Adoption/Parenting Adopted Children
- The Connected Child: Bringing Hope and Healing to Your Adoptive Family by Karyn B. Purvis and David R. Cross - For parents who have welcomed children: from other countries and cultures, from troubled backgrounds and/or with special behavioral or emotional needs. This an excellent book explaining the effects of your child's (or baby's) previous life experience on their brain and behavior. Learn how to recognize and help address their unique needs and struggles.
- Parenting Your Internationally Adopted Child: From Your First Hours Together Through the Teen Years by Patty Cogen - I LOVE this book! It is a great follow up to The Connected Child. The thing I love the most is the author not only describes unique adoption behavior but helps to put it into real life perspective. She does this by writing about a play therapy group for adoptive families and how the behaviors/interactions may look. She also has many practical ideas and tools for connecting with your child. My favorite idea is the 3 picture story (you will have to read about it!)
- Fields of the Fatherless by Tom Davis - God (as defined by Christianity) has called all His followers to care for orphans (the fatherless). What does this look like and how are Christians to respond? Includes personal stories and biblical references regarding orphans and adoption. There is a guide at the back of the book providing discussion questions for each chapter to be used for personal or group study.
- IIn Their Own Voices: Transracial Adoptees Tell Their Stories by Rita J. Simon and Rhonda M. Roorda - This is the first book in what turned out to be a series of 3 books. They are a great series of books to read if you ever wonder about what it is like to adopt transracially- what it's like for the child, you as the parents, and your biological children. The first part in this book is argument, rhetoric and data for and against transracial adoption. The second part is 24 transracial adoptees tell their stories as interviewed by the authors.
- In Their Parents' Voices: Reflections on Raising Transracial Adoptees by Rita J. Simon and Rhonda M. Roorda - The second book of the 'In Their Voices' series. The parents interviewed are the parents of the adoptees from the first book. It is interesting to read about the adoption experiences from the parents perspectives (especially after reading it from the adoptees perspective). Learn from parents who have been there, the blessings and things they would've done different.
- In Their Siblings' Voices: White Non-Adopted Siblings Talk About Their Experiences Being Raised with Black and Biracial Brothers and Sisters by Rita J. Simon and Rhonda M. Roorda - The latest (2009) book of the 'In Their Voices' series. The interviews are with the siblings of the families in the last two books. This was a great book to read if you have other biological children. I was encouraged and joyed by the richness adoptees brought to their siblings lives and how comfortable they felt around other races as a result.
Children's Books
- Hugo Hippo's ABC Fun Book in Africa by Gail A. Porter and James Okello - I actually bought this book in Africa! I gave it to my son as a gift when I came home from Kenya on a mission trip. It's fun and colorful. Each page is depicts Hugo the Hippo and a letter of the alphabet. There is also a picture of Africa on each page and a county highlighted so you can see where the author is taking about. For example: Rr Here's Hugo... reading riddles to a rhino in Rwanda.
- To Be a Kid by Maya Ajmera and John D. Ivanko - A wonderful photo book of children all around the world. The words are short and simple describing the wonderful things about being a kid, like being carried by those who love you. The beauty of this book is the fun pictures of kids all around the world. Each photo has the country next to it.
- Online e-book: The Skin of Lions: Rwandan Folk Tales and Fables by Gabriel Constans - This is a picture book collection from Rwanda. At one time all of the children in this book lived on the streets. The stories are from their personal experiences, traditional folk tales or creative imaginations. Funds go toward an orphan project.
- Brown Like Me by Noelle Laperti – An African-American girl named Noelle is encouraged by her Caucasian adoptive family to seek out the beauty of being brown-skinned. She identifies brown colored things all around her. The pictures are real photos verses drawings.
- Africa is Not a Country by Margie Burns Knight – The diversity of culture in Africa's countries and the different lives children live.
- The Colors of Us by Karen Katz – The diversity of family, friends' and neighbors' skin color discussed by a mom and her daughter. They compare the colors to yummie foods they eat.
- I Love My Hair by Natasha Anastasia Tarpley – Encourages African American to feel good about their hair and heritage. Available in paperback or board book.
- One Wonderful You by Francie Portnoy – Adoption/Uniqueness
- We See the Moon by Carrie A. Kitze – Relates to birth parents and a child’s understanding. Written from a child's perspective asking questions their hearts about their birth parents. Allows these (sometimes difficult) discussions to start at an early age and be ok to talk about together.
- Ashanti to Zulu: African Traditions by Margaret Musgrove – Presents an alphabet of African Tribes and some of their traditions. A great introduction to the diversity of African culture.
