Earlier this week I did a review of Todd Parr’s The Family Book, and wanted to continue to shine a spotlight on his work with a review of It’s Okay To Be Different. I am a big fan of all his books, but this one is especially perfect for transracial adoptive families. Kids will see faces of different colors and people with different features, and see that they are all smiling and confident in themselves.

One of the phrases that jumped right out at me (of course!) is “It’s okay to be adopted.” Parr seems to have such... more

Todd Parr’s The Family Book is one of the books that my husband and I purchased while we were waiting for our travel date to head to Viet Nam and adopt Ella. I was instantly drawn to the bright colors, happy drawings and most importantly, the message that’s conveyed through the words and pictures.

The people and animals in this book are all different colors, shapes and sizes to emphasize that we are all different, and those differences are to be celebrated. Many different kinds of families are represented (one parent,... more

I bought Finding Katherine a few weeks before we were leaving to get Ella with the intentions of saving it to read on the plane. Well, that was a silly intention since I devoured the whole thing within a few days of purchasing it! I was adoption memoir hungry and was absolutely entranced with Ellen Fitzenrider’s journey to bring home her daughter from Viet Nam.

As I waited for my travel date, Fitzenrider let me experience the Viet Nam that she lived. As much as this book is a personal... more

Adoption for Dummies is the one book that I recommend to everyone who approaches me with adoption questions. I realize that the most current edition is not all that current anymore, but it still provides the basics when it comes to learning about adoption.

Taking the first step into the adoption world can be scary and very overwhelming. There is a completely different language and culture that are so foreign; the thought of learning these new ways seems simply daunting. Adoption for Dummies helps to alleviate... more

When You Were Born in Vietnam by Therese Bartlett with photographs by William Bartlett is a lovely hardcover book that can really help open up the lines of communication between you and your child. And if we have anything in common, it'll make you want to either hop on the next flight to Viet Nam or start to update your home study papers :)The author and photographer are the parents of two kids from Viet Nam, so they really have a firm grasp on the emotions behind a Vietnamese adoption.

The story line... more

Tet Mice for Tet by Pegi Deitz Shea and Cynthia Weill, illustrations by To Ngic Trang, embroidery by Pham Viet Dinh

Ten Mice for Tet is a beautiful hardcover book that I know will be read often as Ella gets older. We bought this book before we even received our referral, and it helped my husband and I become more familiar with the Vietnamese New Year celebration. It’s the only children’s book about Tet that I have found so far; luckily, I think it’s wonderful!

The book follows the story of ten different mice in Viet... more