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

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

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