazines that are available for us adoptive families. There are also some wonderful adoption newsletters out there that I have enjoyed reading. The first is written for Viet Nam adoptive families and the second and third cover international and transracial adoption, but not solely. Happy reading!

I love Chao Ban! It is a quarterly print newsletter devoted solely to adoptions from Viet Nam. The cultural information included is wonderful: recipes, activities and information about holidays and the... more

I absolutely love my “Adoptive Families” magazineo spread the word about them and sing their praises. Ella’s grandma gifted us a subscription about a year ago and I have loved every single episode. As the title states, this magazine is all about adoption and adoptive families. They cover all kinds of adoption and stay on top of current events in the adoption world. There are also regular parenting adopted kids features that I have found very helpful. I don’t often have time to read a book all the way through, so... more

With many people having an extended break from school and work this upcoming week, I thought I would write about some upcoming television shows that deal with adoption. If you have some free time or need an excuse to sit down and relax for a little bit, check out these programs:

I hadn’t heard of CBS’ “A Home for the Holidays” television special until I read about it in Erin’s Transracial Adoption blog a few weeks ago. I made a note to myself to try and catch it, but forgot... more

Remember “The Bear Necessities” and the cute cartoon animals that made up Disney’s film “The Jungle Book”? Well, Ella’s grandma rummaged around to find my old childhood copy of it this morning thinking Ella would love the songs. After fast forwarding through most of it and watching a few songs, I turned it off. I was shocked by what I saw, now watching it through different eyes.

The first shot of the movie is of baby Mowgli lying in a basket inside a boat that had apparently been damaged. It is immediately assumed that he has been orphaned and is taken in by a caring panther... more

It’s exciting to see that National Adoption Awareness Month is being promoted nationwide. I have seen advertisements in my local newspaper, invitations to events being held by local adoption agencies, commercials on television and banners on various websites. Earlier today I was online and noticed a side banner for a series of documentaries on adoption produced by the Hallmark Channel. I was interested, so I clicked on it and wouldn’t you know it; they had an episode about a couple who adopted from Viet... more

A few days before our official first Family Day, Ella’s Aunt Kellie and Uncle Adam stopped by with a special Family Day gift for her. Not only is it sweet and touching that they remembered, but those two always go out of their way to find appropriate, unique, special gifts for their niece. This occasion was no exception.

When Ella unwrapped her gift, it was a copy of John McCutcheon’s book “Happy Adoption Day!” I don’t know how they seem to find adoption related books and items that... more

I enjoyed reading “Be My Baby: Parents and Children Talk About Adoption” by Gail Kinn with photographs by Ken Shung. I came across it while browsing through the adoption books section at my library, checked it out and read it in only a couple of hours after Ella had gone to bed.

I would liken this book to a coffee table book of sorts. The reading is light, the subject is familiar and comfortable to me, the photographs are gorgeous and it’s broken up into small, easily digestible segments. I love books like this! You could easily read a section or two at a time and come... more

A book that is often recommended reading for prospective adoptive parents (PAPs) and adoptive parents alike is Twenty Things Adopted Kids Wish Their Adopted Parents Knew by Sherrie Eldridge. As an adoptee herself, the author is able to share her personal experiences and offer advice on how to best act as an adoptive parent.

This book is an excellent primer to get your mind thinking about parenting choices and how to best help your child adjust. It’s also a good piece of reference material that you can come back to as your child grows and hits different stages... more

Since I’m on a Da Nang kick (read yesterday’s post here,) I wanted to offer a review of the documentary Daughter From Da Nang. I tuned in with incredibly great interest and anticipation while we were waiting for Ella’s travel date. I was hungry for absolutely anything that might help me feel closer to her and her birth country. I really am glad that I watched it; it was incredibly moving and emotional and left me with much to think about.

The documentary follows Heidi, a Vietnamese born, American raised woman who was born to a Vietnamese mother and American father during the war in Viet Nam.... more

As Vietnamese adoptive parents and prospective adoptive parents (PAPs,) we are lucky to have so many books to choose from to help our children understand their adoption and their birth country. Danielle, Where Are You? by Cindy Roberts is especially relevant today because Danielle’s parents headed to Viet Nam after their Chinese adoption fell through. There are many, many families currently in this same situation, as I wrote about here,... more