Reading to your children is an excellent bonding activity. Reading is also one of the ways you can educate our children about adoption, families, and emotions. The following list provides suggestions as to fun and educational books you can read with your children. It ends with a few books older children can read to themselves, or with you.

Families are Different

by Nina Pellegrini, Holiday House, 1991
This books wraps together different-looking families, and different ways of creating families. The first time I read it to Hannah, she got a big smile on her face and said, "Read it again, mama!" Ages 5 and up.

A Koala for Katie: An Adoption Story

by Jonathan London, Concept Books, 1993
Katie is given a koala after visiting the zoo and wondering what would happen to the koala if it lost its mother. Understandable, nice illustrations. Ages 9 and up.

Why Was I Adopted?

by Carole Livingston, Carol Publishing Group, 1996
This is our favorite children’s adoption book! It’s probably a bit long and detailed for children under six, though. The question and answer format has humor woven through it. It references all types of adoptions and types of families. Ages 6 and up.

Aarvy Aardvark Finds Hope

by Donna O'Toole, Compassion Books, 1988
An excellent children's book about loss and grief. Your adopted child deals with loss whether or not they talk about it. Good for both children and adults.

The Big Book of Families

by Catherine and Lawrence Arholt, Candlewick Press, 1998
In addition to the topic of adoption, Hannah and I spend a lot of time reading and talking about families. This book is fun, creative, and rhyming. It shows many nuances of family types, emotions, and activities. Ages 5 and up.

Emma's Yucky Brother

by Jean Little, Jennifer Plecas, Harper Collins Juvenile Books, 2001
Shares all of Emma's emotions about getting a four year old adopted brother. A must buy if you're adding an adopted child to a biological child. Ages 4 - 8.

Riding Freedom

by Pam Munoz Ryan, Scholastic Inc., 1998
Set in the mid-1800's, this story is about Charlotte, a girl raised in a boys orphanage. This award-winning book sets the scene with Charlotte's rough start to life, and how she eventually becomes very successful. 4th grade reading level.

Who Am I? And Other Questions of Adopted Children

by Charlene C. Giannetti, Price Stern Sloan Pub., 1999
Insights and answers from teenagers and experts. Written to help adopted children ages 9 - 13 to feel more confident about their complicated lives.

How It Feels To Be Adopted

by Jill Krenentz, Knopf, 1988
Boys and girls from ages 8 - 16 share their thoughts about being adopted. The book shares various viewpoints.

Credits: Susan M. Ward, an older child adoption specialist, provides parent coaching and resources for adoptive families. Susan's training has focused on adoption issues relating to attachment, grief, and parenting. She's also the adoptive parent of a child healed from RAD (reactive attachment disorder). Her website is www.OlderChildAdoptionSupport.com.